{"gene":"PF3D7_1243000","run_date":"2026-09-08T14:19:06","timeline":{"discoveries":[{"year":2020,"finding":"In Plasmodium falciparum, STX16 (Stx16/PF3D7_1243000) was implicated in biogenesis of the inner membrane complex (alveoli), likely acting in a coordinated manner with TgVps45 and Stx6; this role was established through functional studies of the VPS45-SNARE axis in both Toxoplasma gondii and P. falciparum.","method":"Genetic/functional analysis of SNARE and SEC1/Munc18 proteins in apicomplexan parasites, including localization and loss-of-function experiments","journal":"mBio","confidence":"Low","confidence_rationale":"Tier 3 / Weak — single study, STX16 role in IMC biogenesis mentioned alongside other SNAREs but no dedicated experiment isolating STX16 function is described in the abstract; primary mechanistic detail is attributed to TgVps45/Stx6","pmids":["33082261"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""}]},{"year":2006,"finding":"PF3D7_1243000 (STX16) was identified as one of 18 SNARE-like proteins in the P. falciparum genome through bioinformatics analysis; it was classified within a P. falciparum-specific syntaxin-like subfamily. No subcellular localization or functional experiment was performed specifically on STX16 in this study.","method":"Bioinformatics/phylogenetic analysis of the P. falciparum genome; GFP-tagging and subcellular localization performed for other family members (PfSyn5p, PfSec22p) but not STX16","journal":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","confidence":"Low","confidence_rationale":"Tier 4 / Weak — computational identification only; no direct experiment on PF3D7_1243000 itself","pmids":["17240462"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""}]}],"current_model":"PF3D7_1243000 (STX16) is a predicted syntaxin-family SNARE protein in Plasmodium falciparum that has been implicated, alongside TgVps45 and Stx6, in biogenesis of the inner membrane complex (alveoli), but no dedicated in vitro or in vivo experiment has yet established its precise molecular mechanism, binding partners, or subcellular localization directly."},"narrative":{"mechanistic_narrative":"PF3D7_1243000 (STX16) is a predicted syntaxin-family SNARE protein of Plasmodium falciparum, identified computationally as one of 18 SNARE-like proteins in the parasite genome and assigned to a P. falciparum-specific syntaxin-like subfamily [PMID:17240462]. Functional analysis of the VPS45-SNARE axis in apicomplexan parasites has implicated STX16, alongside TgVps45 and Stx6, in biogenesis of the inner membrane complex (alveoli) [PMID:33082261]. Beyond this membership in a putative VPS45-SNARE trafficking axis, no dedicated experiment has directly established the subcellular localization, binding partners, or molecular mechanism of PF3D7_1243000 itself in the available corpus; the primary mechanistic detail rests on the co-analyzed proteins TgVps45 and Stx6 rather than on STX16 directly.","teleology":[{"year":2006,"claim":"Before any parasite SNARE inventory existed, it was unknown which membrane-fusion machinery P. falciparum encodes; a genome-wide survey placed PF3D7_1243000 within the SNARE repertoire and defined it as a syntaxin-like protein.","evidence":"Bioinformatics/phylogenetic analysis of the P. falciparum genome, with GFP-tagging performed for other family members but not STX16","pmids":["17240462"],"confidence":"Low","gaps":["Computational identification only; no direct experiment on PF3D7_1243000","No subcellular localization determined for STX16","No binding partners or functional assay for STX16"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""}]},{"year":2020,"claim":"Whether STX16 participates in a specific trafficking pathway was unresolved; functional study of the VPS45-SNARE axis implicated STX16 together with TgVps45 and Stx6 in inner membrane complex (alveoli) biogenesis, placing it in a candidate trafficking role.","evidence":"Genetic/functional analysis of SNARE and SEC1/Munc18 proteins in Toxoplasma gondii and P. falciparum, including localization and loss-of-function experiments","pmids":["33082261"],"confidence":"Low","gaps":["No dedicated experiment isolated STX16 function; mechanistic detail is attributed to TgVps45/Stx6","STX16 localization not directly established","Direct binding partners of STX16 not defined"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""}]},{"year":null,"claim":"The precise molecular mechanism, subcellular localization, and direct binding partners of PF3D7_1243000 remain uncharacterized by any dedicated experiment.","evidence":"","pmids":[],"confidence":"Low","gaps":["No direct localization of STX16 protein","No reconstituted SNARE complex or partner validation for STX16","No loss-of-function phenotype isolating STX16 specifically"],"attribution":[{"species":"Plasmodium falciparum","strain":""}]}],"mechanism_profile":{"molecular_activity":[],"localization":[],"pathway":[],"complexes":[],"partners":[],"other_free_text":["Predicted syntaxin-family SNARE protein, classified within a P. falciparum-specific syntaxin-like subfamily [#1]","Implicated alongside TgVps45 and Stx6 in inner membrane complex (alveoli) biogenesis, without a dedicated experiment isolating STX16 function [#0]","No direct subcellular localization, binding partner, or molecular mechanism established for PF3D7_1243000 itself in the available corpus"]}},"prefetch_data":{},"corpus_meta":[{"pmid":"17240462","id":"PMC_17240462","title":"Identification of Plasmodium falciparum family of SNAREs.","date":"2006","source":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17240462","citation_count":38,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["curated_ref"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"33082261","id":"PMC_33082261","title":"The ZIP Code of Vesicle Trafficking in Apicomplexa: SEC1/Munc18 and SNARE Proteins.","date":"2020","source":"mBio","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33082261","citation_count":33,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["STX16"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false},{"pmid":"19103232","id":"PMC_19103232","title":"Plasmodium falciparum secretory pathway: characterization of PfStx1, a plasma membrane Qa-SNARE.","date":"2008","source":"Molecular and biochemical parasitology","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19103232","citation_count":7,"is_preprint":false,"source_species":["Pf"],"role":"primary","match_terms":["curated_ref"],"competing_organism_flag":false,"competing_organism_match":"","competing_organism_only":false}],"cost":{"stage1":{"model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","input_tokens":4394,"output_tokens":717,"usd":0.011968,"stage1_stop_reason":"end_turn"},"stage2":{"model":"claude-opus-4-8","input_tokens":5299,"output_tokens":1437,"usd":0.03121,"stage2_stop_reason":"end_turn"},"total_usd":0.043178,"stage1_batch_id":"msgbatch_011BPjN2BL33F8cJXD1r7V7T","stage2_batch_id":"msgbatch_01Qwg6vP7qxkpL6Gsc7tajsb","note":"batch pricing = 50% of standard"},"stage1_raw":"```json\n{\n  \"discoveries\": [\n    {\n      \"year\": 2020,\n      \"finding\": \"In Plasmodium falciparum, STX16 (Stx16/PF3D7_1243000) was implicated in biogenesis of the inner membrane complex (alveoli), likely acting in a coordinated manner with TgVps45 and Stx6; this role was established through functional studies of the VPS45-SNARE axis in both Toxoplasma gondii and P. falciparum.\",\n      \"method\": \"Genetic/functional analysis of SNARE and SEC1/Munc18 proteins in apicomplexan parasites, including localization and loss-of-function experiments\",\n      \"journal\": \"mBio\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 3 / Weak — single study, STX16 role in IMC biogenesis mentioned alongside other SNAREs but no dedicated experiment isolating STX16 function is described in the abstract; primary mechanistic detail is attributed to TgVps45/Stx6\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"33082261\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2006,\n      \"finding\": \"PF3D7_1243000 (STX16) was identified as one of 18 SNARE-like proteins in the P. falciparum genome through bioinformatics analysis; it was classified within a P. falciparum-specific syntaxin-like subfamily. No subcellular localization or functional experiment was performed specifically on STX16 in this study.\",\n      \"method\": \"Bioinformatics/phylogenetic analysis of the P. falciparum genome; GFP-tagging and subcellular localization performed for other family members (PfSyn5p, PfSec22p) but not STX16\",\n      \"journal\": \"Molecular and biochemical parasitology\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 4 / Weak — computational identification only; no direct experiment on PF3D7_1243000 itself\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"17240462\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    }\n  ],\n  \"current_model\": \"PF3D7_1243000 (STX16) is a predicted syntaxin-family SNARE protein in Plasmodium falciparum that has been implicated, alongside TgVps45 and Stx6, in biogenesis of the inner membrane complex (alveoli), but no dedicated in vitro or in vivo experiment has yet established its precise molecular mechanism, binding partners, or subcellular localization directly.\"\n}\n```","stage2_raw":"{\n  \"mechanistic_narrative\": \"PF3D7_1243000 (STX16) is a predicted syntaxin-family SNARE protein of Plasmodium falciparum, identified computationally as one of 18 SNARE-like proteins in the parasite genome and assigned to a P. falciparum-specific syntaxin-like subfamily [#1]. Functional analysis of the VPS45-SNARE axis in apicomplexan parasites has implicated STX16, alongside TgVps45 and Stx6, in biogenesis of the inner membrane complex (alveoli) [#0]. Beyond this membership in a putative VPS45-SNARE trafficking axis, no dedicated experiment has directly established the subcellular localization, binding partners, or molecular mechanism of PF3D7_1243000 itself in the available corpus; the primary mechanistic detail rests on the co-analyzed proteins TgVps45 and Stx6 rather than on STX16 directly.\",\n  \"teleology\": [\n    {\n      \"year\": 2006,\n      \"claim\": \"Before any parasite SNARE inventory existed, it was unknown which membrane-fusion machinery P. falciparum encodes; a genome-wide survey placed PF3D7_1243000 within the SNARE repertoire and defined it as a syntaxin-like protein.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Bioinformatics/phylogenetic analysis of the P. falciparum genome, with GFP-tagging performed for other family members but not STX16\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"17240462\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"gaps\": [\n        \"Computational identification only; no direct experiment on PF3D7_1243000\",\n        \"No subcellular localization determined for STX16\",\n        \"No binding partners or functional assay for STX16\"\n      ],\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2020,\n      \"claim\": \"Whether STX16 participates in a specific trafficking pathway was unresolved; functional study of the VPS45-SNARE axis implicated STX16 together with TgVps45 and Stx6 in inner membrane complex (alveoli) biogenesis, placing it in a candidate trafficking role.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Genetic/functional analysis of SNARE and SEC1/Munc18 proteins in Toxoplasma gondii and P. falciparum, including localization and loss-of-function experiments\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"33082261\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"gaps\": [\n        \"No dedicated experiment isolated STX16 function; mechanistic detail is attributed to TgVps45/Stx6\",\n        \"STX16 localization not directly established\",\n        \"Direct binding partners of STX16 not defined\"\n      ],\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": null,\n      \"claim\": \"The precise molecular mechanism, subcellular localization, and direct binding partners of PF3D7_1243000 remain uncharacterized by any dedicated experiment.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"\",\n      \"pmids\": [],\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"gaps\": [\n        \"No direct localization of STX16 protein\",\n        \"No reconstituted SNARE complex or partner validation for STX16\",\n        \"No loss-of-function phenotype isolating STX16 specifically\"\n      ],\n      \"attribution\": [\n        {\"species\": \"Plasmodium falciparum\", \"strain\": \"\"}\n      ]\n    }\n  ],\n  \"mechanism_profile\": {\n    \"molecular_activity\": [],\n    \"localization\": [],\n    \"pathway\": [],\n    \"complexes\": [],\n    \"partners\": [],\n    \"other_free_text\": [\n      \"Predicted syntaxin-family SNARE protein, classified within a P. falciparum-specific syntaxin-like subfamily [#1]\",\n      \"Implicated alongside TgVps45 and Stx6 in inner membrane complex (alveoli) biogenesis, without a dedicated experiment isolating STX16 function [#0]\",\n      \"No direct subcellular localization, binding partner, or molecular mechanism established for PF3D7_1243000 itself in the available corpus\"\n    ]\n  }\n}","audit_flag":null,"strains":[{"strain":"Pf3D7","gene_id":"PF3D7_1243000","name":null,"product":"syntaxin-16, putative","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":null,"start_pos":null},{"strain":"PbANKA","gene_id":"PBANKA_1456400","name":null,"product":"syntaxin-16, putative","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":null,"start_pos":null},{"strain":"PkH","gene_id":"PKNH_1462300","name":null,"product":"syntaxin-16, putative","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":null,"start_pos":null}],"gene_symbol":"STX16","evaluation":null}