Analysis of recombinant merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium falciparum expressed in mammalian cells

Synthetic chimeric DNA constructs with a reduced A + T content coding for full-length merozoite surface protein-1 of Plasmodium falciparum (MSP1) and three fragments thereof were expressed in HeLa cells. To target the recombinant proteins to the surface of the host cell the DNA sequences coding for the N-terminal signal sequence and for the putative C-terminal recognition/attachment signal for the glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol (GPI)-anchor of MSP1 were replaced by the respective DNA sequences of the human decay-accelerating-factor (DAF). The full-length recombinant protein, hu-MSP1-DAF, was stably expressed and recognised by monoclonal antibodies that bind to the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the native protein, respectively. Its apparent molecular mass is higher as compared to the native protein and it is post-translationally modified by attachment of N-glycans whereas native MSP1 is not glycosylated. Immunofluorescence images of intact cells show a clear surface staining. After permeabilization hu-MSP1-DAF can be detected in the cytosol as well. As judged by protease treatment of intact cells 25% of recombinant MSP1 is located on the surface. This fraction of hu-MSP1-DAF can be cleaved off the cell membrane by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C indicating that the protein is indeed bound to the cell membrane via a GPI-anchor. Human erythrocytes do not adhere to the surface of mammalian cells expressing either of the constructs made in this study.