Transcriptional silencing and activation of paternal DNA during Plasmodium berghei zygotic development and transformation to oocyst.

Cellular Microbiology
Chiamaka Valerie UkegbuDina Vlachou

Abstract

The malaria parasite develops sexually in the mosquito midgut upon entry with the ingested blood meal before it can invade the midgut epithelium and embark on sporogony. Recent data have identified a number of distinct transcriptional programmes operating during this critical phase of the parasite life cycle. We aimed at characterizing the parental contribution to these transcriptional programmes and establish the genetic framework that would guide further studies of Plasmodium zygotic development and ookinete-to-oocyst transition. To achieve this we used in vitro and in vivo cross-fertilization experiments of various parasite lines expressing fluorescent reporters under the control of constitutive and stage-specific promoters. The results revealed that the zygote/ookinete stage exhibits a maternal phenotype with respect to constitutively expressed reporters, which is derived from either maternal mRNA inheritance or transcription of the maternal allele. The respective paternal alleles are silenced in the zygote/ookinete but reactivated after midgut invasion and transformation to oocyst. Transcripts specifically produced in the zygote/ookinete are synthesized de novo by both parental alleles. These findings highlight a putative ...Continue Reading

References

Jul 20, 2002·Methods in Molecular Medicine·Robert E SindenA L Beetsma
Jun 10, 2004·Cellular Microbiology·Dina VlachouFotis C Kafatos
Jul 29, 2004·Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology·Blandine Franke-FayardChris J Janse
Oct 26, 2005·Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology·Chris J JanseAndrew P Waters
Aug 5, 2006·Science·Gunnar R MairAndrew P Waters
May 9, 2007·Frontiers in Bioscience : a Journal and Virtual Library·Anilkumar Bettegowda, George W Smith
Aug 7, 2007·PLoS Pathogens·Alfred CortésAnthony A Holder
Jun 6, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Adriana M Salcedo-AmayaHendrik G Stunnenberg
Apr 14, 2010·PLoS Pathogens·Melissa R van DijkChris J Janse
May 31, 2013·Nature·Philip J SpenceJean Langhorne
May 31, 2013·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Paresh SharmaSanjay A Desai
Feb 11, 2014·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Takeshi AnnouraShahid M Khan
Jun 20, 2014·Current Opinion in Microbiology·Till S VossRichárd Bártfai

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 15, 2020·Scientific Reports·Kathrin WitmerGeorge K Christophides
May 7, 2019·Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·Catherin Marin-MogollonShahid M Khan
Apr 26, 2016·Cellular Microbiology·Sandra BenninkGabriele Pradel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
dissection
transgenic
Confocal microscopy
dissections
fluorescence microscopy
electrophoresis
fluorescence
genetic modifications
PCR

Software Mentioned

Leica LAS AF
Primer3

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antimalarial Agents (ASM)

Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.

Antimalarial Agents

Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.