title: Apicomplexa-specific tRip facilitates import of exogenous tRNAs into malaria parasites.
abstract: The malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites are transmitted to vertebrates by mosquitoes. To support their growth and replication, these intracellular parasites, which belong to the phylum Apicomplexa, have developed mechanisms to exploit their hosts. These mechanisms include expropriation of small metabolites from infected host cells, such as purine nucleotides and amino acids. Heretofore, no evidence suggested that transfer RNAs (tRNAs) could also be exploited. We identified an unusual gene in Apicomplexa with a coding sequence for membrane-docking and structure-specific tRNA binding. This Apicomplexa protein-designated tRip (tRNA import protein)-is anchored to the parasite plasma membrane and directs import of exogenous tRNAs. In the absence of tRip, the fitness of the parasite stage that multiplies in the blood is significantly reduced, indicating that the parasite may need host tRNAs to sustain its own translation and/or as regulatory RNAs. Plasmodium is thus the first example, to our knowledge, of a cell importing exogenous tRNAs, suggesting a remarkable adaptation of this parasite to extend its reach into host cell biology.
authors.affiliation: Architecture and Reactivity of RNA, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France;
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bour
authors.affiliation: Architecture and Reactivity of RNA, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France;
authors.forename: Nassira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: Architecture and Reactivity of RNA, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France;
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kapps
authors.affiliation: Malaria Biology and Genetics Unit, Pasteur Institute, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiberge
authors.affiliation: Malaria Biology and Genetics Unit, Pasteur Institute, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bargieri
authors.affiliation: Malaria Biology and Genetics Unit, Pasteur Institute, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ménard
authors.affiliation: Architecture and Reactivity of RNA, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France; M.Frugier@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frugier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000469:parasitology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D008288:Malaria; D051379:Mice; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D021381:Protein Transport; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012343:RNA, Transfer
keywords: Plasmodium; tRNA; trafficking