Abstract
In this study, we characterize Plasmodium falciparum proteins, exoribonuclease II (RNase II) and Translocon (PTEX150); encoded by genes PF3D7_0906000 and PF3D7_1436300, respectively, and selected from proteomic analysis of the P. yoelii merozoite rhoptries. The proteins were characterized bioinformatically using PlasmoDB, ExPasy and NCBI portals. The strategy for characterization was established on the basis of protein alignment for sequence identity, domain analysis and transcriptome analysis of the genes PF3D7_0906000 and PF3D7_1436300 among Plasmodium species and members of the phylum apicomplexa. The protein translocon (PTEX150) is a subunit of transport complex in the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) involved in protein export from the intracellular parasite into the host erythrocyte cytoplasm. The role of the translocon in P. yoelii is unknown. The ribonuclease binding (RNB-like) domains in RNase II are predicted to be highly conserved among Plasmodium sp. and other apicomplexans with different host cell specificities
Highlights
Malaria still remains a significant economic and public health disease worldwide
The gene PF3D7_0906000 expresses a putative RNase II, a ribonuclease binding (RNB)-like protein of approximately 214 kDa found in Plasmodium and in other members of the apicomplexan phylum such as Theileria, Babesia and Cryptosporidium
Data annotated in PlasmoDB [18] shows that RNase II characterized by the presence of RNB-like protein domains is conserved across Plasmodium species PlasmoDB [18]
Summary
Malaria still remains a significant economic and public health disease worldwide. The disease affects about 219 million people with an estimated 660,000 deaths [1,2]. In silico analysis using PlasmoDB [18], GeneDB [19], ExPasy [20], PSortbII [21], National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and COBALT [22] Multiple Alignment Tool were employed to identify functional domains that could be validated in in vitro experimental studies in P. falciparum cultures. Both genes were characterized for features such as conservation profiles, domain architecture and alignment of sequences, both within Plasmodium species and among members of the phylum apicomplexa. Functional domains and motifs from annotated data within the PlasmoDB [18] database were compared, in an attempt to develop testable experimental approaches that can identify specific conserved features that will expand our understanding of asexual stage host cell invasion and parasitism, identify new vaccine and drug targets and new diagnostic biomarkers
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