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The Plasmodium falciparum RING finger protein PfRNF1 forms an interaction network with regulators of sexual development
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  • Afia Farrukh,
  • Sherihan Musa,
  • Ute Distler,
  • Stefan Tenzer,
  • Gabriele Pradel,
  • Che Julius Ngwa
Afia Farrukh
RWTH Aachen University
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Sherihan Musa
RWTH Aachen University
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Ute Distler
Medical Centre of the Johannes-Gutenberg University
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Stefan Tenzer
University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz
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Gabriele Pradel
RWTH Aachen University

Corresponding Author:pradel@bio2.rwth-aachen.de

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Che Julius Ngwa
RWTH Aachen University
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Abstract

RNA-binding E3 ubiquitin ligases (RBULs) provide a link between RNA metabolic processes and the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). In humans, RBULs are involved in various biological processes, such as cell proliferation and differentiation, or sexual development. To date, little is known about their role in the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria tropica. We previously identified a first P. falciparum RBUL, the RING finger E3 ligase PfRNF1, which is highly expressed during gametocyte development. Here, we conducted BioID-based proximity interaction studies to unveil the PfRNF1 interactome. We show that in immature gametocytes PfRNF1 forms an interaction network that is mainly composed of RNA-binding proteins including the translational repressors DOZI and CITH and members of the CCR4-NOT complex, as well as UPS-related proteins. In particular, PfRNF1 interacts with recently identified regulators of sexual development like the zinc finger protein PfMD3, with which it shares the majority of interactors. The common interactome of PfRNF1 and PfMD3 comprises several yet unknown proteins specifically expressed in male or female gametocytes. Our results demonstrate that PfRNF1 engages with RNA-binding proteins crucial for sex determination of gametocytes, thereby linking posttranscriptional regulation with the ubiquitin system.
16 Jan 2025Submitted to PROTEOMICS
17 Jan 2025Submission Checks Completed
17 Jan 2025Assigned to Editor
17 Jan 2025Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Jan 2025Reviewer(s) Assigned