Expression, crystallization and preliminary structural analysis of the ectoplasmic region of apical membrane antigen 1 from Plasmodium vivax, a malaria-vaccine candidate

Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2004 Nov;60(Pt 11):2040-3. doi: 10.1107/S090744490402116X. Epub 2004 Oct 20.

Abstract

Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), a type 1 transmembrane protein present in the microneme organelles of Plasmodium, is a leading malaria-vaccine candidate. The ectoplasmic region of AMA1 from P. vivax has been expressed in Pichia pastoris and crystallized in two different forms: an orthorhombic form (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), unit-cell parameters a = 54.1, b = 76.1, c = 103.9 A) and a monoclinic form (space group C2, unit-cell parameters a = 150.0, b = 53.8, c = 60.3 A, beta = 113.2 degrees ). Native data have been collected to 2.0 A resolution for the orthorhombic form and 1.8 A for the monoclinic form. A platinum derivative was prepared for the orthorhombic and monoclinic crystals using K(2)PtCl(4) and data were collected at several wavelengths to obtain phases by the MAD technique. A partial model has been built from the electron-density maps of both forms and refinement is in progress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / chemistry*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Antigens, Protozoan / isolation & purification
  • Antigens, Protozoan / metabolism*
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Malaria Vaccines*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plasmodium vivax / chemistry*
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology
  • Protozoan Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Malaria Vaccines
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • apical membrane antigen I, Plasmodium