Mechanisms of protein transport into the quadruplex membrane organelle of Plasmodium falciparum

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06528
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43020:Structural biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Saitoh Takashi 北海道科学大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (00432914)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 木股 洋子 山口大学, 大学院創成科学研究科, 准教授 (60255429)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 蛋白質間相互作用 / マラリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plasmodium falciparum has a plastid called apicoplast, which is surrounded by a quadruple envelope. Most of the proteins used in the apicoplast are synthesised in the cytoplasm and then transported into the apicoplast by various translocators. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interaction mechanism between apicoplast proteins and Tic22, one of the proteins constituting the translocators. As a result, it has been revealed that Tic22 recognised the protein main body, not the signal or transit sequences. In order to obtain more detailed information, the protein was divided into peptide chains and in silico screening was carried out to identify the region that binds to Tic22. Based on the information obtained, peptides were synthesised and their interaction with Tic22 was confirmed by the biolayer interferometry method.

Free Research Field

生物物理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

マラリア感染症は早急に人類が克服すべき疾病であり、発展途上国を中心に毎年およそ3億人が感染し年間約50万人の命を奪っている。研究対象であるアピコプラストはマラリア原虫の生存に必須の細胞小器官であり、新たな創薬ターゲットとして注目されている。本研究から得られたアピコプラスト蛋白質とTic22蛋白質の相互作用についての知見は、今後の新機構マラリア薬の開発につながる可能性がある。