Apicortin, a Constituent of Apicomplexan Conoid/Apical Complex and Its Tentative Role in Pathogen—Host Interaction
In 2009, apicortin was identified in silico as a characteristic protein of apicomplexans that also occurs in the placozoa, <i>Trichoplax adhaerens</i>. Since then, it has been found that apicortin also occurs in free-living cousins of apicomplexans (chromerids) and in flagellated fungi....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/6/3/118 |
| _version_ | 1797528186918010880 |
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| author | Ferenc Orosz |
| author_facet | Ferenc Orosz |
| author_sort | Ferenc Orosz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2009, apicortin was identified in silico as a characteristic protein of apicomplexans that also occurs in the placozoa, <i>Trichoplax adhaerens</i>. Since then, it has been found that apicortin also occurs in free-living cousins of apicomplexans (chromerids) and in flagellated fungi. It contains a partial p25-α domain and a doublecortin (DCX) domain, both of which have tubulin/microtubule binding properties. Apicortin has been studied experimentally in two very important apicomplexan pathogens, <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>. It is localized in the apical complex in both parasites. In <i>T. gondii</i>, apicortin plays a key role in shaping the structure of a special tubulin polymer, conoid. In both parasites, its absence or downregulation has been shown to impair pathogen–host interactions. Based on these facts, it has been suggested as a therapeutic target for treatment of malaria and toxoplasmosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:54:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d4d78236443495981206b060c30381f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:54:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d4d78236443495981206b060c30381f2023-11-22T02:26:46ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662021-06-016311810.3390/tropicalmed6030118Apicortin, a Constituent of Apicomplexan Conoid/Apical Complex and Its Tentative Role in Pathogen—Host InteractionFerenc Orosz0Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Enzymology, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, 1117 Budapest, HungaryIn 2009, apicortin was identified in silico as a characteristic protein of apicomplexans that also occurs in the placozoa, <i>Trichoplax adhaerens</i>. Since then, it has been found that apicortin also occurs in free-living cousins of apicomplexans (chromerids) and in flagellated fungi. It contains a partial p25-α domain and a doublecortin (DCX) domain, both of which have tubulin/microtubule binding properties. Apicortin has been studied experimentally in two very important apicomplexan pathogens, <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>. It is localized in the apical complex in both parasites. In <i>T. gondii</i>, apicortin plays a key role in shaping the structure of a special tubulin polymer, conoid. In both parasites, its absence or downregulation has been shown to impair pathogen–host interactions. Based on these facts, it has been suggested as a therapeutic target for treatment of malaria and toxoplasmosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/6/3/118apicortin<i>Plasmodium</i><i>Toxoplasma</i>p25alpha domainDCX domainapicomplexa |
| spellingShingle | Ferenc Orosz Apicortin, a Constituent of Apicomplexan Conoid/Apical Complex and Its Tentative Role in Pathogen—Host Interaction Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease apicortin <i>Plasmodium</i> <i>Toxoplasma</i> p25alpha domain DCX domain apicomplexa |
| title | Apicortin, a Constituent of Apicomplexan Conoid/Apical Complex and Its Tentative Role in Pathogen—Host Interaction |
| title_full | Apicortin, a Constituent of Apicomplexan Conoid/Apical Complex and Its Tentative Role in Pathogen—Host Interaction |
| title_fullStr | Apicortin, a Constituent of Apicomplexan Conoid/Apical Complex and Its Tentative Role in Pathogen—Host Interaction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Apicortin, a Constituent of Apicomplexan Conoid/Apical Complex and Its Tentative Role in Pathogen—Host Interaction |
| title_short | Apicortin, a Constituent of Apicomplexan Conoid/Apical Complex and Its Tentative Role in Pathogen—Host Interaction |
| title_sort | apicortin a constituent of apicomplexan conoid apical complex and its tentative role in pathogen host interaction |
| topic | apicortin <i>Plasmodium</i> <i>Toxoplasma</i> p25alpha domain DCX domain apicomplexa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/6/3/118 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ferencorosz apicortinaconstituentofapicomplexanconoidapicalcomplexanditstentativeroleinpathogenhostinteraction |