Location, location, location: Trafficking and function of secreted proteases of toxoplasma and plasmodium

Emily M. Binder, Kami Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Apicomplexan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium species are obligate intracellular parasites that rely upon unique secretory organelles for invasion and other specialized functions. Data is emerging that proteases are critical for the biogenesis of micronemes and rhoptries, regulated secretory organelles reminiscent of dense core granules and secretory lysosomes of higher eukaryotes. Proteases targeted to the Plasmodium food vacuole, a unique organelle dedicated to hemoglobin degradation, are also critical to parasite survival. Thus study of the targeting and function of the proteases of the Apicomplexa provides a fascinating model system to understand regulated secretion and secretory organelle biogenesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)914-924
Number of pages11
JournalTraffic
Volume5
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2004

Keywords

  • Dense granule
  • Falcipain
  • Invasion
  • Lysosome
  • Microneme
  • Plasmepsin
  • Rhoptry
  • Secretion
  • Subtilase
  • Toxopain

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Location, location, location: Trafficking and function of secreted proteases of toxoplasma and plasmodium'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this