Journal of Proteomics & Bioinformatics
Open Access

Abstract

In Silico Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum and P. yoelii Translocon and Exoribonuclease II (RNase II) Identified in the Merozoite Rhoptry Proteome

Moses Z Timta, Raghavendra Yadavalli and Tobili Y Sam-Yellowe

In this study, we characterize Plasmodium falciparum proteins, exoribonuclease II (RNase II) and Translocon (PTEX150); encoded by genes PF3D7_0906000 and PF3D7_1436300, respectively, and selected from proteomic analysis of the P. yoelii merozoite rhoptries. The proteins were characterized bioinformatically using PlasmoDB, ExPasy and NCBI portals. The strategy for characterization was established on the basis of protein alignment for sequence identity, domain analysis and transcriptome analysis of the genes PF3D7_0906000 and PF3D7_1436300 among Plasmodium species and members of the phylum apicomplexa. The protein translocon (PTEX150) is a subunit of transport complex in the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) involved in protein export from the intracellular parasite into the host erythrocyte cytoplasm. The role of the translocon in P. yoelii is unknown. The ribonuclease binding (RNB-like) domains in RNase II are predicted to be highly conserved among Plasmodium sp. and other apicomplexans with different host cell specificities