GDV1 induces sexual commitment of malaria parasites by antagonizing HP1-dependent gene silencing

In this study, we identified Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte development 1 (GDV1) as an upstream activator of sexual commitment. We found that GDV1 targeted heterochromatin and triggered HP1 eviction, thus derepressing ap2-g. Expression of GDV1 was responsive to environmental triggers of sexual conversion and controlled via a gdv1 antisense RNA. Hence, GDV1 appears to act as an effector protein that induces sexual differentiation by antagonizing HP1-dependent gene silencing.

Source: ScienceNOW - March 15, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Filarsky, M., Fraschka, S. A., Niederwieser, I., Brancucci, N. M. B., Carrington, E., Carrio, E., Moes, S., Jenoe, P., Bartfai, R., Voss, T. S. Tags: Molecular Biology reports Source Type: news