Fig. 2

P. falciparum RNA-helicases retain the canonical conserved sequence motifs. a A representative 3D model of RNA helicase was constructed using PF3D7_0422700 (eukaryotic initiation factor) as a query and ATP-dependent RNA helicase DDX48 (PDB ID: 2hyi) as a template. b A categorization of putative functional roles of RNA helicases in P. falciparum. c A representation of the canonical, conserved catalytic RNA helicase domain is provided. Each functional unit of the helicase domain is divided into two functional units, Walker A and Walker B, which are further categorized into eight highly conserved sequence motifs named I, Ia, Ib and from II to VI. Walker A consists of an ATPase functional portion while Walker B has roles in ATP hydrolysis and nucleic acids unwinding [24]. The relative conservation of each of the conserved motifs in 42 PfRNA-helicases has been summarized in sequence logs. It can be seen that DExD/H at motif II is highly conserved suggestive of most of the RNA-helicases have this domain