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Identification and disruption of the gene encoding the third member of the low-molecular-mass rhoptry complex in Plasmodium falciparum

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posted on 2002-09-01, 00:00 authored by Debbie BaldiDebbie Baldi, R Good, M Duraisingh, B Crabb, A Cowman
The low-molecular-mass rhoptry complex of Plasmodium falciparum consists of three proteins, rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP1), RAP2, and RAP3. The genes encoding RAP1 and RAP2 are known; however, the RAP3 gene has not been identified. In this study we identify the RAP3 gene from the P. falciparum genome database and show that this protein is part of the low-molecular-mass rhoptry complex. Disruption of RAP3 demonstrated that it is not essential for merozoite invasion, probably because RAP2 can complement the loss of RAP3. RAP3 has homology with RAP2, and the genes are encoded on chromosome 5 in a head-to-tail fashion. Analysis of the genome databases has identified homologous genes in all Plasmodium spp., suggesting that this protein plays a role in merozoite invasion. The region surrounding the RAP3 homologue in the Plasmodium yoelii genome is syntenic with the same region in P. falciparum; however, there is a single gene. Phylogenetic comparison of the RAP2/3 protein family from Plasmodium spp. suggests that the RAP2/3 duplication occurred after divergence of these parasite species.

History

Journal

Infection and immunity

Volume

70

Issue

9

Pagination

5236 - 5245

Publisher

American Society for Microbiology

Location

Washington, D.C.

ISSN

0019-9567

eISSN

1098-5522

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2002, American Society for Microbiology

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