The role of DNA mismatch repair in generating genetic diversity and drug resistance in malaria parasites.

ABSTRACT: Although the mechanisms by which malaria parasites develop resistance to drugs are unclear, current knowledge suggests a main mechanism of resistance is the alteration of target enzymes by point mutation. In other organisms, defects in DNA mismatch repair have been linked to increased mutation rates and drug resistance. We have identified an unusual complement of mismatch repair genes in the Plasmodium genome. An initial functional test of two of these genes (PfMSH2-1 and PfMSH2-2) using a dominant mutator assay showed an elevation in mutation frequency with the PfMSH2-2 homolog, indirectly demonstrating a role for this gene in mismatch repair. We successfully disrupted PbMSH2-2 in the Plasmodium berghei laboratory isolate NK65, and showed that this gene is not essential for parasite growt

SUBMITTER: Bethke L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3683857 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature