Genome-wide functional analysis of Plasmodium protein phosphatases reveals key regulators of parasite development and differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Reversible protein phosphorylation regulated by kinases and phosphatases controls many cellular processes. Although essential functions for the malaria parasite kinome have been reported, the roles of most protein phosphatases (PPs) during Plasmodium development are unknown. We report a functional analysis of the Plasmodium berghei protein phosphatome, which exhibits high conservation with the P. falciparum phosphatome and comprises 30 predicted PPs with differential and distinct expression patterns during various stages of the life cycle. Gene disruption analysis of P. berghei PPs reveals that half of the genes are likely essential for asexual blood stage development, whereas six are required for sexual development/sporogony in mosquitoes. Phenotypic screening coupled with transcriptome s

SUBMITTER: Guttery DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4094981 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature