Figure 2.

var genes and PfEMP1 structure. (A), Modeled structure of PFD1235w DBLβ. The structure consists of subdomain 1 (S1, orange) with mixed helix‐sheet structure and two helix bundles; subdomain 2 (S2 magenta) and subdomain 3 (S3 green).12 The ICAM‐1 binding site of PFD1235w in S3 is indicated in red.14, 18 (B), Group A and B var genes are located in subtelomeric regions of all chromosomes but are transcribed in opposite directions, whereas Group C var genes are found in central chromosomal regions. (C), PfEMP1 proteins are composed of different subtypes of DBL and CIDR domains. Groups B and C PfEMP1 predominantly have a four‐domain structure, while larger PfEMP1 proteins have additional DBL domains following the first or second DBL‐CIDR domains. (D), Plasmodium falciparum genomes encode tandem domain cassettes (DC) that are linked to different known adhesion phenotypes as indicated. DC8 is a chimeric gene between a group A and a group B var gene. Redrawn and modified from Hviid and Jensen17