Origin, composition, organization and function of the inner membrane complex of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes
Origin, composition, organization and function of the inner membrane complex of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes
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DOI：
10.1242/jcs.099002
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发表时间：
2012-04-15
影响因子：
4
通讯作者：
Dixon, Matthew W. A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dearnley, Megan K.;Yeoman, Jeffrey A.;Dixon, Matthew W. A.
恶性疟原虫是最致命的人类疟疾寄生虫，在准备进行有性繁殖和通过蚊子传播时，它经历了一个显着的形态转变。事实上，恶性疟原虫是以成熟的性阶段的独特镰刀形或新月形命名的。一旦变态完成，成熟的配子母细胞从隔离部位释放并进入循环，从而使其易于喂养蚊子。早期的超微结构研究表明，配子体的伸长是由寄生虫质膜下的扁平池膜隔室系统和微管支持网络的组装驱动的。在这里，我们描述的分子组成和起源的sub-pellicular膜复合物，并表明，它是类似于内膜复合物，一个细胞器的结构和电机功能，是很好地保存在apicomplexa。我们确定了新的交联元素，可能有助于稳定的内膜复合体在配子体发育。我们发现，配子体形态的变化与细胞变形能力的增加，并假设这使得配子体在血流中循环，而不被检测到，并通过机械过滤机制在脾脏中的主机删除。
The most virulent of the human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, undergoes a remarkable morphological transformation as it prepares itself for sexual reproduction and transmission via mosquitoes. Indeed P. falciparum is named for the unique falciform or crescent shape of the mature sexual stages. Once the metamorphosis is completed, the mature gametocyte releases from sequestration sites and enters the circulation, thus making it accessible to feeding mosquitoes. Early ultrastructural studies showed that gametocyte elongation is driven by the assembly of a system of flattened cisternal membrane compartments underneath the parasite plasma membrane and a supporting network of microtubules. Here we describe the molecular composition and origin of the sub-pellicular membrane complex, and show that it is analogous to the inner membrane complex, an organelle with structural and motor functions that is well conserved across the apicomplexa. We identify novel crosslinking elements that might help stabilize the inner membrane complex during gametocyte development. We show that changes in gametocyte morphology are associated with an increase in cellular deformability and postulate that this enables the gametocytes to circulate in the bloodstream without being detected and removed by the mechanical filtering mechanisms in the spleen of the host.