Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum RAP domain proteins-RAP291 and RAP070, and their association with ribosomal RNAs

Akhtar, A.; Deshmukh, A.; Panda, A.; Saini, E.; Pandey, R.; Junaid, I. T.; Onchieku, N.; Parveen, S.; Singh, S. S.; Gupta, D.; Theisen, M.; Mohmmed, A.; Malhotra, P.

doi:10.1101/2022.09.21.508831

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.09.21.508831

Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum RAP domain proteins-RAP291 and RAP070, and their association with ribosomal RNAs

Akhtar, A.·Deshmukh, A.·Panda, A.·Saini, E.·Pandey, R.·Junaid, I. T.·Onchieku, N.·Parveen, S.·Singh, S. S.·Gupta, D.·Theisen, M.·Mohmmed, A.·Malhotra, P.

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Abstract

Plasmodium genomes encode multiple RAP (RNA-binding domain abundant in Apicomplexan) domain proteins that contain a conserved module of 56 to 73 amino acids. Here, we characterized two of the P. falciparum RAP domain proteins; PfRAP291 & PfRAP070, for their expression and role at asexual blood stages. RNA binding assays and high-throughput CLIP-seq analysis showed that these proteins mainly bind ribosome associated RNAs. Blue-native PAGE and protein-protein interaction studies suggested association of these proteins with MSP-1 complex. Anti-PfRAP291 and anti-PfRAP070 antibodies showed moderate inhibitions in in-vitro merozoite invasion assays. Together, these results suggest multiple roles of these proteins; PfRAP291 and PfRAP070, in merozoite invasion and in ribosome regulation during asexual stages of the parasite.

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Akhtar, A., Deshmukh, A., Panda, A., Saini, E., Pandey, R., Junaid, I. T., Onchieku, N., Parveen, S., Singh, S. S., Gupta, D., Theisen, M., Mohmmed, A., Malhotra, P.. 2022-09-21. Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum RAP domain proteins-RAP291 and RAP070, and their association with ribosomal RNAs. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.09.21.508831

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