title: Detection of SUMOylation in Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: Reversible protein modification by small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMOs) regulates many cellular processes, including transcription, protein quality control, cell division, and oxidative stress. SUMOylation is therefore essential for normal cell function and represents a potentially valuable target for the development of inhibitors of pathogenic eukaryotic organisms, including the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). The specific and essential functions of SUMOylation in Pf, however, remain largely uncharacterized. The further development of antimalarial drugs targeting SUMOylation would benefit significantly from a more detailed understanding of its functions and regulation during the parasite life cycle. The recent development of antibodies specific for Pf SUMO provides a valuable tool to study the functions and regulation of SUMOylation. In preliminary studies, we have used immunoblot analysis to demonstrate that SUMOylation levels vary significantly in parasites during different stages of the red blood cell cycle and also in response to oxidative stress. Owing to the dynamic nature of SUMOylation and to the robust activity of SUMO isopeptidases, analysis of SUMOylation in cultured Pf parasites requires a number of precautions during parasite purification and lysis. Here, we outline methods for preserving SUMO conjugates during isolation of Pf parasites from human red blood cell cultures, and for their detection by immunoblot analysis using PfSUMO-specific antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe St., Room W8118, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe St., Room W8118, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. mmatunis@jhsph.edu.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Matunis
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058207:Sumoylation; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins
keywords: Immunoblotting; Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; Posttranslational modification; SUMO