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Infection and Immunity, September 2002, p. 5236-5245, Vol. 70, No. 9
0019-9567/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.70.9.5236-5245.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Identification and Disruption of the Gene Encoding the Third Member of the Low-Molecular-Mass Rhoptry Complex in Plasmodium falciparum

Deborah L. Baldi, Robert Good, Manoj T. Duraisingh, Brendan S. Crabb, and Alan F. Cowman*

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 3050, Australia

Received 16 April 2002/ Returned for modification 29 May 2002/ Accepted 4 June 2002

The low-molecular-mass rhoptry complex of Plasmodium falciparum consists of three proteins, rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP1), RAP2, and RAP3. The genes encoding RAP1 and RAP2 are known; however, the RAP3 gene has not been identified. In this study we identify the RAP3 gene from the P. falciparum genome database and show that this protein is part of the low-molecular-mass rhoptry complex. Disruption of RAP3 demonstrated that it is not essential for merozoite invasion, probably because RAP2 can complement the loss of RAP3. RAP3 has homology with RAP2, and the genes are encoded on chromosome 5 in a head-to-tail fashion. Analysis of the genome databases has identified homologous genes in all Plasmodium spp., suggesting that this protein plays a role in merozoite invasion. The region surrounding the RAP3 homologue in the Plasmodium yoelii genome is syntenic with the same region in P. falciparum; however, there is a single gene. Phylogenetic comparison of the RAP2/3 protein family from Plasmodium spp. suggests that the RAP2/3 duplication occurred after divergence of these parasite species.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, 3050 Australia. Phone: 62-3-93452555. Fax: 62-3-93470852. E-mail: cowman{at}wehi.edu.au.

Editor: W. A. Petri, Jr.

Infection and Immunity, September 2002, p. 5236-5245, Vol. 70, No. 9
0019-9567/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.70.9.5236-5245.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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