RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Identification and characterisation of a phospholipid scramblase in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2020.06.22.165258 DO 10.1101/2020.06.22.165258 A1 Silvia Haase A1 Melanie Condron A1 David Miller A1 Dounia Cherkaoui A1 Sarah Jordan A1 Jacqueline M Gulbis A1 Jake Baum YR 2020 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/06/22/2020.06.22.165258.abstract AB Recent studies highlight the emerging role of lipids as important messengers in malaria parasite biology. In an attempt to identify interacting proteins and regulators of these dynamic and versatile molecules, we hypothesised the involvement of phospholipid translocases and their substrates in the infection of the host erythrocyte by the malaria parasite Plasmodium spp. Here, using a data base mining approach, we have identified a putative phospholipid (PL) scramblase in P. falciparum (PfPLSCR) that is conserved across the genus and in closely related unicellular algae. By reconstituting recombinant PfPLSCR into liposomes, we demonstrate metal ion dependent PL translocase activity and substrate preference, confirming PfPLSCR as a bona fide scramblase. We confirm that PfPLSCR is expressed during asexual and sexual parasite development, localising to different membranous compartments of the parasite throughout the intra-erythrocytic life cycle. Two different gene knockout approaches, however, suggest that PfPLSCR is not essential for erythrocyte invasion and asexual parasite development, pointing towards a possible role in other stages of the parasite life cycle.