Pfsbp1, a Maurer's cleft Plasmodium falciparum protein, is associated with the erythrocyte skeleton

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2000 Nov;111(1):107-21. doi: 10.1016/s0166-6851(00)00301-7.

Abstract

Antibodies from hyperimmune monkey sera, selected by absorption to Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes, and elution at acidic pH, allowed us to characterize a novel parasite protein, Pfsbp1 (P. falciparum skeleton binding protein 1). Pfsbp1 is an integral membrane protein of parasite-induced membranous structures associated with the erythrocyte plasma membrane and referred to as Maurer's clefts. The carboxy-terminal domain of Pfsbp1, exposed within the cytoplasm of the host cell, interacts with a 35 kDa erythrocyte skeletal protein and might participate in the binding of the Maurer's clefts to the erythrocyte submembrane skeleton. Antibodies to the carboxy- and amino-terminal domains of Pfsbp1 labelled similar vesicular structures in the cytoplasm of Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium berghei-infected murine erythrocytes, suggesting that the protein is conserved among malaria species, consistent with an important role of Maurer's cleft-like structures in the intraerythrocytic development of malaria parasites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cytoplasmic Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / metabolism*
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology*
  • Gene Dosage
  • Genes, Protozoan
  • Malaria / parasitology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics
  • Plasmodium falciparum / metabolism*
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Saimiri

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Pfsbp1 protein, Plasmodium falciparum
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AJ387723