A model showing the trafficking of P. falciparum secretory proteins. Secretory proteins are targeted to the ER by their hydrophobic stretch and then cleaved by PM V at the PEXEL motif or by SP at the signal cleavage site, followed by acetylation. The cleavage liberates mature N-termini that can be export-competent (shown in red) or incompetent (shown in black). There might be other organelle-targeting signals also in the mature proteins that direct them to their respective target organelle. Mature proteins secreted into the PV are recognized and loaded into the PTEX translocon based on the export competency of their mature N-terminus. The mature N-termini of Plasmodium effector proteins confer specificity of export.

Hasan MM, Polino AJ, Mukherjee S, Vaupel B, Goldberg DE. The mature N-termini of Plasmodium effector proteins confer specificity of export. mBio. 2023 :e0121523. PMID:37646514.