EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED. Amalgamating tools of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and immunocytochemistry, this proposal offers an interdisciplinary dissection of the nucleoside transporters of Plasmodium falciparum. As protozoan parasites are incapable of synthesizing purine nucleotides de novo, nucleoside transporters provide an important, if not obligatory, nutritional function for the parasite and present several therapeutic paradigms. Two nucleoside transporter genes, PfNT1 and PfNT2, have been identified within available P. falciparum databases, and both have been cloned and sequenced in this laboratory. PfNT1 activity has been characterized in a preliminary fashion after PfNT1 cRNA injection into Xenopus laevis oocytes, and PfNT1 has also been functionally overexpressed in nucleoside transport-deficient Leishmania donovani. In addition polyclonal antisera specific for PfNT1 have been raised in rabbits and used to localize PfNT1 to the parasite plasma membrane by confocal and immunoelectron microscopy. Antibodies against PfNT2 have also been generated. These reagents are the cornerstone of the three specific aims in this proposal. The multicomponent Specific Aim I will encompass: i., a thorough biochemical characterization of PfNT1 with respect to ligand specificity and affinities and sensitivities to inhibitors of mammalian nucleoside transport; ii., an assessment of whether PfNT2 is a functional nucleoside transporter, and if so, a preliminary molecular and biochemical characterization, including immunolocatization of the protein in P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes; and iii., a verification of whether PfNT1 and PfNT2 are electrogenic transporters using the Xenopus oocyte cRNA expression system. The second Specific Aim initiates a structure-function analysis of PfNTI. We propose to implement a genetic screen for loss-of-function mutants to identify in an unbiased fashion key amino acids in PfNT1 that are required for ligand permeation and/or ligand selectivity. The last Specific Aim will explore the physiological function of PfNT1 within the parasitized erythrocyte using transfection and gene targeting approaches. Specifically, we will attempt to create Apfntl knockouts in either wild type or genetically complemented P. falciparum in order to test whether PfNT1 function is essential to the intact parasite. We will then characterize the resultant transport and growth phenotypes. PERFORMANCE SITE ========================================Section End===========================================

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI051507-03
Application #
6843158
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Program Officer
Rogers, Martin J
Project Start
2003-01-01
Project End
2007-12-31
Budget Start
2005-01-01
Budget End
2005-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$333,640
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
096997515
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239
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Augagneur, Yoann; Wesolowski, Donna; Tae, Hyun Seop et al. (2012) Gene selective mRNA cleavage inhibits the development of Plasmodium falciparum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:6235-40
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El Bissati, Kamal; Downie, Megan J; Kim, Seong-Kyoun et al. (2008) Genetic evidence for the essential role of PfNT1 in the transport and utilization of xanthine, guanine, guanosine and adenine by Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Biochem Parasitol 161:130-9
Downie, Megan J; Kirk, Kiaran; Mamoun, Choukri Ben (2008) Purine salvage pathways in the intraerythrocytic malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Eukaryot Cell 7:1231-7
Reynolds, Jennifer M; Takebe, Sachiko; Choi, Jae-Yeon et al. (2008) Biochemical and genetic analysis of the phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. J Biol Chem 283:7894-900

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