PF3D7_0823200

PF3D7_0823200 is a validated RNA-binding protein of Plasmodium falciparum, initially flagged as an RNA-dependent protein in a proteome-wide R-DeeP screen and confirmed by eCLIP-seq to bind Plasmodium transcripts (PMID:38355719). Its RNA targets include non-coding var gene transcripts and ap2 transcription factor transcripts, linking it to loci associated with antigenic variation and transcriptional regulation (PMID:38355719). Beyond this demonstration of RNA binding and target identity, its precise molecular function, mechanism of action, and downstream regulatory consequences have not been characterized in the available corpus.

1. 2024 Medium

   It was unknown whether PF3D7_0823200 was a genuine RNA-binding protein or merely co-sedimented with RNA-containing complexes; orthogonal biochemical and crosslinking approaches established it as a bona fide RNA-binder with defined transcript targets.

   Evidence R-DeeP proteome-wide screen (sucrose gradient + quantitative MS) followed by eCLIP-seq in P. falciparum

   PMID:38355719

   Open questions at the time

   • The molecular activity conferred by RNA binding (stabilization, decay, translation, localization) is unresolved.
   • The RNA-binding domain/region mediating target contact is not mapped.
   • Findings derive from a single lab without independent replication.

• The functional consequence of PF3D7_0823200 binding to var and ap2 non-coding transcripts — whether it regulates antigenic variation, transcription factor expression, or transcript fate — remains to be determined.
• No loss-of-function phenotype linking PF3D7_0823200 to var or ap2 regulation has been established.
• No protein partners or complex context are defined.
• No structural or mechanistic model of RNA engagement exists.