Identification and Molecular Dissection of IMC32, a Conserved <i>Toxoplasma</i> Inner Membrane Complex Protein That Is Essential for Parasite Replication
Juan A. Torres, Rebecca R. Pasquarelli, P. Back, Andy S. Moon, Peter J. Bradley
Abstract
IMC that localizes to very early daughter buds, indicating a role in the early stages of parasite replication. We then demonstrate that IMC32 is essential for parasite survival and pinpoint conserved regions within the protein that are important for membrane association and daughter cell formation. As IMC32 is unique to these parasites and not present in their mammalian hosts, it serves as a new target for the development of drugs that exclusively affect these important intracellular pathogens.
Topics & Concepts
Parasite hostingIdentification (biology)Replication (statistics)BiologyModel organismDissection (medical)Computational biologyVirologyCell biologyGeneGeneticsComputer scienceAnatomyEcologyWorld Wide WebToxoplasma gondii Research StudiesParasitic Infections and DiagnosticsCytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research