Proteome analysis reveals a large merozoite surface protein-1 associated complex on the Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface.

Plasmodium merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) is an essential antigen for the merozoite invasion of erythrocytes. A key challenge to the development of an effective malaria vaccine that can block the erythrocyte invasion is to establish the molecular interaction(s) among the parasite surface proteins as well as with the host cell encoded receptors. In the present study, we applied molecular interactions and proteome approaches to identify PfMSP-1 associated complex on the merozoite surface. Proteomic analysis identified a major malaria surface protein, PfRhopH3 interacting with PfMSP-1(42). Pull-down experiments with merozoite lysate using anti-PfMSP-1 or anti-PfRhopH3 antibodies showed 16 bands that when identified by tandem mass spectrometry corresponded to11 parasite proteins: PfMSP-3, PfMSP-6, PfMSP-7, PfMSP-9, PfRhopH3, PfRhopH1, PfRAP-1, PfRAP-2, and two RAP domain containing proteins. This MSP-1 associated complex was specifically seen at schizont/merozoite stages but not the next ring stage. We could also identify many of these proteins in culture supernatant, suggesting the shedding of the complex. Interestingly, the PfRhopH3 protein also showed binding to the human erythrocyte and anti-PfRhopH3 antibodies blocked the erythrocyte invasion of the merozoites. These results have potential implications in the development of PfMSP-1 based blood stage malaria vaccine.

Transient silencing of Plasmodium falciparum Tudor Staphylococcal Nuclease suggests an essential role for the protein.

Plasmodium falciparum Tudor Staphylococcal Nuclease (PfTSN) has a multidomain organization and preferentially cleaves single stranded RNAs. PfTSN is quite distinct from its vertebrate homologues both in terms of its primary sequence and functional activity. Here, we analyzed the effect of PfTSN specific siRNA on parasite growth and development. Treatment of parasite culture with PfTSN siRNA at the late ring stage resulted in substantial inhibition in parasite growth. The PfTSN siRNA treated parasite cultures showed significant reduction in specific mRNA and PfTSN expression. Morphological examination of PfTSN siRNA treated parasites showed block in the development of parasite at the trophozoite stage. Treatment of parasites with a specific inhibitor of micrococcal nucleases, 3',5'-deoxythymidine biphosphate (pdTp) resulted in similar block in parasite development, thereby suggesting that PfTSN plays an important role at the trophozoite stage of the parasite. Collectively, our findings point towards an essential role for the PfTSN in the parasite's infection cycle.

Tudor domain proteins in protozoan parasites and characterization of Plasmodium falciparum tudor staphylococcal nuclease.

RNA-binding proteins play key roles in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. In eukaryotic cells, a multitude of RNA-binding proteins with several RNA-binding domains/motifs have been described. Here, we show the existence of two Tudor domain containing proteins, a survival of motor neuron (SMN)-like protein and a Staphylococcus aureus nuclease homologue referred to as TSN, in Plasmodium and other protozoan parasites. Activity analysis shows that Plasmodium falciparum TSN (PfTSN) possesses nuclease activity and Tudor domain is the RNA-binding domain. A specific inhibitor of micrococcal nucleases, 3',5'-deoxythymidine bisphosphate (pdTp) inhibits the nuclease as well as RNA-binding activities of the protein. PfTSN shows a predominant nuclear localization. Treatment of P. falciparum with pdTp, inhibited in vitro growth of both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum, while a four fold concentration of pdTp did not have any significant effect on the mammalian cell line, Huh-7D12. Altogether, these results suggest that PfTSN is an essential enzyme in the parasite's life cycle.

Plasmodium falciparum Tudor Staphylococcal Nuclease interacting proteins suggest its role in nuclear as well as splicing processes.

Tudor Staphylococcal Nuclease (p100 or SND1), a member of the micronuclease family is a multifunctional protein that plays a key role(s) in transcription and splicing processes in many eukaryotic cells. PfTudor-SN, a Plasmodium homolog of the human p100 protein is a structurally conserved protein; however molecular details of its function are not yet understood. Our previous studies have shown that PfTudor-SN binds RNA and it is possible to selectively inhibit parasite growth by PfTudor-SN specific drugs. In the present study, we identified the molecular interactions between Plasmodium falciparum Tudor-SN and twelve Plasmodium proteins such as Histone h2A, SPT2 (a transcriptional regulator), a Cold-shock DNA binding protein in a bacterial two-hybrid screen. To get further insight into some of these interactions, we mapped the interaction domain in PfTudor-SN protein using the yeast two-hybrid system. Of these proteins, Plasmodium N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor associated protein, PfUbiquitin conjugating enzyme and Cold-shock DNA binding protein showed interaction with the SN domains of PfTudor-SN. Immuno-localization studies of the interacting proteins showed their presence predominantly in the nucleus, which inevitably suggests the molecular interactions between these proteins and PfTudor-SN. Furthermore, we also identified a molecular interaction between the Tudor domain of PfTudor-SN protein and Plasmodium spliceosomal Sm protein, PfSmD1 advocating the role of PfTudor-SN in the spliceosome assembly. Together, these results suggest multiple role(s) for PfTudor-SN protein mainly in nuclear and splicing processes at asexual blood stages of the malaria parasite.

A role of falcipain-2, principal cysteine proteases of Plasmodium falciparum in merozoite egression.

The process of merozoite release in Plasmodium falciparum involves rupture of the parasitophorous vacuole membrane and erythrocyte plasma membrane. Through the use of protease inhibitors that halt the merozoite release, a number of parasite proteases, especially serine, aspartic, and cysteine proteases, have been implicated in the schizont rupture. To understand the precise role of cysteine proteases in the merozoite release, in the present study, we treated P. falciparum cultures with siRNAs corresponding to falcipain-1, falcipain-2, and falcipain-3, the three papain-family proteases of the parasite. Treatment of malaria parasites with either of the falcipain siRNAs considerably reduced parasite growth. Morphological examination of the siRNA treated parasite cultures revealed that most of the parasites in falcipain-2 siRNA treated cultures were arrested at schizont stage. Analysis of a transgenic P. falciparum line expressing chimeric-GFP upon treatment with falcipain-2 siRNA revealed block in the rupture of erythrocyte membrane at the time of merozoite egression. These results suggest that falcipain-2 is an important parasitic protease that participates in hemoglobin degradation and in the merozoite release.