The cysteine-rich regions of Plasmodium falciparum RON2 bind with host erythrocyte and AMA1 during merozoite invasion

Invasion of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites into host erythrocyte involves a series of highly specific and sequential interaction between merozoite and host erythrocyte surface protein. The key step in the invasion process is the formation of a tight protein-protein interaction between host and parasite called as moving junction. A number of parasite proteins secreted from two organelles, microneme and rhoptry, play a role in initial interaction and junction formation between merozoite with host red blood cells (RBCs) during the invasion process. In the present study, we investigated the role of different domains of a P. falciparum rhoptry neck protein PfRON2. Immunofluorescence assay revealed close association of PfAMA1 and PfRON2 in the merozoites during the invasion process. PfRON2 domains were expressed on COS-7 cell surface, and their interaction was analysed with host RBCs and PfAMA1 protein by rosetting assays. The rosetting assays suggest that the C-terminal cysteine-rich domain of PfRON2 plays a role in binding with host erythrocyte. The C-terminal as well as the central cysteine-rich domain of PfRON2 interact with PfAMA1; this binding can be inhibited by monoclonal antibody (mAb 4 G2) against PfAMA1, suggesting that the hydrophobic groove of PfAMA1 binds to PfRON2. These results suggest that PfRON2 plays a role in merozoite invasion and thus it can be an important vaccine candidate antigen.