The 235 kDa rhoptry protein of Plasmodium (yoelii) yoelii: Function at the junction

All malaria parasites are obligate intracellular organisms that must clearly recognise and discriminate between different cells during their life cycle. Invasion into a cell is a multi-step event that is marked by initial attachment proceeding to irreversible junction formation and penetration. A 235 kDa rhoptry protein (Py235) in the rodent malaria, Plasmodium yoelii yoelii has been shown to be involved in red blood cell (rbc) binding and is involved in a new mechanism of clonal phenotypic variation that may be important in adaptation and immune evasion. Immunisation studies using Py235 have also revealed a role for this protein in the virulence phenotype seen with P. y. yoelii in laboratory mice. Interestingly, the genes that encode this protein are present as a multi-gene family. In this paper, we examine Py235 at the level of DNA, transcription and expression, discussing the role of this protein during invasion, in virulence and in immune evasion.