PTRAMP; a conserved Plasmodium thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein

Joanne Thompson; Rachel E Cooke; Sally Moore; Laura F Anderson; Chris J Janse; Andrew P Waters

doi:10.1016/j.molbiopara.2003.12.003

PTRAMP; a conserved Plasmodium thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2004 Apr;134(2):225-32. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2003.12.003.

Authors

Joanne Thompson¹, Rachel E Cooke, Sally Moore, Laura F Anderson, Chris J Janse, Andrew P Waters

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK. Joanne.Thompson@ed.ac.uk

PMID: 15003842
DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2003.12.003

Abstract

A gene encoding a 352 amino acid protein with a putative signal sequence, transmembrane domain and thrombospondin structural homology repeat was identified in the genome of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum and the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei. The protein localises in the apical organelles of P. falciparum and P. berghei merozoites within intraerythrocytic schizonts and has, therefore, been termed the Plasmodium thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein (PTRAMP). PTRAMP co-localises with the Apical Merozoite Antigen-1 (AMA-1) in developing micronemes and subsequently relocates onto the merozoite surface. Although the gene appears to be specific to the Plasmodium genus, orthologues are present in the genomes of all malaria parasite species examined suggesting a conserved function in host-cell invasion. PTRAMP, therefore, has all the features to merit further evaluation as a malaria vaccine candidate.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Motifs
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antigens, Protozoan / metabolism
Erythrocytes / parasitology
Gene Expression Regulation
Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
Membrane Proteins / genetics
Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
Molecular Sequence Data
Plasmodium / cytology
Plasmodium / genetics*
Plasmodium / growth & development
Plasmodium / metabolism
Plasmodium berghei / cytology
Plasmodium berghei / genetics
Plasmodium berghei / growth & development
Plasmodium berghei / metabolism
Plasmodium falciparum / cytology
Plasmodium falciparum / genetics
Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development
Plasmodium falciparum / metabolism
Protein Sorting Signals
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Protozoan Proteins / chemistry*
Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
Protozoan Proteins / metabolism*
Sequence Alignment
Sequence Homology
Thrombospondins / genetics

Substances

Antigens, Protozoan
Membrane Proteins
PTRAMP protein, Plasmodium
Protein Sorting Signals
Protozoan Proteins
Thrombospondins
apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium