PF3D7_1202300

PF3D7_1202300 is annotated as a putative dynein heavy chain, and direct functional characterization of the P. falciparum protein itself is limited in the available corpus. The strongest mechanistic evidence derives from the P. yoelii ortholog DHC3, which localizes to subpellicular microtubules throughout ookinete morphogenesis and, when disrupted, impairs ookinete development, shape, gliding, and mosquito infection; DHC3-deficient ookinetes show defective formation or localization of apical organelles (PMID:39366980). In P. yoelii, Rab11A and Rab11B interact with DHC3 at subpellicular microtubules in a DHC3-dependent manner, identifying them as cargo receptors for this microtubule-associated dynein motor (PMID:39366980). In P. falciparum, a dynein heavy chain-like protein has been identified only as a target of oxidative adduction, forming 4-hydroxynonenal conjugates upon plakortin treatment (PMID:26459031). Beyond the P. yoelii ortholog data (PMID:39366980) and this oxidative-damage identification (PMID:26459031), no direct functional characterization of PF3D7_1202300 has been reported in the available corpus.

1. 2015 Low

   The question of whether a dynein heavy chain-like protein participates in the response to peroxide antimalarials was addressed by identifying it as a target of oxidative adduction.

   Evidence Mass spectrometry identification of 4-HNE-protein conjugates in plakortin-treated P. falciparum

   PMID:26459031

   Open questions at the time

   • Gene-level validation that the adducted protein is PF3D7_1202300 specifically is absent
   • No functional consequence of the adduction was tested
   • No connection to the protein's normal cellular role was established
2. 2024 Medium

   The cellular function of this dynein heavy chain was defined in the ortholog DHC3, establishing it as a subpellicular microtubule-associated motor required for ookinete morphogenesis and apical organelle organization.

   Evidence Genetic KO, fluorescence localization, co-immunoprecipitation, and ookinete/mosquito infection assays in P. yoelii

   PMID:39366980

   Open questions at the time

   • Correspondence between P. yoelii DHC3 and PF3D7_1202300 is inferred, not experimentally confirmed
   • Minus-end-directed motor activity and direct cargo transport were not reconstituted biochemically
   • No functional characterization was performed in P. falciparum itself

• Whether PF3D7_1202300 in P. falciparum performs the microtubule-associated dynein transport role established for the P. yoelii ortholog remains unresolved.
• No direct genetic disruption or localization of PF3D7_1202300 in P. falciparum has been reported
• Rab11A/B interaction has not been tested for the P. falciparum protein
• The identity linking the ortholog studies to PF3D7_1202300 is unconfirmed