Epigenetic Players of Chromatin Structure Regulation in Plasmodium falciparum

The protozoan parasite Plasmodium has evolved to survive in different hosts and environments. The diverse strategies of adaptation to different niches involve differential gene expression mechanisms mediated by chromatin plasticity that are poorly characterized in Plasmodium. The parasite employs a wide variety of regulatory mechanisms to complete their life cycle and survive inside hosts. Among them, epigenetic-mediated mechanisms have been implicated for controlling chromatin organization, gene regulation, morphological differentiation, and antigenic variation. The differential gene expression in parasite is largely dependent on the nature of the chromatin structure. The histone core methylation marks and methyl mark readers contribute to chromatin dynamics. Here, we review the recent developments on various epigenetic marks and its enzymes in the Plasmodium falciparum, how these marks play a key role in the regulation of transcriptional activity of variable genes and coordinate the differential gene expression. We also discuss the possible roles of these epigenetic marks in chromatin structure regulation and plasticity at various stages of its development.