Membrane skeletons are structural elements that provide mechanical support to the plasma membrane and define cell shape. Here, we identify and characterize a putative protein component of the membrane skeleton of the malaria parasite. The protein, named PbIMC1a, is the structural orthologue of the Toxoplasma gondii inner membrane complex protein 1 (TgIMC1), a component of the membrane skeleton in tachyzoites. Using targeted gene disruption in the rodent malaria species Plasmodium berghei, we show that PbIMC1a is involved in sporozoite development, is necessary for providing normal sporozoite cell shape and mechanical stability, and is essential for sporozoite infectivity in insect and vertebrate hosts. Knockout of PbIMC1a protein expression reduces, but does not abolish, sporozoite gliding locomotion. We identify a family of proteins related to PbIMC1a in Plasmodium and other apicomplexan parasites. These results provide new functional insight in the role of membrane skeletons in apicomplexan parasite biology.
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8 November 2004
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November 08 2004
A malaria membrane skeletal protein is essential for normal morphogenesis, motility, and infectivity of sporozoites
Emad I. Khater,
Emad I. Khater
Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England, UK
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Robert E. Sinden,
Robert E. Sinden
Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England, UK
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Johannes T. Dessens
Johannes T. Dessens
Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England, UK
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Emad I. Khater
Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England, UK
Robert E. Sinden
Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England, UK
Johannes T. Dessens
Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England, UK
Correspondence to J.T. Dessens: [email protected]
Abbreviations used in this paper: IFA, immunofluorescent antibody; IMC, inner membrane complex; SMT, subpellicular microtubules; SPN, subpellicular network; WT, wild-type.
Received:
June 11 2004
Accepted:
September 15 2004
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
The Rockefeller University Press
2004
J Cell Biol (2004) 167 (3): 425–432.
Article history
Received:
June 11 2004
Accepted:
September 15 2004
Citation
Emad I. Khater, Robert E. Sinden, Johannes T. Dessens; A malaria membrane skeletal protein is essential for normal morphogenesis, motility, and infectivity of sporozoites . J Cell Biol 8 November 2004; 167 (3): 425–432. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200406068
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