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An essential contractile ring protein controls cell division in Plasmodium falciparum.

Authors :
Rudlaff RM
Kraemer S
Streva VA
Dvorin JD
Source :
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2019 May 16; Vol. 10 (1), pp. 2181. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 May 16.
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

During the blood stage of human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum parasites divide by schizogony-a process wherein components for several daughter cells are produced within a common cytoplasm and then segmentation, a synchronized cytokinesis, produces individual invasive daughters. The basal complex is hypothesized to be required for segmentation, acting as a contractile ring to establish daughter cell boundaries. Here we identify an essential component of the basal complex which we name PfCINCH. Using three-dimensional reconstructions of parasites at electron microscopy resolution, we show that while parasite organelles form and divide normally, PfCINCH-deficient parasites develop inviable conjoined daughters that contain components for multiple cells. Through biochemical evaluation of the PfCINCH-containing complex, we discover multiple previously undescribed basal complex proteins. Therefore, this work provides genetic evidence that the basal complex is required for precise segmentation and lays the groundwork for a mechanistic understanding of how the parasite contractile ring drives cell division.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2041-1723
Volume :
10
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Nature communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
31097714
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10214-z