Return to sender: use of Plasmodium ER retrieval sequences to study protein transport in the infected erythrocyte and predict putative ER protein families.

We have investigated how knowledge of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retrieval signals can be used to study specific trafficking pathways in the malaria-infected erythrocyte. We show that addition of various lumenal ER retrieval signals to soluble green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimaera causes retrieval of the fusion protein in the parasite's ER. In contrast, adding these signals to the C-terminus of a membrane bound protein does not affect its eventual sub-cellular localization. This demonstrates proof of principle that ER retrieval signals can be used to study the solubility state of Plasmodium falciparum proteins during their transport to the host erythrocyte. Furthermore, using our knowledge of ER retrieval signals, we identify Plasmodium ER protein families and assign putative functions to them.