AI Article Synopsis
- - The malaria parasite *Plasmodium falciparum* utilizes a specific pathway in its apicoplast to create a type of transfer RNA (tRNA), converting Glu-tRNA(Gln) to Gln-tRNA(Gln) with the help of a unique enzyme complex called glutamyl-tRNA amidotransferase, made up of two subunits, GatA and GatB.
- - Researchers found that these GatA and GatB subunits are located in the apicoplast of the parasite during its blood stage and confirmed their enzymatic activity that is crucial for the parasite’s survival.
- - A phylogenetic analysis suggests that both GatA and GatB predate the evolutionary split between bacteria and
Article Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast indirect aminoacylation pathway utilizes a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase to synthesize Glu-tRNA(Gln) and a glutaminyl-tRNA amidotransferase to convert Glu-tRNA(Gln) to Gln-tRNA(Gln). Here, we show that Plasmodium falciparum and other apicomplexans possess a unique heterodimeric glutamyl-tRNA amidotransferase consisting of GatA and GatB subunits (GatAB). We localized the P. falciparum GatA and GatB subunits to the apicoplast in blood stage parasites and demonstrated that recombinant GatAB converts Glu-tRNA(Gln) to Gln-tRNA(Gln) in vitro. We demonstrate that the apicoplast GatAB-catalyzed reaction is essential to the parasite blood stages because we could not delete the Plasmodium berghei gene encoding GatA in blood stage parasites in vivo. A phylogenetic analysis placed the split between Plasmodium GatB, archaeal GatE, and bacterial GatB prior to the phylogenetic divide between bacteria and archaea. Moreover, Plasmodium GatA also appears to have emerged prior to the bacterial-archaeal phylogenetic divide. Thus, although GatAB is found in Plasmodium, it emerged prior to the phylogenetic separation of archaea and bacteria.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4705961 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M115.655100 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Naturally acquired IgG responses to do not target the conserved termini of the malaria vaccine candidate Merozoite Surface Protein 2.
Front Immunol
December 2024
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Introduction: Malaria remains a significant burden, and a fully protective vaccine against is critical for reducing morbidity and mortality. Antibody responses against the blood-stage antigen Merozoite Surface Protein 2 (MSP2) are associated with protection from malaria, but its extensive polymorphism is a barrier to its development as a vaccine candidate. New tools, such as long-read sequencing and accurate protein structure modelling allow us to study the genetic diversity and immune responses towards antigens from clinical isolates with unprecedented detail.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProstruc: an open-source tool for 3D structure prediction using homology modeling.
Front Chem
November 2024
African Society for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Cape Town, South Africa.
Introduction: Homology modeling is a widely used computational technique for predicting the three-dimensional (3D) structures of proteins based on known templates,evolutionary relationships to provide structural insights critical for understanding protein function, interactions, and potential therapeutic targets. However, existing tools often require significant expertise and computational resources, presenting a barrier for many researchers.
Methods: Prostruc is a Python-based homology modeling tool designed to simplify protein structure prediction through an intuitive, automated pipeline.
A Novel Nuclear Protein Complex Controlling the Expression of Developmentally Regulated Genes in Toxoplasma Gondii.
Adv Sci (Weinh)
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.
Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle containing multiple developmental stages. The parasites have distinct gene expression patterns at different stages to enable stage specific life activities, but the underlying regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, a nuclear complex is identified that controls the expression of developmentally regulated genes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIs pancreatitis associated with meglumine antimoniate treatment for canine leishmaniosis? A multicentric prospective study.
Parasit Vectors
December 2024
Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
Background: Meglumine antimoniate is used to treat canine leishmaniosis. In humans, it has been associated with pancreatitis. Although a few case reports have described acute pancreatitis secondary to antimonial treatment in dogs, some studies have concluded that pancreatitis is not an adverse effect of this medication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScapular swelling: "subcutaneous cysticercosis unveiled"-a case report.
J Med Case Rep
December 2024
Department of General Medicine, INHS Asvini, Mumbai, India.
Background: Cysticercosis, a parasitic infection caused by the larval stages of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, predominantly affects cerebral and ocular tissues. The subcutaneous manifestation of this disease is a relatively uncommon clinical occurrence. Previously very few or no cases of cysticercosis presenting as subcutaneous solitary painful swelling have been reported in the literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!