TY - JOUR
T1 - A newly discovered protein export machine in malaria parasites
AU - de Koning-Ward, Tania F
AU - Gilson, Paul R.
AU - Boddey, Justin A
AU - Rug, Melanie
AU - Smith, Brian J.
AU - Papenfuss, Anthony T.
AU - Sanders, Paul R
AU - Lundie, Rachel J.
AU - Maier, Alexander Gerd
AU - Cowman, Alan Frederick
AU - Crabb, Brendan S.
PY - 2009/6/18
Y1 - 2009/6/18
N2 - Several hundred malaria parasite proteins are exported beyond an encasing vacuole and into the cytosol of the host erythrocyte, a process that is central to the virulence and viability of the causative Plasmodium species. The trafficking machinery responsible for this export is unknown. Here we identify in Plasmodium falciparum a translocon of exported proteins (PTEX), which is located in the vacuole membrane. The PTEX complex is ATP-powered, and comprises heat shock protein 101 (HSP101; a ClpA/B-like ATPase from the AAA+ superfamily, of a type commonly associated with protein translocons), a novel protein termed PTEX150 and a known parasite protein, exported protein 2 (EXP2). EXP2 is the potential channel, as it is the membrane-associated component of the core PTEX complex. Two other proteins, a new protein PTEX88 and thioredoxin 2 (TRX2), were also identified as PTEX components. As a common portal for numerous crucial processes, this translocon offers a new avenue for therapeutic intervention.
AB - Several hundred malaria parasite proteins are exported beyond an encasing vacuole and into the cytosol of the host erythrocyte, a process that is central to the virulence and viability of the causative Plasmodium species. The trafficking machinery responsible for this export is unknown. Here we identify in Plasmodium falciparum a translocon of exported proteins (PTEX), which is located in the vacuole membrane. The PTEX complex is ATP-powered, and comprises heat shock protein 101 (HSP101; a ClpA/B-like ATPase from the AAA+ superfamily, of a type commonly associated with protein translocons), a novel protein termed PTEX150 and a known parasite protein, exported protein 2 (EXP2). EXP2 is the potential channel, as it is the membrane-associated component of the core PTEX complex. Two other proteins, a new protein PTEX88 and thioredoxin 2 (TRX2), were also identified as PTEX components. As a common portal for numerous crucial processes, this translocon offers a new avenue for therapeutic intervention.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649277651&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/nature08104
DO - 10.1038/nature08104
M3 - Article
C2 - 19536257
AN - SCOPUS:67649277651
SN - 0028-0836
VL - 459
SP - 945
EP - 949
JO - Nature
JF - Nature
IS - 7249
ER -
