Cryptosporidium Rhomboid Protease Phylogeny and Sporozoite Localization

Three rhomboid proteases (CpRom1, CpRom2, CpRom3) were identified in the Cryptosporidium parvum parasite. Researcher Ilaria Vanni analyzed their phylogenetic origin, structural motifs, and subcellular distribution in sporozoite cells. The supporting data was last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Classify rhomboid protease types (mixed secretases) based on structural domain analysis of CpRom1, CpRom2, and CpRom3.
• Compare catalytic site similarities to orthologs from Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum for phylogenetic clustering.
• Map subcellular localization patterns of each rhomboid (e.g., CpRom1 at apical complex and posterior pole) in invasive sporozoites.
• Identify candidate substrate membrane proteins based on similarity to known apicomplexan rhomboid substrates and co-localization evidence.
• Analyze genomic synteny to trace the excision of the PARL-like rhomboid gene in intestinal Cryptosporidium species versus gastric species.

Strengths

• Comparative analysis includes orthologs from two major apicomplexan parasites, Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum.
• Provides specific subcellular localization data for three distinct rhomboid proteases in sporozoites.
• Identifies 10 candidate substrate membrane proteins for the studied rhomboids.

Limitations

• The dataset is a single 980.9 KB PDF document, offering limited scope for computational analysis without extracted structured data.
• Analysis is confined to the Cryptosporidium genus, with findings not directly generalizable to other biological systems.
• Sample data and row/column counts for underlying analyses are not provided.

Provenance

Source

figshare, authored by Ilaria Vanni.

Collection Method

Phylogenetic analysis, structural motif examination, and cellular localization study using molecular biology techniques.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated in April 2026.

Geography

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