Insights into duffy binding-like domains through the crystal structure and function of the merozoite surface protein MSPDBL2 from Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

Invasion of human red blood cells by Plasmodium falciparum involves interaction of the merozoite form through proteins on the surface coat. The erythrocyte binding-like protein family functions after initial merozoite interaction by binding via the Duffy binding-like (DBL) domain to receptors on the host red blood cell. The merozoite surface proteins DBL1 and -2 (PfMSPDBL1 and PfMSPDBL2) (PF10-0348 and PF10-0355) are extrinsically associated with the merozoite, and both have a DBLdomain in each protein. We expressed and refolded recombinant DBL domains for PfMSPDBL1 and -2 and show they are functional. The red cell binding characteristics of these domains were shown to be similar to full-len..