title: Protein trafficking inPlasmodium falciparum-infected red cells and impact of the expansion of exported protein families.
abstract: Erythrocytes are extensively remodelled by the malaria parasite following invasion of the cell.Plasmodium falciparumencodes numerous virulence-associated and host-cell remodelling proteins that are trafficked to the cytoplasm, the cell membrane and the surface of the infected erythrocyte. The export of soluble proteins relies on a sequence directing entry into the secretory pathways in addition to an export signal. The export signal consisting of five amino acids is termed thePlasmodiumexport element (PEXEL) or the vacuole transport signal (VTS). Genome mining studies have revealed that PEXEL/VTS carrying protein families have expanded dramatically inP. falciparumcompared with other malaria parasite species, possibly due to lineage-specific expansion linked to the unique requirements ofP. falciparumfor host-cell remodelling. The functional characterization of such genes and gene families may reveal potential drug targets that could inhibit protein trafficking in infected erythrocytes. This review highlights some of the recent advances and key knowledge gaps in protein trafficking pathways inP. falciparum-infected red cells and speculates on the impact of exported gene families in the trafficking pathway.
authors: Molecular Biology Division, National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
authors: Surendra K
authors: SK
authors: Prajapati
authors: Malaria Unit, Institute for Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Culleton
authors: Molecular Biology Division, National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
authors: Om P
authors: OP
authors: Singh
keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; erythrocyte remodelling; exported proteins; gene family expansion; protein trafficking