A bioinformatic survey of RNA-binding proteins in Plasmodium

• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2092-1
• Publication Date: 2015-11-02T13:24:21Z
• Authors: BP Niranjan Reddy; Sony Shrestha; Kevin J. Hart; Xiaoying Liang; Karen Kemirembe; Liwang Cui; Scott E. Lindner
• Keywords: Plasmodium (life cycle)

The malaria parasites in the genus Plasmodium have a very complicated life cycle involving an invertebrate vector and vertebrate host. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are critical factors involved every aspect of development these parasites. However, few RBPs been functionally characterized to date human parasite falciparum. Using different bioinformatic methods tools we searched P. falciparum genome list annotate RBPs. A representative 3D models for each RBD domain identified was created using I-TESSAR SWISS-MODEL. Microarray RNAseq data analysis pertaining PfRBPs performed MeV software. Finally, Cytoscape used create protein-protein interaction network CITH-Dozi Caf1-CCR4-Not complexes. We report identification 189 putative RBP genes belonging 13 families Plasmodium, which comprise 3.5 % all annotated genes. Almost 90 (169/189) belong six prominent classes, namely RNA recognition motifs, DEAD/H-box helicases, K homology, Zinc finger, Puf Alba gene families. Interestingly, almost helicases KH cognate homologs model species, suggesting their evolutionary conservation. Exploration existing blood-stage transcriptomes revealed that most peak mRNA expression levels early during intraerythrocytic cycle, taper off later stages. Nearly 27 elevated gametocytes, while 47 24 ookinete asexual Comparative interactome analyses datasets suggest extensive conservation PfCITH/PfDOZI PfCaf1-CCR4-NOT possess large number so far, presence post-transcriptional regulation Taken together, silico provides foundation future functional studies aimed at defining unique