Non-ribosomal insights into ribosomal P2 protein in Plasmodium
falciparum-infected erythrocytes
Abstract
The enormous complexity of the eukaryotic ribosome has been a real
challenge in unlocking the mechanistic aspects of its amazing molecular
function during mRNA translation and many non-canonical activities of
ribosomal proteins in eukaryotic cells. While exploring the uncanny
nature of ribosomal P proteins in malaria parasites Plasmodium
falciparum, the 60S stalk ribosomal P2 protein has been shown to get
exported to the infected erythrocyte (IE) surface as an SDS resistant
oligomer during the early to mid trophozoite stage. Inhibiting IE
surface P2 either by monoclonal antibody or through genetic knockdown
resulted in nuclear division arrest of the parasite. This very strange
and serendipitous finding has led us to explore more about un-canonical
cell biology and structural involvement of P2 protein in Plasmodium in
the search for a novel biochemical role during parasite propagation in
the human host.