Project description:AP2-G is a transcription factor (TF) that is essential for gametocytogenesis of malaria parasites; however, the mechanisms for its inducing the cell linage for sexual reproduction remain unclear. In this paper, this problem is addressed by investigating its expression profile and by determining target genes genome-wide in Plasmodium berghei.
Project description:AP2-G is a transcription factor (TF) that is essential for gametocytogenesis of malaria parasites; however, the mechanisms for its inducing the cell linage for sexual reproduction remain unclear. In this paper, this problem is addressed by investigating its expression profile and by determining target genes genome-wide in Plasmodium berghei.
Project description:AP2-G is a transcription factor (TF) that is essential for gametocytogenesis of malaria parasites; however, the mechanisms for its inducing the cell linage for sexual reproduction remain unclear. In this paper, this problem is addressed by investigating its expression profile and by determining target genes genome-wide in Plasmodium berghei.
Project description:Commitment to and completion of sexual development are essential for malaria parasites to be transmitted through mosquitoes. The molecular mechanism(s) responsible for these processes however, remain largely unknown. We have identified two transcription factors (both belonging to the AP2 family) essential for gametocytogenesis. AP2-G mutants are characterised by a complete inability to produce gametocytes. In AP2-G2 mutants the gametocytaemia is very significantly reduced but not completely abolished. We have performed the microarray experiments in order to cokmpare the transcriptomes of these mutantnts to the WT parasites and between each other. As P.berghei parasites are characterised by asynchronous development in the rodent host, the different stage composition of the sample would impact the analysis. Therefore parasites were harvested and matured in in vitro to the schizont stage Pairwaise comparison between the mutants and parental line was performed. 3 biological replicates of each condition were used.
Project description:Commitment to and completion of sexual development are essential for malaria parasites to be transmitted through mosquitoes. The molecular mechanism(s) responsible for these processes however, remain largely unknown. We have identified two transcription factors (both belonging to the AP2 family) essential for gametocytogenesis. AP2-G mutants are characterised by a complete inability to produce gametocytes. In AP2-G2 mutants the gametocytaemia is very significantly reduced but not completely abolished. We have performed the microarray experiments in order to cokmpare the transcriptomes of these mutantnts to the WT parasites and between each other. As P.berghei parasites are characterised by asynchronous development in the rodent host, the different stage composition of the sample would impact the analysis. Therefore parasites were harvested and matured in in vitro to the schizont stage
Project description:Gametocytogenesis, the process by which malaria parasites produce sexual forms that can infect mosquitoes, is essential for the transmission of malaria. A transcriptional switch of the pfap2-g gene triggers sexual commitment, but how the complex multi-step process is precisely programed remains largely unknown. Here, by systematic functional screening of a panel of ApiAP2 transcription factors, we identify six new apiAP2 members associated with gametocytogenesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Among these, PfAP2-G5 (PF3D7_1139300) was found to be indispensable for gametocytogenesis. This factor suppresses the transcriptional activity of the pfap2-g gene via binding to both the upstream region and exonic gene body, the latter is linked to the maintenance of local heterochromatin structure, thereby preventing initiation of sexual commitment. Removal of this repressive effect through pfap2-g5 knockout disrupts the asexual replication cycle and promotes sexual commitment accompanied by upregulation of pfap2-g expression. However, the gametocytes produced fail to mature fully. Further analyses show that PfAP2-G5 is essential for gametocyte maturation, and causes the down-regulation of pfap2-g and a set of early gametocyte genes activated by PfAP2-G prior to gametocyte development. Collectively, our findings reveal a regulation cascade of gametocyte production in malaria parasites, and provide a new target for transmission blocking interventions.