Unconventional actins and actin-binding proteins in human protozoan parasites

C M Gupta; S Thiyagarajan; A A Sahasrabuddhe

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.01.011

Unconventional actins and actin-binding proteins in human protozoan parasites

Int J Parasitol. 2015 Jun;45(7):435-47. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.01.011. Epub 2015 Apr 4.

Authors

C M Gupta¹, S Thiyagarajan², A A Sahasrabuddhe³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India; Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Biotech Park, Electronic City, Phase I, Bangalore 560100, India. Electronic address: cm44gupta@gmail.com.
² Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Biotech Park, Electronic City, Phase I, Bangalore 560100, India.
³ Division of Molecular and Structural Biology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India.

PMID: 25849417
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.01.011

Abstract

Actin and its regulatory proteins play a key role in several essential cellular processes such as cell movement, intracellular trafficking and cytokinesis in most eukaryotes. While these proteins are highly conserved in higher eukaryotes, a number of unicellular eukaryotic organisms contain divergent forms of these proteins which have highly unusual biochemical and structural properties. Here, we review the biochemical and structural properties of these unconventional actins and their core binding proteins which are present in commonly occurring human protozoan parasites.

Keywords: Actin-regulatory proteins; Parasite invasion; Protozoan parasites; Unconventional actins.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Actins / metabolism*
Eukaryota / genetics
Eukaryota / metabolism*
Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
Humans
Protein Conformation
Protozoan Infections / parasitology*

Substances

Actins