Evidence of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCR) in the Parasitic Protozoa <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>—Sensing the Host Environment and Coupling within Its Molecular Signaling Toolkit
Throughout evolution, the need for single-celled organisms to associate and form a single cluster of cells has had several evolutionary advantages. In complex, multicellular organisms, each tissue or organ has a specialty and function that make life together possible, and the organism as a whole nee...
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| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
MDPI AG
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/f24a84b2e4da44afa9a858122e0f2005 |
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| Sumario: | Throughout evolution, the need for single-celled organisms to associate and form a single cluster of cells has had several evolutionary advantages. In complex, multicellular organisms, each tissue or organ has a specialty and function that make life together possible, and the organism as a whole needs to act in balance and adapt to changes in the environment. Sensory organs are essential for connecting external stimuli into a biological response, through the senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. The G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are responsible for many of these senses and therefore play a key role in the perception of the cells’ external environment, enabling interaction and coordinated development between each cell of a multicellular organism. The malaria-causing protozoan parasite, <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>, has a complex life cycle that is extremely dependent on a finely regulated cellular signaling machinery. In this review, we summarize strong evidence and the main candidates of GPCRs in protozoan parasites. Interestingly, one of these GPCRs is a sensor for K<sup>+</sup> shift in <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>, PfSR25. Studying this family of proteins in <i>P. falciparum</i> could have a significant impact, both on understanding the history of the evolution of GPCRs and on finding new targets for antimalarials. |
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