Systematic screens for fertility genes essential for malaria parasite transmission reveal conserved aspects of sex in a divergent eukaryote
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Sexual reproduction in malaria parasites is essential for their transmission to mosquitoes and offers a divergent eukaryote model to understand the evolution of sex. Through a panel of genetic screens in Plasmodium berghei, we identify 348 sex and transmission-related genes and define roles for unstudied genes as putative targets for transmission-blocking interventions. The functional data provide a deeper understanding of female metabolic reprogramming, meiosis, and the axoneme. We identify a complex of a SUN domain protein (SUN1) and a putative allantoicase (ALLC1) that is essential for male fertility by linking the microtubule organizing center to the nuclear envelope and enabling mitotic spindle formation during male gametogenesis. Both proteins have orthologs in mouse testis, and the data raise the possibility of an ancient role for atypical SUN domain proteins in coupling the nucleus and axoneme. Altogether, our data provide an unbiased picture of the molecular processes that underpin malaria parasite transmission. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
Source: Cell Systems
Language: English
Topic: Malaria Research and Control
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $9,350
Funders: Human Frontier Science Program, Wellcome Trust, Analytical Center for the Government of the Russian Federation, Human Frontier Science Program, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, University of New South Wales, Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, Umeå Universitet, Science for Life Laboratory, Svensk Njurmedicinsk Förening, European Research Council, H2020 European Research Council, H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Awards: Provoked Admiration, Delineating the molecular mechanisms of sex determination in a malaria parasite, G3788187705, The molecular mechanisms of sex determination in a malaria parasite, The molecular mechanism of sex determination in a malaria parasite, Sex in malaria parasites – from basic biology to targets for transmission blocking interventions., G7594129625
OpenAlex ID: W4404319662