Coordination of apicoplast transcription in a malaria parasite by internal and host cues.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 120(28): e2214765120, 2023 07 11.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37406097
ABSTRACT
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has a nonphotosynthetic plastid called the apicoplast, which contains its own genome. Regulatory mechanisms for apicoplast gene expression remain poorly understood, despite this organelle being crucial for the parasite life cycle. Here, we identify a nuclear-encoded apicoplast RNA polymerase σ subunit (sigma factor) which, along with the α subunit, appears to mediate apicoplast transcript accumulation. This has a periodicity reminiscent of parasite circadian or developmental control. Expression of the apicoplast subunit gene, apSig, together with apicoplast transcripts, increased in the presence of the blood circadian signaling hormone melatonin. Our data suggest that the host circadian rhythm is integrated with intrinsic parasite cues to coordinate apicoplast genome transcription. This evolutionarily conserved regulatory system might be a future target for malaria treatment.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Parasites
/
Apicoplasts
/
Malaria
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Japón