Localization of Five Target Proteins in Tachyzoites of Toxoplasma \u3cem\u3egondii\u3c/em\u3e

Five target genes were selected in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites for localization studies. These five genes, detected through proteomics studies, included TgME49_227450, TgME49_223080, TgME49_262390, TgME49_230940, and TgME49_269620. Localization of these five target proteins is a first step to confirm their interaction with TgCrk2 and understand their function and role in TgCrk2 regulation of the tachyzoite cell cycle. Gene models for the targets were analyzed using ToxoDB and ApE analysis tools. Endogenous tagging constructs were created for each target. Transgenic parasites were created. Finally, localization analysis of the target proteins in tachyzoites was completed using immunofluorescent microscopy following. One protein was found to be nuclear, two were located in the cytoplasm, and two were unable to be analyzed. Future research should be completed in order to prove these putative interactors are really correlated with TgCrk2 through Co-immunoprecipitation