Abstract
Members of a multigene family in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii yoelii code for 235-kilodalton proteins (Py235) that are located in the merozoite apical complex, are implicated in virulence, and may determine red blood cell specificity. We show that distinct subsets of py235 genes are expressed in sporozoites and hepatic and erythrocytic stages. Antibodies to Py235 inhibited sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes. The switch in expression profile occurred immediately after transition from one stage to another. The results suggest that this differential expression is driven by strong biological requirements and provide evidence that hepatic and erythrocytic merozoites differ.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Anopheles / parasitology
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Cells, Cultured
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Erythrocytes / parasitology
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Genes, Protozoan*
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Hepatocytes / parasitology
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Life Cycle Stages
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Malaria / parasitology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Multigene Family*
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Plasmodium yoelii / genetics*
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Plasmodium yoelii / growth & development*
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Plasmodium yoelii / metabolism
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Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
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Protozoan Proteins / genetics
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Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Salivary Glands / parasitology
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Transcription, Genetic*
Substances
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Protozoan Proteins
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RNA, Messenger