Role of calcium signaling in the transcriptional regulation of the apicoplast genome of Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: Calcium is a universal second messenger that plays an important role in regulatory processes in eukaryotic cells. To understand calcium-dependent signaling in malaria parasites, we analyzed transcriptional responses of Plasmodium falciparum to two calcium ionophores (A23187 and ionomycin) that cause redistribution of intracellular calcium within the cytoplasm. While ionomycin induced a specific transcriptional response defined by up- or downregulation of a narrow set of genes, A23187 caused a developmental arrest in the schizont stage. In addition, we observed a dramatic decrease of mRNA levels of the transcripts encoded by the apicoplast genome during the exposure of P. falciparum to both calcium ionophores. Neither of the ionophores caused any disruptions to the DNA replication or the ov

SUBMITTER: Cheemadan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4022301 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature