Identification of Plasmodium falciparum RhopH3 protein peptides that specifically bind to erythrocytes and inhibit merozoite invasion

Carlos Giovanni Pinzón, Hernando Curtidor, Claudia Reyes, David Méndez, Manuel Elkin Patarroyo

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch Articlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The identification of sequences involved in binding to erythrocytes is an important step for understanding the molecular basis of merozoite-erythrocyte interactions that take place during invasion of the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite into host cells. Several molecules located in the apical organelles (micronemes, rhoptry, dense granules) of the invasive-stage parasite are essential for erythrocyte recognition, invasion, and establishment of the nascent parasitophorous vacuole. Particularly, it has been demonstrated that rhoptry proteins play an important role in binding to erythrocyte surface receptors, among which is the Pf RhopH3 protein, which triggers important immune responses in patients from endemic regions. It has also been reported that anti-RhopH3 antibodies inhibit in vitro invasion of erythrocytes, further supporting its direct involvement in erythrocyte invasion processes. In this study, Pf RhopH3 consecutive peptides were synthesized and tested in erythrocyte binding assays for identifying those regions mediating binding to erythrocytes. Fourteen Pf RhopH3 peptides presenting high specific binding activity were found, whose bindings were saturable and presented nanomolar dissociation constants. These high-activity binding peptides (HABPs) were characterized by having a-helical structural elements, as determined by circular dichroism, and having receptors of a possible sialic acid-dependent and/or glycoprotein- dependent nature, as evidenced in enzyme-treated erythrocyte binding assays and further corroborated by cross-linking assay results. Furthermore, these HABPs inhibited merozoite in vitro invasion of normal erythrocytes at 200 mM by up to 60% and 90%, suggesting that some RhopH3 protein regions are involved in the P. falciparum erythrocyte invasion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1719-1730
Number of pages12
JournalProtein Science
Volume17
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Identification of Plasmodium falciparum RhopH3 protein peptides that specifically bind to erythrocytes and inhibit merozoite invasion'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this