Structure of a gametocyte protein essential for sexual development in Plasmodium falciparum

Authors

Amit Sharma, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi
Indu Sharma, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi
Darin Kogkasuriyachai, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Nirbhay Kumar, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2003

Journal

Nature Structural Biology

Volume

10

Issue

3

DOI

10.1038/nsb899

Abstract

Malaria transmission is dependent on the development of sexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum, called gametocytes, in the vertebrate host. Pfg27 is an abundantly expressed sexual stage-specific protein that is essential for gametocytogenesis in P. falciparum. We describe the crystal structure of Pfg27, which reveals a novel fold composed of two pseudo dyad-related repeats of the helix-turn-helix motif. Structurally equivalent helices of each repeat either form a dimer interface or interact with RNA in vitro. One side of the dimer presents an unprecedented juxtaposition of four polyproline (PXXP) motifs. Preliminary binding data indicate that these sites are capable of binding Src homology-3 (SH3) modules. Molecular modeling suggests that the dimer can accommodate two SH3 modules simultaneously, potentially enabling molecular crosstalk between SH3-containing proteins. The structural and initial biochemical evidence suggests that Pfg27 may serve as a platform for RNA and SH3 binding.

APA Citation

Sharma, A., Sharma, I., Kogkasuriyachai, D., & Kumar, N. (2003). Structure of a gametocyte protein essential for sexual development in Plasmodium falciparum. Nature Structural Biology, 10 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nsb899