화학공학소재연구정보센터
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol.363, No.3, 680-686, 2007
Toxoplasma gondii possesses a receptor for activated C kinase ortholog
Receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) has been implicated in multiple protein-protein interactions including functioning as a scaffolding protein for signaling molecules. We report the cloning and cellular localization of a RACK1 ortholog (TgRACK1) in the opportunistic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. The full-length transcript possesses a predicted ORF of 966 bp and codes for a protein of similar to 35 kDa molecular weight. Molecular analysis of TgRACK1 reveals the presence of seven WD40 repeat motifs. TgRACK1 was tagged with a FLAG epitope and stably expressed in RH parasites. FLAG-TgRACK1 localizes to the parasite cytoplasm and nucleus. Immunoprecipitation (IP) of FLAG-TgRACK1 from highly purified extracellular parasites followed by immunoblot analysis reveals an interaction between Tg beta COP and FLAG-TgRACK1. This is the first demonstration of an interaction between a beta COP subunit and the RACK1 protein. This result is of interest given that a signaling event precedes protein secretion and parasite invasion. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.