RPL7

TgRPL7 is annotated as a ribosomal protein of Toxoplasma gondii that, beyond its expected ribosomal identity, was found associated with the tachyzoite membrane surface and detected as a circulating antigen in host serum during acute infection (PMID:35022274). Beyond this single localization and serum-detection observation, no functional, mechanistic, or interaction detail for TgRPL7 has been characterized in the available corpus.

1. 2022 Low

   It was unknown whether TgRPL7 had any presentation outside the ribosome; immunolocalization and serum proteomics showed it at the tachyzoite membrane surface and as a circulating antigen, establishing it as a host-exposed, potentially diagnostic marker during acute infection.

   Evidence Immunofluorescence for subcellular localization plus immunoprecipitation-shotgun proteomics and Western blotting on infected-host serum

   PMID:35022274

   Open questions at the time

   • Single lab, single immunofluorescence method for localization with no functional consequence tested; incidental to a diagnostic study
   • No mechanism explaining how a ribosomal protein reaches the membrane surface or is secreted/shed
   • No functional role, interaction partner, or contribution to infection established

• How TgRPL7 is trafficked to the membrane surface and released into serum, and whether it has any non-ribosomal function during infection, remains unknown.
• No secretion or trafficking mechanism identified
• No functional characterization of a non-ribosomal role
• No interaction partners or host targets defined