The initiation and early development of the tubulin-containing cytoskeleton in the human parasite Toxoplasma gondii.
Mol Biol Cell
; 35(3): ar37, 2024 Mar 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38170577
ABSTRACT
The tubulin-containing cytoskeleton of the human parasite Toxoplasma gondii includes several distinct structures the conoid, formed of 14 ribbon-like tubulin polymers, and the array of 22 cortical microtubules (MTs) rooted in the apical polar ring. Here we analyze the structure of developing daughter parasites using both 3D-SIM and expansion microscopy. Cortical MTs and the conoid start to develop almost simultaneously, but from distinct precursors near the centrioles. Cortical MTs are initiated in a fixed sequence, starting around the periphery of a short arc that extends to become a complete circle. The conoid also develops from an open arc into a full circle, with a fixed spatial relationship to the centrioles. The patterning of the MT array starts from a "blueprint" with â¼five-fold symmetry, switching to 22-fold rotational symmetry in the final product, revealing a major structural rearrangement during daughter growth. The number of MT is essentially invariant in the wild-type array, but is perturbed by the loss of some structural components of the apical polar ring. This study provides insights into the development of tubulin-containing structures that diverge from conventional models, insights that are critical for understanding the evolutionary paths leading to construction and divergence of cytoskeletal frameworks.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Parasitos
/
Toxoplasma
Limite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mol Biol Cell
/
Mol. biol. cell
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Molecular biology of the cell
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article