Structural analysis of P. falciparum KAHRP and PfEMP1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions.

Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) and Knob-associated Histidine-rich Protein (KAHRP) are directly linked to malaria pathology. PfEMP1 and KAHRP cluster on protrusions (knobs) on the P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte surface and enable pathogenic cytoadherence of infected...

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Main Authors: Erin E Cutts, Niklas Laasch, Dirk M Reiter, Raphael Trenker, Leanne M Slater, Phillip J Stansfeld, Ioannis Vakonakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-08-01
Series:PLoS Pathogens
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1006552&type=printable
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author Erin E Cutts
Niklas Laasch
Dirk M Reiter
Raphael Trenker
Leanne M Slater
Phillip J Stansfeld
Ioannis Vakonakis
author_facet Erin E Cutts
Niklas Laasch
Dirk M Reiter
Raphael Trenker
Leanne M Slater
Phillip J Stansfeld
Ioannis Vakonakis
author_sort Erin E Cutts
collection DOAJ
description Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) and Knob-associated Histidine-rich Protein (KAHRP) are directly linked to malaria pathology. PfEMP1 and KAHRP cluster on protrusions (knobs) on the P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte surface and enable pathogenic cytoadherence of infected erythrocytes to the host microvasculature, leading to restricted blood flow, oxygen deprivation and damage of tissues. Here we characterize the interactions of PfEMP1 and KAHRP with host erythrocyte spectrin using biophysical, structural and computational approaches. These interactions assist knob formation and, thus, promote cytoadherence. We show that the folded core of the PfEMP1 cytosolic domain interacts broadly with erythrocyte spectrin but shows weak, residue-specific preference for domain 17 of α spectrin, which is proximal to the erythrocyte cytoskeletal junction. In contrast, a protein sequence repeat region in KAHRP preferentially associates with domains 10-14 of β spectrin, proximal to the spectrin-ankyrin complex. Structural models of PfEMP1 and KAHRP with spectrin combined with previous microscopy and protein interaction data suggest a model for knob architecture.
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language English
publishDate 2017-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-97e05a91c1c54289b5b586d310981f6f2025-08-20T03:12:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742017-08-01138e100655210.1371/journal.ppat.1006552Structural analysis of P. falciparum KAHRP and PfEMP1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions.Erin E CuttsNiklas LaaschDirk M ReiterRaphael TrenkerLeanne M SlaterPhillip J StansfeldIoannis VakonakisPlasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 (PfEMP1) and Knob-associated Histidine-rich Protein (KAHRP) are directly linked to malaria pathology. PfEMP1 and KAHRP cluster on protrusions (knobs) on the P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte surface and enable pathogenic cytoadherence of infected erythrocytes to the host microvasculature, leading to restricted blood flow, oxygen deprivation and damage of tissues. Here we characterize the interactions of PfEMP1 and KAHRP with host erythrocyte spectrin using biophysical, structural and computational approaches. These interactions assist knob formation and, thus, promote cytoadherence. We show that the folded core of the PfEMP1 cytosolic domain interacts broadly with erythrocyte spectrin but shows weak, residue-specific preference for domain 17 of α spectrin, which is proximal to the erythrocyte cytoskeletal junction. In contrast, a protein sequence repeat region in KAHRP preferentially associates with domains 10-14 of β spectrin, proximal to the spectrin-ankyrin complex. Structural models of PfEMP1 and KAHRP with spectrin combined with previous microscopy and protein interaction data suggest a model for knob architecture.https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1006552&type=printable
spellingShingle Erin E Cutts
Niklas Laasch
Dirk M Reiter
Raphael Trenker
Leanne M Slater
Phillip J Stansfeld
Ioannis Vakonakis
Structural analysis of P. falciparum KAHRP and PfEMP1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions.
PLoS Pathogens
title Structural analysis of P. falciparum KAHRP and PfEMP1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions.
title_full Structural analysis of P. falciparum KAHRP and PfEMP1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions.
title_fullStr Structural analysis of P. falciparum KAHRP and PfEMP1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions.
title_full_unstemmed Structural analysis of P. falciparum KAHRP and PfEMP1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions.
title_short Structural analysis of P. falciparum KAHRP and PfEMP1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions.
title_sort structural analysis of p falciparum kahrp and pfemp1 complexes with host erythrocyte spectrin suggests a model for cytoadherent knob protrusions
url https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1006552&type=printable
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