The modular gene architecture reflects the dual localization of PfAOP. Confocal live cell imaging of blood stage parasites expressing the indicated PfAOP-GFP chimera. The BTS is necessary and sufficient to target PfAOP to the apicoplast, as revealed by fluorescence microscopy and subcellular fractionation assays with transgenic parasites expressing different GFP-tagged PfAOP constructs. Removal of the N-terminus in PfAOPΔN-term-GFP abrogated the apicoplast targeting, whereas constructs with mutated methionine residues at the start of the Prx5 domain (PfAOPM71A/M77A-GFP) or without the C-terminal Prx5 domain (PfAOPBTS-GFP) were found exclusively in the apicoplast.

Djuika CF, Huerta-Cepas J, Przyborski JM, Deil S, Sanchez CP, Doerks T, Bork P, Lanzer M, Deponte M. Prokaryotic ancestry and gene fusion of a dual localized peroxiredoxin in malaria parasites. Microb Cell. 2015 2(1):5-13.