8c3y
HB3VAR03 apo headstructure (PfEMP1 A)HB3VAR03 apo headstructure (PfEMP1 A)
Structural highlights
Publication Abstract from PubMedSevere Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections are caused by microvascular sequestration of parasites binding to the human endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) via the multi-domain P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) adhesion ligands. Using cryogenic electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) and PfEMP1 sequence diversity analysis, we found that group A PfEMP1 CIDRalpha1 domains interact with the adjacent DBLalpha1 domain through central, conserved residues of the EPCR-binding site to adopt a compact conformation. Upon EPCR binding, the DBLalpha1 domain is displaced, and the EPCR-binding helix of CIDRalpha1 is turned, kinked, and twisted to reach a rearranged, stable EPCR-bound conformation. The unbound conformation and the required transition to the EPCR-bound conformation may represent a conformational masking mechanism of immune evasion for the PfEMP1 family. Endothelial protein C receptor binding induces conformational changes to severe malaria-associated group A PfEMP1.,Rajan Raghavan SS, Turner L, Jensen RW, Johansen NT, Jensen DS, Gourdon P, Zhang J, Wang Y, Theander TG, Wang K, Lavstsen T Structure. 2023 Oct 5;31(10):1174-1183.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2023.07.011. Epub , 2023 Aug 14. PMID:37582356[1] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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