Disruption of a Plasmodium falciparum cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase gene causes aberrant gametogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Phosphodiesterase (PDE) and guanylyl cyclase (GC) enzymes are key components of the cGMP signalling pathway and are encoded in the genome of Plasmodium falciparum. Here we investigate the role of specific GC and PDE isoforms in gamete formation--a process that is essential for malaria transmission and occurs in the Anopheles mosquito midgut following feeding on an infected individual. Details of the intracellular signalling events controlling development of the male and female gametes from their precursors (gametocytes) remain sparse in P. falciparum. Previous work involving the addition of pharmacological agents to gametocytes implicated cGMP in exflagellation--the emergence of highly motile, flagellated male gametes from the host red blood cell. In this study we show that decreased GC ac

SUBMITTER: Taylor CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2615252 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature