title: Protein export in malaria parasites: many membranes to cross.
abstract: The continuous multiplication of Plasmodium parasites in red blood cells leads to a rapid increase in parasite numbers and is responsible for the disease symptoms of malaria. Survival and virulence of the parasite are linked to parasite-induced changes of the host red blood cells. These alterations require export of a large number of parasite proteins that are trafficked across multiple membranes to reach the host cell. Two classes of exported proteins are known, those with a conserved Plasmodium export element (PEXEL/HT) or those without this motif (PNEPs). Recent work has revealed new aspects of the determinants required for export of these 2 protein classes, shedding new light on the mode of trafficking during the different transport steps en route to the host cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spielmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008566:Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins