Duffy binding proteins

In molecular biology, Duffy binding proteins are found in Plasmodium. Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi merozoites invade Homo sapiens erythrocytes that express Duffy blood group surface determinants. The Duffy receptor family is localised in micronemes, an organelle found in all organisms of the phylum Apicomplexa.^[1][2]

Duffy binding domain
crystal structure of eba-175 region ii (rii) crystallized in the presence of (alpha)2,3-sialyllactose
Identifiers
Symbol	Duffy_binding
Pfam	PF05424
Pfam clan	CL0195
InterPro	IPR008602
Available protein structures: Pfam   structures / ECOD   PDB RCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj PDBsum structure summary

Duffy binding protein N terminal
Identifiers
Symbol	DuffyBP_N
Pfam	PF12377
InterPro	IPR021032
Available protein structures: Pfam   structures / ECOD   PDB RCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj PDBsum structure summary

The presence of duffy-binding-like domains defines the family of erythrocyte binding-like proteins (EBL), a family of cell invasion proteins universal among Plasmodium. These other members may use some other receptor, for example Glycophorin A. The other universal invasion protein is reticulocyte binding protein homologs.^[3] Both families are essential for cell invasion, as they function cooperatively.^[4]

A duffy-binding-like domain is also found in proteins of the family Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1.

See also

• Genetic resistance to malaria