Plasmodium falciparum GPI mannosyltransferase-III has novel signature sequence and is functional

Suresh H. Basagoudanavar, Xiaorong Feng, Gowdahalli Krishnegowda, Arivalagan Muthusamy, D. Channe Gowda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors of Plasmodium falciparum are indispensable for parasite survival since merozoite surface proteins-1, -2, -4, -5, and -10, crucial for erythrocyte invasion, are GPI-anchored. Therefore, the GPI biosynthetic pathway can offer potential targets for novel anti-malarial drugs. Here, we characterized the putative P. falciparum PIG-B gene (PfPIGB) that encodes mannosyltransferase-III of GPI biosynthesis. PfPIGB mRNA is transcribed in a developmental stage specific manner. A protein corresponding to the expected size of PfPIG-B is expressed by the parasite and is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Treatment of parasites with PfPIG-B specific siRNA caused reduction in GPI synthesis, affecting the PIG-B specific GPI intermediate. These data demonstrate that PfPIG-B is functional and encodes mannosyltransferase-III of the parasite GPI biosynthesis. The parasite PfPIG-B is novel in that its signature sequence HKEHKI is unique and is only partially conserved as compared to HKEXRF signature motif of mammalian PIG-B enzymes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)748-754
Number of pages7
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume364
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 28 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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