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Protein Trafficking to Apical Organelles of Malaria Parasites – Building an Invasion Machine
Author(s) -
Kats Lev M.,
Cooke Brian M.,
Coppel Ross L.,
Black Casilda G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
traffic
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.677
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1600-0854
pISSN - 1398-9219
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2007.00681.x
Subject(s) - rhoptry , biology , organelle , biogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , secretion , microneme , organelle biogenesis , apicomplexa , plasmodium (life cycle) , malaria , parasite hosting , immunology , plasmodium falciparum , genetics , biochemistry , gene , world wide web , computer science
Malaria is caused by four species of apicomplexan protozoa belonging to the genus Plasmodium. These parasites possess a specialized collection of secretory organelles called rhoptries, micronemes and dense granules (DGs) that in part facilitate invasion of host cells. The mechanism by which the parasite traffics proteins to these organelles as well as regulates their secretion has important implications for understanding the invasion process and may lead to development of novel intervention strategies. In this review, we focus on emerging data about trafficking signals, mechanisms of biogenesis and secretion. At least some of these are conserved in higher eukaryotes, suggesting that rhoptries, micronemes and DGs are related to organelles such as secretory lysosomes that are well known to mainstream cell biologists.