Plasmodium falciparum possesses two GRASP proteins that are differentially targeted to the Golgi complex via a higher- and lower-eukaryote-like mechanism

Nicole Struck, Susann Herrmann, Christine Langer, Andreas Krueger, Bernardo J Foth, Klemens Engelberg, Ana L Cabrera, Moritz Treeck, Matthias Marti, Alan Frederick Cowman, Tobias Spielmann, Tim W Gilberger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleOther

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, relies on a complex protein-secretion system for protein targeting into numerous subcellular destinations. Recently, a homologue of the Golgi re-assembly stacking protein (GRASP) was identified and used to characterise the Golgi organisation in this parasite. Here, we report on the presence of a splice variant that leads to the expression of a GRASP isoform. Although the first GRASP protein (GRASP1) relies on a well-conserved myristoylation motif, the variant (GRASP2) displays a different N-terminus, similar to GRASPs found in fungi. Phylogenetic analyses between GRASP proteins of numerous taxa point to an independent evolution of the unusual N-terminus that could reflect unique requirements for Golgi-dependent protein sorting and organelle biogenesis in P. falciparum. Golgi association of GRASP2 depends on the hydrophobic N-terminus that resembles a signal anchor, leading to a unique mode of Golgi targeting and membrane attachment.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2123 - 2129
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Cell Science
Volume121
Issue numberPt 13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes

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