Characterisation of the mediator complex in the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

In this study, we have characterized the Mediator complex in P. falciparum by studying protein-protein interactions and genome-wide occupancy of the highly conserved Mediator subunit, Med31. Genome-wide ChIP-Seq analysis of episomally expressed Med31 showed that it occupies the coding region of most genes in the schizont stage and is associated exclusively with 407 genes that are enriched in metabolic pathways. Using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometric analysis of episomally expressed Med31, we have shown the physical presence of the Mediator complex in P. falciparum for the first time. We have identified 11 out of 14 predicted P. falciparum Mediator subunits. Interestingly, two uncharacterized proteins; PF3D7_0526800 and PF3D7_1363600 were also identified in our study, which could be presumptive Mediator subunits that might have evolved for specialized functions in the parasite.