The Complete Sequence of the Gene for the Knob-associated Histidine-rich Protein from Plasmodium Falciparum

Overview

Journal EMBO J

Specialties Biotechnology
Molecular Biology

Date 1987 May 1

PMID 3301325

Citations 18

Authors

T Triglia

H D Stahl

P E Crewther

D Scanlon

G V Brown

R F Anders

D J Kemp

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

'Knobs' at the surface of erythrocytes infected with mature stages of Plasmodium falciparum are believed to be important in adherence of these cells to capillary walls. They contain at least one parasite protein, designated the knob-associated histidine-rich protein (KAHRP). We present here the sequences of a cDNA and chromosomal clone that predict the complete sequence of KAHRP. The gene contains a single intervening sequence, located at the 3' boundary of the hydrophobic core of a putative signal sequence. Exon two encodes a short region that is rich in histidine as well as two separate regions of repetitive sequence, the 5' repeats (five copies related to SKKHKDNEDAESVK) and the 3' repeats (seven copies related to SKGATKEAST). These repeat blocks were both shown to bear epitopes recognized by the human immune system during natural infection by expressing them separately in Escherichia coli, and reacting human antibodies affinity-purified on lysates of the resulting clones with the corresponding synthetic oligopeptides. The 3' end of the molecule, presumably the repetitive region, is a site of size variation in KAHRP from different isolates.

Citing Articles

Genetic diversity at the C-terminal domain of knob-associated histidine-rich protein (KAHRP) of isolates from Burundi, Eastern Africa.

Mardani A, Hezarjaribi H, Fakhar M, Emadi S, Rezaei-Rad A, Butore J Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2018; 34:34-38.

PMID: 30191063 PMC: 6125797. DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2018.08.016.

Expansion of Lysine-rich Repeats in Plasmodium Proteins Generates Novel Localization Sequences That Target the Periphery of the Host Erythrocyte.

Davies H, Thalassinos K, Osborne A J Biol Chem. 2016; 291(50):26188-26207.

PMID: 27777305 PMC: 5207086. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M116.761213.

A spiral scaffold underlies cytoadherent knobs in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes.

Watermeyer J, Hale V, Hackett F, Clare D, Cutts E, Vakonakis I Blood. 2015; 127(3):343-51.

PMID: 26637786 PMC: 4797390. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-10-674002.

Dynamic association of PfEMP1 and KAHRP in knobs mediates cytoadherence during Plasmodium invasion.

Ganguly A, Ranjan P, Kumar A, Bhavesh N Sci Rep. 2015; 5:8617.

PMID: 25726759 PMC: 4345318. DOI: 10.1038/srep08617.

Genetic polymorphism at the C-terminal domain (region III) of knob-associated histidine-rich protein (KAHRP) of Plasmodium falciparum in isolates from Iran.

Mardani A, Keshavarz H, Heidari A, Hajjaran H, Raeisi A, Khorramizadeh M Parasitol Res. 2011; 109(6):1647-52.

PMID: 21594767 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2437-x.

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