Malaria is a major health problem in many countries of the world, causing about 2 million deaths annually. The increasing spread of drug-resistant malaria parasites and insecticide-resistant vectors has stimulated the research and development of new control strategies. One strategy, focusing on the development of transmission-blocking vaccines, has resulted in the characterization of a few sexual stagespecific antigen genes. The identification of new targets for vaccine and drug development depends on the expansion of our understanding of various molecular and cellular processes of the parasite. Although malaria sexual stages are essential for the continued transmission of the disease, the molecular mechanisms governing sexual development of the parasite are largely unknown. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual development in Plasmodium falciparum, the interaction between an evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding protein (RBP) and its target mRNA(s) will be characterized at the molecular level. In other organisms, the best characterized members of this RBP family bind to 3' untranslated regions of their target mRNAs and repress their translation. The association of RBP members with germline cells in other organisms and the differential expression of the P. falciparum RBP in sexual stages suggest a related function for this protein in sexual differentiation and development of the malaria parasite. The proposed studies will evaluate this hypothesis by cloning the P. falciparuin RBP and characterizing its expression pattern, subcellular location, and specific interaction with the target mRNA(s). The target genes will be isolated and analyzed by employing the yeast three-hybrid system and in vitro binding assays. The biological functions of the RBP and its target gene(s) will be genetically studied using targeted gene disruption techniques. The results of these studies will elucidate the importance of translational control in sexual development and contribute to our understanding of the fundamental molecular biology of the parasite, which may eventually lead to the finding of novel targets for malaria control.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI046472-05
Application #
6847111
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Program Officer
Rogers, Martin J
Project Start
2001-03-15
Project End
2007-02-28
Budget Start
2005-03-01
Budget End
2007-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$207,180
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Zoology
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
003403953
City
University Park
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
16802
Cui, Liwang; Lindner, Scott; Miao, Jun (2015) Translational regulation during stage transitions in malaria parasites. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1342:1-9
Miao, Jun; Fan, Qi; Cui, Long et al. (2006) The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum histones: organization, expression, and acetylation. Gene 369:53-65
Mascorro, C N; Zhao, K; Khuntirat, B et al. (2005) Molecular evolution and intragenic recombination of the merozoite surface protein MSP-3alpha from the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax in Thailand. Parasitology 131:25-35
Fan, Qi; An, Lijia; Cui, Liwang (2004) Plasmodium falciparum histone acetyltransferase, a yeast GCN5 homologue involved in chromatin remodeling. Eukaryot Cell 3:264-76
Fan, Qi; Li, Jinfang; Kariuki, Michael et al. (2004) Characterization of PfPuf2, member of the Puf family RNA-binding proteins from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. DNA Cell Biol 23:753-60
Fan, Qi; An, Lijia; Cui, Liwang (2004) PfADA2, a Plasmodium falciparum homologue of the transcriptional coactivator ADA2 and its in vivo association with the histone acetyltransferase PfGCN5. Gene 336:251-61
Cui, Liwang; Mascorro, Carlye N; Fan, Ql et al. (2003) Genetic diversity and multiple infections of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Western Thailand. Am J Trop Med Hyg 68:613-9
Cui, Liwang; Fan, Qi; Li, Jinfang (2002) The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum encodes members of the Puf RNA-binding protein family with conserved RNA binding activity. Nucleic Acids Res 30:4607-17
Cui, L; Rzomp, K A; Fan, Q et al. (2001) Plasmodium falciparum: differential display analysis of gene expression during gametocytogenesis. Exp Parasitol 99:244-54