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, Trichoplax adhaerens. Since then, it has been found that apicortin also occurs in free-living cousins of apicomplexans (chromerids) and in flagellated fungi. It contains a parti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tropical medicine and infectious disease 2021-06, Vol.6 (3), p.118
Main Author: Orosz, Ferenc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Animals
apicomplexa
apicortin
Asexuality
DCX domain
Fungi
Genomes
p25alpha domain
Parasites
Phylogenetics
Plasmodium
Proteins
Review
Toxoplasma
Toxoplasmosis
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Summary:In 2009, apicortin was identified in silico as a characteristic protein of apicomplexans that also occurs in the placozoa, Trichoplax adhaerens. 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, Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum. It is localized in the apical complex in both parasites. In T. gondii, 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.
ISSN:2414-6366
2414-6366
DOI:10.3390/tropicalmed6030118