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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
An essential role for the Plasmodium Nek-2 Nima-related protein kinase in the sexual development of malaria parasites
Journal of Biological Chemistry, Volume 284, No. 31, Year 2009
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Description
The molecular control of cell division and development in malaria parasites is far from understood. We previously showed that a Plasmodium gametocyte-specific NIMA-related protein kinase, nek-4, is required for completion of meiosis in the ookinete, the motile form that develops from the zygote in the mosquito vector. Here, we show that another NIMA-related kinase, Pfnek-2, is also predominantly expressed in gametocytes, and that Pfnek-2 is an active enzyme displaying an in vitro substrate preference distinct from that of Pfnek-4. A functional nek-2 gene is required for transmission of both Plasmodium falciparum and the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei to the mosquito vector, which is explained by the observation that disruption of the nek-2 gene in P. berghei causes dysregulation of DNA replication during meiosis and blocks ookinete development. This has implications (i) in our understanding of sexual development of malaria parasites and (ii) in the context of control strategies aimed at interfering with malaria transmission. © 2009 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Reininger, Luc
United Kingdom, Glasgow
University of Glasgow
Tewari, Rita
United Kingdom, Nottingham
University of Nottingham
United Kingdom, London
Imperial College London
Fennell, Clare
United Kingdom, Glasgow
University of Glasgow
Holland, Zoe
United Kingdom, Glasgow
University of Glasgow
Goldring, J. P.Dean
South Africa, Durban
University of Kwazulu-natal
Ranford-Cartwright, Lisa C.
United Kingdom, Glasgow
University of Glasgow
Billker, Oliver
United Kingdom, London
Imperial College London
United Kingdom, Hinxton
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Doerig, Christian D.
United Kingdom, Glasgow
University of Glasgow
Switzerland, Lausanne
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Statistics
Citations: 105
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1074/jbc.M109.017988
ISSN:
00219258
e-ISSN:
1083351X
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Sexual And Reproductive Health