PfEMP3 and HRP1: co-expressed genes localized to chromosome 2 of Plasmodium falciparum.

A malarial protein, Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 3 (PfEMP3), has been recently characterized as a high-molecular-mass component (approx. 315 kDa) localized to the erythrocyte membrane of knob-bearing (K+), cytoadherent (C+) mature stages of P. falciparum-parasitized erythrocytes (PE) [Pasloske et al., Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 59 (1993) 59-72]. Knobless (K-), non-cytoadherent (C-) parasites of the same strain were shown to lack the PfEMP3 gene. In view of the biological importance of the knobby and cytoadherent phenotypes with regard to parasite virulence, we extended the analysis of PfEMP3 and its gene product to other K+/K- and C+/C- parasites. Previously, other studies have shown that the malarial protein, knob-associated histidine-rich protein 1 (HRP1), is also strongly correlated with knob expression. Here, we show that PfEMP3 and HRP1 were absent from all the K- parasites tested, including the Palo Alto (PA) K-C+ strain. This result demonstrates that PfEMP3 and HRP1 are not essential for cytoadherence. PfEMP3 was localized to chromosome 2 of the K+ parasites, within no more than 130 kb of HRP1, between the telomere and HRP1. Stage-specific analysis of the mRNA for HRP1 and PfEMP3 indicated maximal transcription of the genes in ring-stage parasites, with little or no mRNA present during the mature parasite stages. Analysis of PfEMP3 and HRP1 by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) revealed identical staining patterns of fixed PE at all stages of the asexual life cycle. Hence, PfEMP3 and HRP1 are adjacent to each other in chromosome 2, co-expressed temporally and their gene products co-localized to the PE membrane.