| Research Article |
Open Access |
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| Preliminary Investigations into the Binding Interactions between Plasmodial
and Host Proteins using Computational Approaches |
| Norbert Nwankwo* and Huseyin Seker |
| The Bio-Health Unit of the Centre for Computational Intelligence, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom |
| *Corresponding author: |
Norbert Nwankwo
The Bio-Health Unit of the Centre
for Computational Intelligence
De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom
E-mail: nnwankwo@dmu.ac.uk or nnwankwo@hotmail.co.uk |
|
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| Received November 07, 2011; Accepted December 05, 2011; Published December 12, 2011 |
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| Citation: Nwankwo N, Seker H (2011) Preliminary Investigations into the Binding
Interactions between Plasmodial and Host Proteins using Computational Approaches.
J Proteomics Bioinform 4: 269-277. doi:10.4172/jpb.1000200 |
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| Copyright: © 2011 Nwankwo N, et al. This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original author and source are credited. |
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| Abstract |
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| Post-genomic scientists are left with large deposit of genomic and proteomic information such as peptides and
protein residues for analysis. For example, one species of Plasmodium called falciparum has been recognized
to have more than 4,600 peptides which are assembled into over 700 proteins, and human genome is identified
to possess as much as 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. These proteins and peptides, acquired as a result
of mutations require constant re-appraisal for purposes designing therapeutic interventions and improving on our
wellbeing. |
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| Clinical approaches to assessing these vast data are expensive, resource and time consuming, laborious, and
arduous. As a result, computational approaches have become necessary as they will streamline, re-strategise and
rationalize preliminary clinical assessment procedures that are being employed in the search for drugs and vaccines. |
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| In this study, Plasmodial and their host target proteins are studied in order to find out if there exist correlation
between established clinical findings and our computational outcomes. It was disclosed in this study that some
computationally obtained results correlated with clinical findings. For example, the adhesive domain of the
Circumsporozoite (CSP) and Importin alpha 3 which are clinically verified to interact are found to share the same
Consensus Frequency computationally. On the other hand, some preliminary findings could not correlate with our
outcomes. This could be as a result of the proteins engaged. |
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| Our findings therefore appears to suggest that binding interactions can be computationally established and also
recommend that precise proteins or peptides be engaged in order to obtain the desired computational results. |
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| Keywords |
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| Malaria; Plasmodial Proteins; Digital Signal Processing;
Resonant Recognition Model |
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| Introduction |
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| Plasmodial species are the causative organisms for Malaria which
are injected into the host blood stream by Anopheles Mosquitoes
during a blood meal [1,2]. Malaria has remained an age-long disease
which has defied complete cure as a result of repeated re-infection [3,4]. |
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| In Plasmodium species only, about 1543 proteins have been
identified as being employed by the parasite for biological functionalities
that include entry into the host, transmigration (gliding), infection,
metabolism, immunogenicity and others [5]. Proteomic analysis of
one Plasmodium specie, namely falciparum revealed 728 proteins
which constitute 4611 peptides for these functionalities [5]. In human
also, genomic analysis has revealed that about 20,000-250,000 proteincoding
genes [6]. |
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| Living organisms and viruses change the amino acids compositions
in their sequence (mutate) in an effort to resist drugs or improve
biological functionalities. Therefore, they generate newer proteins
and peptides. Consequently, the proteomic database has significantly
increased. These proteins desired to be constantly investigated in
the clinical laboratories for their engagement in the designing and
developing therapeutic interventions. Clinical experimentation of all
these huge datasets of proteins and peptides will burden the already
over-stressed laborious, manual, clinical procedures. This therefore
calls for the application of computational approaches to investigating
these proteins and peptides. These computational assessments that will
follow clinical verification is expected to help direct, streamline and
complement clinical investigations and reduce cost. |
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| The Plasmodial proteins already identified include Circumsporozoite Proteins (CSP) [7,8] Thrombospondin-Related Adhesive Protein
(TRAP) [9], Merozoite surface Proteins (MSPs) [10], Apical Merozoite
antigens (AMAs) [11], Sporozoite Threonine and Asparagine Rich
Protein (STARP) [12], Sporozoite And Liver Stage Asparagine- Rich
Protein (SLARP) [13,14], Secreted Ookinete Adhesive Protein (SOAP)
[15], Knob-Associated Histidine-Rich Protein (KAHRP) [16], Liver
Stage Antigens (LSAs) [17], and Sporozoite and Liver Stage Antigen
(SALSA) [18]. Proteins which are utilized for host cell transmigration
include Sporozoite microneme Protein Essential for Cell Traversal
1and 2 (SPECT 1 and SPECT 2) [19], and Cell Traversal protein for
Ookinetes and Sporozoites (CelTOS) [20], Perforin-Like Proteins
(PLPs) [21], Membrane Attack Ookinete Proteins (MAOPs) [15]. |
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| In this study, interactions between Plasmodial and the host
proteins which have clinically been determined are analysed using
computational methods. The aim is to find out if the computationally
derived results correlate with preliminary clinical findings. This will help
re-direct the expensive, resource consuming clinical experimentations
to computational assessments. Resonant Recognition Model is used in
this investigations. Consensus Frequencies (CF) of the Plasmodial and host protein residues are obtained and analysed. Proteins that share
the same CF are known to bio-recognise and interact. Our results
revealed that some computationally derived results correlated with
preliminary clinically outcomes. It is also observed that some of our
outcomes did not correlate with initial clinical studies. This may be as a
result of the protein residues engaged. The methodologies engaged, the
results obtained and inferences drawn as well as conclusions made are
presented in the subsequent sections. |
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| Methodology |
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| Materials |
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| In order to identify the materials in use for this investigations,
preliminary clinical interactions that exist between proteins and
peptides from Plasmodia and the plasmodial host target proteins are
first briefly discussed. The amino acids sequences of these proteins and
peptides are then retrieved from the UNIPROT [22] or literatures and
further analysed using Resonant Recognition Model. The interactions
are as follows |
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| Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and importin alpa-3: The
principal Plasmodial sporozoite surface protein employed for
attachment and other interactions with host proteins has been
identified as Circumsporozoite Protein (CSP) [23,24]. The CSP has
been acknowledged to binds effectively to Importin alpa-3, a binding
interaction is found to be abrogated when the 9 amino acids residues
that constitute the Nuclear Localization Signal (NLS) is removed
[24]. The Plasmodium Export Element (PEXEL/VTS) motif is used
to introduce the circumsporozoite (CS) protein into the hepatocyte
cytoplasm [24,25] while the PEXEL is found to be sliced by Plasmepsin
V [26]. |
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| Region 11 of CSP and laminin gamma-1: Amino acids domain
analogous to the 18 protein residues (EWSPCSVTCGNGIQVRIK)
which constitute has been identified and referred to as CSP Region 11
(CSP R11) [23, 27]. This domain has been found to bind to Laminin
gamma-1 [24, 28]. This interaction is co-ordinated strongly by the
peptide called P25 and weakly by P28 [28]. Laminin is the principal
component of the basal lamina surrounding the midgut of the malaria
plamodia [28]. |
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| PfEMP1 and host cytoadherence receptors: PfEMP1 is a
Plasmodial protein expressed on the surface of the infected RBC as
a ‘knob-like’ protrusion that affords binding to the Cytoadherence
receptors [29]. It consist of several binding peptides and elicit
numerous physiological features [30-33]. Receptors that bind to the
PfEMP1 include Platet/Endothelial Adhesion Molecule (IPECAM-1)
also known as CD51, Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM-1),
Thrombospondin, E-Selectin and P-Selectin [34-35]. The PfEMP1 is
identified to also bind to the Knob-Associated Histidine-Rich Protein
(KAHRP) [36]. Also, CD36 is noted to be involved in the sequestration
of parasitized RBC [37], platet-mediated clustering of the parasitzed
RBC which is linked to cerebral malaria development [38]. This activity
is co-ordinated by interaction between PfEMP1and the CD36 with [31-
33, 37,39,40]. This interaction is mediated by CIDR1 of the PfEMP1
[41]. |
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| DBPR11 of the Plasmodium vivax and knowlesi and DARC:
In the P. vivax, ligand-receptor interaction between the plasmodial
protein called Duffy Binding Protein (DBP) found on the merozoites
and the host receptor site in the Red Blood Cell (Erythrocyte) called Duffy Antigen Receptor Chemokines (DARC) is recognized to bring
about plasmodial invasion of the Erythrocytes and Liver [42,43].
DARC in Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi shares same
physiological characteristics as CCR5 in HIV. It has been recognized
that as individuals who inhabit HIV but lack chemokine co-receptor
called CCR5 are refractory HIV progression to AIDS. In the same
manner, persons who are deficient in DARC are recognized to be
unresponsive to P. vivax infestation [44,45]. This interaction has been
found to occur between the conserved cysteine-rich Duffy Binding
Protein Region 11 (DBPR11) which has about 330 amino acids residues
and the DARC [44,45]. |
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| Duffy Binding-like families of the Plasmodium falciparum:
Plasmodial invasion by the Plasmodium falciparum requires association
of numerous receptor-lignand interactions [46], involving the Duffy
Binding-like families (DBL) and the Reticulocyte Binding Homologues
(RH) [42]. The DBL family consists of 5 Plasmodium falciparum
homologues of the Plasmodium vivax (Pv) called PvDBP including
EBA- 175, EBA-140 (BAEBL), EBA-181 (JESEBL), EBL-1 and EBA-160
(PEBL) [47]. Similarly, the Reticulocyte Binding Homogues (PfRH)
family encompasses the six homologues of the Plasmodium vivax (Pv)
Reticulocyte Binding Proteins (RBP) which include PfRH1, PfRH2a,
PfRH2b, PfRH3, PfRH4, PfRH5 [42,47,48]. Interaction between the
Plasmodial Erythrocyte Binding Antigen (EBAs) and Reticulocyte
Binding Homogues (RH) with the host RBC has been identified as Salic
Acid independent which is facilitated by the Complement Receptor
Type 1 [49]. |
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| Apical merozoite antigens (AMAs) and RON proteins: Apical
membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) has been identified as a well protected
apical organelle protein engaged during receptor-ligand interaction
that results in the merozoite invasion of the Red Blood Cells before
DBL-EBPs bio-recognition and binding interaction by their receptors
[50]. Like other Apicomplexan parasites, Plasmodium species engage
a group of proteins referred to as Rhoptries Neck (RON proteins)
to interact with micronemal protein Apial Membrane Antigen-1
(AMA-1). This interaction results in a formation of a complex called
Moving Junction (MJ) [51-55]. In Plasmodium falciparum, three RONs
namely PfRON2, PfRON4 and PfRON5 are found to interact with the
Plasmodium falciparum AMA-1 (PfAMA-1) to form Moving Junction.
The Moving Junction assist merozoite in attacking the Erythrocytes
[54]. |
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| Merozoite Surface Antigen 3 (MSA-3) and Acidic Basic Repeat
Antigen (ABRA): Plasmodial merozoite antigens include Merozoite
Surface Antigens 1-5. MSA-3 of the Plasmodium falciparum is a wellprotected
protein residues identified to be involved in the movement
of proteins onto the merozoite surface via interaction with the Acidic
Basic Repeat Antigen (ABRA), also referred to as Merozoite Surface
Protein 9 (MSP 9) [10]. |
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| Sporozoite Surface Protein (SSP2) and CD8 T Lymphocytes:
SSP2 has been defined as a TRAP homologue from P.yoelli [34, 42,
55]. SSP2 is another surface protein found in the oocyst sporozoite of
the Plasmodium which has a region with about 200 amino acids length
called A-domain and analogue of CS region 11 [67]. Sporozoite Surface
Protein 2 (SSP2) is reported to target CD8 T Lymphocytes [3]. This
activity has been reported to have led to the elimination of Plasmodium
yoelii from the hepatocytes of the mice, offering SSP2 opportunity
for incorporation into the clinical Human Malaria Vaccine [58]. This
clinical interaction between TRAP and CD8 as well as with CD4 has
been confirmed by field studies carried out in Gambia [58]. |
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| Plasmodial transmigration proteins: Plasmodial transmigration
into the host cells involves Cell Entry and Trasverval processes.
Numerous proteins have been implicated in both Plasmodial cell entry
and trasverval. They include Sporozoite microneme Protein Essential
for cell Trasversal (SPECT) [19,59], Perforin-like Protein 1 (PLP1)
also known as SPECT 2 which is found to embody a perforin-like
domain found in mammals called Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)
[19], Cell Trasversal protein for Ookinetes, Sporozoites (Celtos) [20],
Membrane Attack Ookinete Protein (MAOP) [15], Phospholipases
(PL) like PLP2, PLP3, PLP4 and PLP5 [21] and the TRAP-Like Protein
(TLP) [60,61]. It has been reported that SPECT-2 shares sequence
similarity with both Human Perforin and Complement Receptor Type
9 [19]. This similarity is found to be higher that obtained in the Human
Perforin and Complement Receptor Type 9. Both Human Perforin
and Complement Receptor Type 9 are pore-forming proteins. Perforin
and Complement Receptor Type 9 are spore-forming proteins of the
Plasmodial hosts involved in the disruption of the cell membrane of the
viruses and micro-organisms [62], UNIPROT [22]. |
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| The Plasmodial Host Receptors and Intermediates: These
constitute the host proteins that serve as receptors or intermediates.
Mechanism of immune protection offered by xx was reported to have
involved CD8 T-cells, IFN-c, IL-12, iNOS and natural killer (NK) as
in the case of BALB/c mice or CD4 Tcells as in the case of C57BL/6
mice [14]. Investigations confirming the functions of CD8 cells, CD4
T-cells, gamma delta (gd) T-cells, NK , NKT-cells, Stellate (Ito) cells as
well as immune mediators which include Interleutin 1, Interleutin-6,
and Interleutin-12, Interferon-gamma (IFN-g), O2, NO radicals and
NO synthase in the Plasmodial invasion have been reported [63].
Sporozoite entry into the PV is found to have been mediated by least
two hepatocyte surface molecules of the host, the tetraspanin CD81
and Scavenger receptor B1 (SRB1) [14,64]. It has also been observed
that the sporozoite mutant that lack the migratory capacity are eaten up
by CD11b [14]. Some of the parasites that successfully traverse into the
bloodstream are also sucked into the lymphatic nodes and phagocytized
by the CD11c [14]. While transmigrating some are reported to have
been lost in the Kupffer cells (KCs) by phagocytosis [14]. |
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| Inhibitory activities of melanoma growth stimulatory activity
(MGSA) and IL-8: Chemokines which are found to interact with the
DARC are also discovered to have inhibitory activity on the adhesion
of the PvDBP to the EBP of the human erythrocytes. This inhibitory
Activity arises from competitive antagonism which is achieved through
35 amino acids residues. They are therefore regarded as blockers of Red
Blood Cell plasmodial invasion [65] in the Duffy-positive phenotypes
[44,66]. These Chemokines include Interleutin-8 (IL-8) and Melanoma
growth stimulatory activity (MGSA) [65]. |
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| Liver stage antigen-3 (LSA-3) and inferon gamma: Clinical
experiments have demonstrated that Inferon-gamma inhibit Liver
Schizogony of the Plasmodium falciparun [63]. Vaccine preparation
using human P.falciparun Liver Stage Antigen 3 (LSA-3) has
demonstrated that Interferon-gamma (IFN-g) provided the protection
experienced in the pre-eryhrocyctic stage, suggesting interaction
between the LSA-3 peptide and the paratope that produced Interferongamma
(IFN-g) [63]. Result shows AMA-1 0.4078 and Inferon gamma,
0.406. |
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| Lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and CSP: Apart from
binding to the HSPGs, CSP are identified to adhere to low-density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein (LRP) [7,14]. |
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| Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR types 2: A protected
sequence from the CSP is identified to bind with many Human
Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DR Type 2 including those with Uniprot
Protein ID Q9GIY3, Q5Y7A7, P01903, P20039, P04229, P79483,
Q30154, Q29974, Q95IE3, P01920, P13760, P13761, Q9TQE0, Q30134,
P04440, P13762, P01911, P01912 [58]. |
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| Experimental procedures |
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| Resonant recognition model (RRM): Resonant Recognition
Model (RRM) is used in this experiment. The procedure is briefly
described here. The RRM procedure involves three main steps: (1)
the translation of the alphabetic code of amino acids sequences into
numerical values using the Electron Ion Interaction Potential (EIIP)
amino acids parameter. Thereafter, the numerical sequences are
upsampled or padded using zero values so as to bring them to same
window length. These two procedures result in the transformation of
the amino acids sequences into signals of equal length. (2) They are
then decomposed using the Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) to reveal
the biological functionalities as Spectral Characteristics. The x-axis
(Frequency) defines the position of the bio-recognition and binding
interaction. The y-axis (Amplitude) symbolises the contributions
of the sequences in terms of their binding interaction. (3) Crossspectral
(CS) analysis which is the point-wise multiplication of the
DFT-decomposed signals are then executed to disclose the common
information contained in these protein residues [67]. This common
biological activity can be symbolized by Consensus Frequency (CF)
which is produced by the region of the sequence that contributes to the
functionality under investigation. |
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| Above procedure is employed in the analysis of xx Plamodial and
host proteins in order to obtain the position of common biological
activity called Consensus Frequency (CF). Proteins that share common
CF have been recognised to bio-recogise and bioattach [68]. The CF
all the Plamodial proteins are studied against those of the host. The
outcome of our experiment on the proteins that share common
CF, which appear to suggest that they interact are correlated with
preliminary clinical findings. |
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| Results and Discussions |
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| In presenting the result of this investigation, the Consensus
Frequencies (CFs) of all the Plasmodial and host proteins are first
derived as shown in Tables 1 and 2. Some Plasmodial proteins share
similar CF. They include RESA (0.250), PfRH4 (0.276), AMA- 1
(0.276), EBA-165 (0.214), MSA-4 (0.246), PfRON4 (0.288). These
are similar to those obtained in the host proteins Interleukin (0.258),
Complement Receptor 8 (0.258), CD11b (0.249), Importin alpha-1
(0.260), DARC (0.270) and Lamin gamma-1 (0.284). Other group
of Plasmodial proteins with similar CF are CSPR11 (0.368), MSA-1
(0.327) and SPECT- 2 (0.347) possess similar CF with the host proteins
including Importin alpha-3, CD36 (0.346) and Follistain (0.350). Also,
CD8 alpha (0.290), CXCR1 (0.300), Human Leukocyte Antigen DR
types 2 (0.306) and CCR4 (0.312) are host proteins that have similar
CF with the Plasmodial proteins like SPECT Trasversal (0.290). |
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Table 1: Consensus Frequencies and Spectral Features of the Plasmodial Proteins. |
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Table 2:Consensus Frequencies and Spectral Features of Host Proteins. |
|
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| Another group of Plasmodial proteins which have CF that bear
resemblance are EBA- 175 (0.180), EBA-140 (0.192), and STARP
(0.199). Host proteins which possess CF similar to the above mentioned are PECAM (0.174), Peselectin (0.179), Eselectin (0.175),
DARC (0.170), Perforin (0.187), CD11c (0.187), and LRP12 (0.184). |
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| A survey of the clinically experimented binding characteristics of
these proteins reveals that some of them which are reported to bind to each other share similar CF. For example, Complement component
such as C6, C7, C8 and C9 which are involved in the perforation
of target cells, as well as the pore-forming lytic proteins from the
lymphocytes called Perforin, are known to contain similar sequences [69]. Our findings demonstrate that the CF of the Perforin (0.187)
and that of the Compliment Component Receptor 9 (0.178) as shown
in Figure 3 are similar. These proteins are known to share common
biological functionality referred to as perforation of target cells and are
known to target common proteins [21]. They therefore demonstrate
affinity and binding interaction for similar proteins. AMA-1 is known
to interact with RON complexes such as xx in both plasmodium and
gondii during tacyzoite and merozoite invasion has been recognised
[46,70]. Our findings revealed the CF of the AMA-1 (0.276) and that of PfRON5 (0.288) are observed in this experiment to be similar (Figure
5). AMA-1 is also known to interact with Interleukin 9 [71] and in this
study they both share similar CF as AMA-1 has CF at 0.276 while the
CF of Interleukin is at 0.258 (Figure 4). It has been identified that the
conserved region (EWSQCNVTCGSGIRVRKRK) of the TSP found
in the CSP Region 11 (CSPR11) is known to be responsible for the
interaction with the Cluster of Differentiation36 (CD36) [72]. In this
investigation also, it is shown that the CF of CSPR11 is 0.368 and that
of CD36 is 0.346 (Figure 7). |
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|
Figure 1: The results of the CS analyses of the gp160 showing CF at Position 155 (CF=0.185), the gp120 at Position 18 (CF=0.0354) and the gp41 at Position 64
(CF=0.186). |
|
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Figure 2: The results of the CS analyses of the HIV gp120 showing CF at
Position 18 or (CF=0.0354) and Host CD4 showing CF at Position 18 or
(CF=0.0373). |
|
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Figure 3: The results of the CS analyses of the Perforin showing Amplitude of
1.0 each at the CF of Position 104 (CF=0.187) and Complement Component
Receptor 9 at Position 109 (CF=0.178). |
|
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|
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Figure 4: The results of the CS analyses of the AMA-1 showing CF at Position 165 (CF=0.276) and Interleukin showing CF at Position 64 (CF=0.258. |
|
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Figure 5: The results of the CS analyses of the AMA-1 showing Amplitude of 1.0 each at the CF of Position 165 (CF=276) and PfRON5 at Position 333 (CF=0.288) |
|
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|
Figure 6: The results of the CS analyses of the CSP Region 11 showing Amplitude of 1.0 at the CF of Position 19 (CF=0.359) and Importin alpha-3 at Position 173
(CF=0.332). |
|
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|
Figure 7: The results of the CS analyses of the CSP Region 11 (conserved region) showing Amplitude of 1.0 at the CF of Position 7 (CF=0.368) and CD36 at
Position (CF=0.346). |
|
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| Some proteins, which have clinically been identified to interact
with one another are also found in this study to display different CFs.
For example, the interaction between the Ring-infested Erythrocyte
Surface Antigen (RESA) and Spectrin has been recognized [73,74] yet,
the CF RESA and that of the neither Spectrin-Alpha nor Spectrum-Beta
(Figure 8) are observed to at different positions. This may be as a result
of the protein residues engaged. Engagement of the appropriate protein
residues that is involved in the clinical experiment is vital in obtaining
the right result. For example, it is known [75] and demonstrated in
this study 2 that the HIV gp120 and host CD4 interact with each other as they share same CF. However, the HIV Envelope protein (gp160)
which embodies the gp120 has a different CF (0.185) as shown in
Figure 1. HIV Envelope Protein consists of the Surface Protein (gp120)
and the Transmembrane protein gp41. The CS analysis of the HIV
gp120 demonstrates a CF at 0.0354 (position 18) while that of the gp41
is 0.186 or position 64 (Figure 1). While the gp120 which interacts with
the CD4 of the host shares common CF, the gp160 which is the parent
protein has different CF. This applies to the proteins studied here. This
appears to demonstrates that clinically, specificity in proteinprotein
interaction which also need to be considered in the computational assessment. Therefore, it is pertinent that the protein residues engaged
be that which is involved in the clinical interaction. |
| |
|
Figure 8: The results of the CS analyses of the Ring-infested Erythrocyte Surface Antigen (RESA) showing CF at Position (CF=0.25), the Spectrin B at Position
985 (CF=0.382). |
|
| |
| Conclusion |
| |
| Post-genomic Bioinformaticans now face the problem of analysing
millions of protein residues arising from the mutations by microorganisms
and viruses for purposes of therapeutic interventions. This
problem is helped by the fact that clinical approaches are labourintensive,
cost-, time- and resource wasting. Clinical assessment of
these millions of protein residues is unachievable. Therefore initial
computational approaches are necessary to streamline and re-organize
clinical confirmation. In this study, a Digital Signal Processing
technique called Resonant Recognition Model was applied to several
Plasmodial proteins and the host target proteins in order to find out if
preliminarily clinical findings can be correlated with our computational
outcomes. |
| |
| It was observed that some of our computational results correlated
with initial clinical findings while others did not. This could be as a
result of the protein residue used in the experiment. It is important
to note that computational assessment of biological functionalities
requires the use of appropriate protein residues. As noted in this study,
the HIV Envelope protein (gp160) which consists of HIV Surface
protein (gp120) and HIV Transmembrane protein (gp41) is found to
have different CF from the gp120 and gp41. The HIV gp120 is known
to and also demonstrated in this study to interact with the CD4. Both
have a common prominent peak called Consensus Frequency (CF) at
0.035 as shown in Figure 1. |
| |
| As a result, computational assessment of interaction between
the gp160 (which harbours the gp120) and the CD4 will not yield
the desired outcome as the protein involved in the interaction is
the gp120. The specificity of the protein-protein interaction as
observed in the clinical experimentation is required to be adhered
in the computational analysis. Therefore, it is recommended that
engagement of the appropriate protein residues are required to obtain
the desired results as demonstrated by means of HIV Envelope,
Surface and Transmembrane proteins. It is also recommended that
other procedures such as Informational Spectrum Method (ISM) for
assessing interactions be engaged to computationally examine these
proteins and their outcome be used to correlate clinical findings so as
to rationalize the evaluation of the physiological properties of proteins.
This will also provide quick, cheap characterization of the organisms
from which the proteins are derived from. |
| |
|
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