Identification of functional modules of AKMT, a novel lysine methyltransferase regulating the motility of Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT: The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a leading cause of congenital neurological defects. To cause disease, it must reiterate its lytic cycle through host cell invasion, replication, and parasite egress. This requires the parasite to sense changes in its environment and switch between the non-motile (for replication) and motile (for invasion and egress) states appropriately. Recently, we discovered a previously unknown mechanism of motility regulation in T. gondii, mediated by a lysine methyltransferase, AKMT (for Apical complex lysine (K) methyltransferase). When AKMT is absent, activation of motility is inhibited, which compromises parasite invasion and egress, and thus severely impairs the lytic cycle. Although the methyltransferase activity of AKMT has been established, the p

SUBMITTER: Sivagurunathan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3740173 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature