Title |
A Plasmodium falciparum S33 proline aminopeptidase is associated with changes in erythrocyte deformability
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Published in |
Experimental Parasitology, June 2016
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DOI | 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.06.013 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Fabio L. da Silva, Matthew W.A. Dixon, Colin M. Stack, Franka Teuscher, Elena Taran, Malcolm K. Jones, Erica Lovas, Leann Tilley, Christopher L. Brown, Katharine R. Trenholme, John P. Dalton, Donald L. Gardiner, Tina S. Skinner-Adams |
Abstract |
Infection with the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. One of the striking features of this parasite is its ability to remodel and decrease the deformability of host red blood cells, a process that contributes to disease. To further understand the virulence of Pf we investigated the biochemistry and function of a putative Pf S33 proline aminopeptidase (PfPAP). Unlike other P. falciparum aminopeptidases, PfPAP contains a predicted protein export element that is non-syntenic with other human infecting Plasmodium species. Characterization of PfPAP demonstrated that it is exported into the host red blood cell and that it is a prolyl aminopeptidase with a preference for N-terminal proline substrates. In addition genetic deletion of this exopeptidase was shown to lead to an increase in the deformability of parasite-infected red cells and in reduced adherence to the endothelial cell receptor CD36 under flow conditions. Our studies suggest that PfPAP plays a role in the rigidification and adhesion of infected red blood cells to endothelial surface receptors, a role that may make this protein a novel target for anti-disease interventions strategies. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 2 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 2 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Germany | 1 | 4% |
Unknown | 24 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Ph. D. Student | 9 | 36% |
Student > Master | 6 | 24% |
Student > Bachelor | 2 | 8% |
Researcher | 2 | 8% |
Student > Postgraduate | 1 | 4% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 5 | 20% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 8 | 32% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 3 | 12% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 3 | 12% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | 4% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 1 | 4% |
Other | 3 | 12% |
Unknown | 6 | 24% |