Disrupting assembly of the inner membrane complex blocks Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development

PLoS Pathogens

Leann Tilley¹  Paul McMillan²  Dean Andrew²  Emma McHugh²  Steven Batinovic²  Matthew W. A. Dixon²  Boyin Liu²  Philipp Glock²  Molly Parkyn Schneider²  Annika Suttie²  Nicholas Williamson³  Marion Hliscs⁴  Eric Hanssen⁴ 

[1] Biological Optical Microscopy Platform, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;Melbourne Advance Microscopy Facility, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

关键词: Gametocytes;    Microtubules;    Cell membranes;    Membrane proteins;    Plasmodium;    Vacuoles;    Cellular structures;    organelles;    Immunofluorescence microscopy;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1006659

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Transmission of malaria parasites relies on the formation of a specialized blood form called the gametocyte. Gametocytes of the human pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, adopt a crescent shape. Their dramatic morphogenesis is driven by the assembly of a network of microtubules and an underpinning inner membrane complex (IMC). Using super-resolution optical and electron microscopies we define the ultrastructure of the IMC at different stages of gametocyte development. We characterize two new proteins of the gametocyte IMC, called PhIL1 and PIP1. Genetic disruption of PhIL1 or PIP1 ablates elongation and prevents formation of transmission-ready mature gametocytes. The maturation defect is accompanied by failure to form an enveloping IMC and a marked swelling of the digestive vacuole, suggesting PhIL1 and PIP1 are required for correct membrane trafficking. Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry we reveal that PhIL1 interacts with known and new components of the gametocyte IMC.

【 授权许可】

CC BY