2GHU

Crystal structure of falcipain-2 from Plasmodium falciparum


Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 3.10 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.274 
  • R-Value Work: 0.231 

wwPDB Validation   3D Report Full Report


This is version 1.3 of the entry. See complete history


Literature

Structural and Functional Characterization of Falcipain-2, a Hemoglobinase from the Malarial Parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Hogg, T.Nagarajan, K.Herzberg, S.Chen, L.Shen, X.Jiang, H.Wecke, M.Blohmke, C.Hilgenfeld, R.Schmidt, C.L.

(2006) J Biol Chem 281: 25425-25437

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M603776200
  • Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
    2GHU

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    Malaria is caused by protozoan erythrocytic parasites of the Plasmodium genus, with Plasmodium falciparum being the most dangerous and widespread disease-causing species. Falcipain-2 (FP-2) of P. falciparum is a papain-family (C1A) cysteine protease that plays an important role in the parasite life cycle by degrading erythrocyte proteins, most notably hemoglobin. Inhibition of FP-2 and its paralogues prevents parasite maturation, suggesting these proteins may be valuable targets for the design of novel antimalarial drugs, but lack of structural knowledge has impeded progress toward the rational discovery of potent, selective, and efficacious inhibitors. As a first step toward this goal, we present here the crystal structure of mature FP-2 at 3.1 A resolution, revealing novel structural features of the FP-2 subfamily proteases including a dynamic beta-hairpin hemoglobin binding motif, a flexible N-terminal alpha-helical extension, and a unique active-site cleft. We also demonstrate by biochemical methods that mature FP-2 can proteolytically process its own precursor in trans at neutral to weakly alkaline pH, that the binding of hemoglobin to FP-2 is strictly pH-dependent, and that FP-2 preferentially binds methemoglobin over hemoglobin. Because the specificity and proteolytic activity of FP-2 toward its multiple targets appears to be pH-dependent, we suggest that environmental pH may play an important role in orchestrating FP-2 function over the different life stages of the parasite. Moreover, it appears that selectivity of FP-2 for methemoglobin may represent an evolutionary adaptation to oxidative stress conditions within the host cell.


  • Organizational Affiliation

    Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.


Macromolecules
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Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
falcipain 2
A, B, C, D
241Plasmodium falciparumMutation(s): 0 
EC: 3.4.22
UniProt
Find proteins for Q8I6U4 (Plasmodium falciparum (isolate 3D7))
Explore Q8I6U4 
Go to UniProtKB:  Q8I6U4
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupQ8I6U4
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 3.10 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.274 
  • R-Value Work: 0.231 
  • Space Group: C 2 2 21
Unit Cell:
Length ( Å )Angle ( ˚ )
a = 145.83α = 90
b = 168.28β = 90
c = 178.09γ = 90
Software Package:
Software NamePurpose
MOSFLMdata reduction
SCALAdata scaling
PHASERphasing
CNSrefinement
CCP4data scaling

Structure Validation

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Entry History 

Deposition Data

Revision History  (Full details and data files)

  • Version 1.0: 2006-06-06
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2008-05-01
    Changes: Version format compliance
  • Version 1.2: 2011-07-13
    Changes: Version format compliance
  • Version 1.3: 2023-08-30
    Changes: Data collection, Database references, Refinement description