PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum
Abstract In malaria parasites, male gametogenesis is a proliferative stage essential for parasite transmission to the mosquito vector. It is a rapid process involving three rounds of genome replication alternating with closed endomitoses, and assembly of axonemes to produce eight flagellated motile...
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2020-07-01
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doaj-fb3e8f58565243c88594bb8e0d571e742021-07-18T11:22:57ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222020-07-0110111610.1038/s41598-020-68717-5PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparumEva Hitz0Aurélia C. Balestra1Mathieu Brochet2Till S. Voss3Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of GenevaDepartment of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of GenevaDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteAbstract In malaria parasites, male gametogenesis is a proliferative stage essential for parasite transmission to the mosquito vector. It is a rapid process involving three rounds of genome replication alternating with closed endomitoses, and assembly of axonemes to produce eight flagellated motile microgametes. Studies in Plasmodium berghei have highlighted tight regulation of gametogenesis by a network of kinases. The P. berghei MAPK homologue PbMAP-2 is dispensable for asexual development but important at the induction of axoneme motility. However, in P. falciparum, causing the most severe form of human malaria, PfMAP-2 was suggested to be essential for asexual proliferation indicating distinct functions for MAP-2 in these two Plasmodium species. We here show that PfMAP-2 is dispensable for asexual growth but important for male gametogenesis in vitro. Similar to PbMAP-2, PfMAP-2 is required for initiating axonemal beating but not for prior DNA replication or axoneme formation. In addition, single and double null mutants of PfMAP-2 and the second P. falciparum MAPK homologue PfMAP-1 show no defect in asexual proliferation, sexual commitment or gametocytogenesis. Our results suggest that MAPK activity plays no major role in the biology of both asexual and sexual blood stage parasites up until the point of male gametogenesis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68717-5 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Eva Hitz Aurélia C. Balestra Mathieu Brochet Till S. Voss |
spellingShingle |
Eva Hitz Aurélia C. Balestra Mathieu Brochet Till S. Voss PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum Scientific Reports |
author_facet |
Eva Hitz Aurélia C. Balestra Mathieu Brochet Till S. Voss |
author_sort |
Eva Hitz |
title |
PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum |
title_short |
PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum |
title_full |
PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum |
title_fullStr |
PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum |
title_full_unstemmed |
PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum |
title_sort |
pfmap-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
Scientific Reports |
issn |
2045-2322 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
Abstract In malaria parasites, male gametogenesis is a proliferative stage essential for parasite transmission to the mosquito vector. It is a rapid process involving three rounds of genome replication alternating with closed endomitoses, and assembly of axonemes to produce eight flagellated motile microgametes. Studies in Plasmodium berghei have highlighted tight regulation of gametogenesis by a network of kinases. The P. berghei MAPK homologue PbMAP-2 is dispensable for asexual development but important at the induction of axoneme motility. However, in P. falciparum, causing the most severe form of human malaria, PfMAP-2 was suggested to be essential for asexual proliferation indicating distinct functions for MAP-2 in these two Plasmodium species. We here show that PfMAP-2 is dispensable for asexual growth but important for male gametogenesis in vitro. Similar to PbMAP-2, PfMAP-2 is required for initiating axonemal beating but not for prior DNA replication or axoneme formation. In addition, single and double null mutants of PfMAP-2 and the second P. falciparum MAPK homologue PfMAP-1 show no defect in asexual proliferation, sexual commitment or gametocytogenesis. Our results suggest that MAPK activity plays no major role in the biology of both asexual and sexual blood stage parasites up until the point of male gametogenesis. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68717-5 |
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