The Mediator complex in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum contains evolutionarily novel subunits

ABSTRACT: The eukaryote Mediator is a large and conserved multi-subunit protein complex that directly contacts RNA polymerase II and impinges on multiple aspects of gene expression. The genome of the human malaria parasite P. falciparum has been predicted to encode several Mediator subunits. We provide physical evidence for the presence of a Mediator complex in P. falciparum by using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify interaction partners of the highly conserved Mediator subunit, PfMed31. We identify 11 of 14 predicted Mediator subunits as well as the products of two uncharacterized genes, PF3D7_0526800 and PF3D7_1363600, which strongly associate with PfMed31. As expected, several additional interaction partners have known roles in the transcriptional control of gene expression and mRNA processing. Intriguingly, multiple interaction partners are implicated in endoplasmic reticulum function and the ER stress (ERS) response suggesting crosstalk between the ERS response and transcriptional machineries. Our results establish for the first time the physical presence of the Mediator complex within P. falciparum, and strongly suggest that it plays both conserved and unique roles in the control of gene expression.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive

ORGANISM(S): Plasmodium Falciparum (isolate 3d7)

TISSUE(S): Cell Culture

SUBMITTER: SoFong Cam Ngan  

LAB HEAD: Mark Featerstone

PROVIDER: PXD027640 | Pride | 2022-05-10

REPOSITORIES: Pride