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Sequence and functional divergence of gametocyte-specific parasitophorous vacuole membrane proteins in Plasmodium

Elena Deligianni1, Maria Andreadaki1, Konstantinos Koutsouris2

  • 1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece.

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
|January 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

The Plasmodium berghei PBANKA_1003900 gene, similar to Pfs16, is expressed in gametocytes. Knocking out this gene did not affect parasite development or mosquito transmission, though oocyst numbers were reduced.

Area of Science:

  • Malariology
  • Molecular Parasitology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Plasmodium parasites reside within a host-derived Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane (PVM).
  • Early Transcribed Membrane Proteins (ETRAMPs) are a family of small proteins localized to the PVM.
  • Pfs16 is an ETRAMP specifically found in the PVM of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of the P. berghei gene PBANKA_1003900, which is syntenic to Pfs16.
  • To determine the expression pattern and localization of the PBANKA_1003900 gene product.
  • To assess the role of PBANKA_1003900 in Plasmodium berghei sexual development and transmission.

Main Methods:

  • Gene expression analysis using transcript detection.
  • Protein localization studies using C-terminal mCherry fusion.
  • Gene knockout mutant generation and phenotypic analysis.
  • Assessment of parasite development, ookinete formation, and mosquito transmission efficiency.

Main Results:

  • The P. berghei gene PBANKA_1003900 is transcribed in gametocytes and ookinetes.
  • The encoded protein is localized to gametocytes.
  • A knockout mutant of PBANKA_1003900 showed normal sexual development and ookinete formation.
  • The mutant parasites did not exhibit impaired transmission to mosquitoes, but a reduced number of oocysts were observed.

Conclusions:

  • The P. berghei PBANKA_1003900 gene product is not essential for sexual development or mosquito transmission.
  • While not critical, the gene may play a role in optimizing oocyst development in the mosquito vector.
Keywords:
MalariaMosquitoOocystParasitophorous vacuole membrane

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