Post-translational membrane sorting of the Toxoplasma gondii GRA6 protein into the parasite-containing vacuole is driven by its N-terminal domain

作者：Gendrin Claire; Bittame Amina; Mercier Corinne; Ce**ron Delauw Marie France^*

来源：International Journal for Parasitology, 2010, 40(11): 1325-1334.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.03.014

• Toxoplasma gondii
• Dense granules
• GRA proteins
• Sorting
• Secretion
• Parasitophorous vacuole
• Membranous nanotubular network

How eukaryotic pathogens export and sort membrane-bound proteins destined for host-cell compartments is still poorly understood The dense granules of the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii constitute an unusual secretory pathway that allows soluble export of the GRA proteins which become membrane-associated within the parasite replicative vacuole. This process relies on both the segregation of the proteins routed to the dense granules from those destined to the parasite plasma membrane and on the sorting of the secreted GRA proteins to their proper final membranous system Here, we provide evidence that the soluble trafficking of GRA6 to the dense granules relies on the N-terminal domain of the protein, which is sufficient to prevent GRA6 targeting to the parasite plasma membrane We also show that the GRA6 N-terminal domain, possibly by interacting with negatively charged lipids, is fundamental for proper GRA6 association with the vacuolar membranous network of nanotubes. These results support our emerging model: sorting of transmembrane GRA proteins to the host cell va

• 出版日期2010-9