An ApiAP2 member regulates expression of clonally variant genes of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: Variegated surface antigen expression is key to chronic infection and pathogenesis of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. This protozoan parasite expresses distinct surface molecules that are encoded by clonally variant gene families such as var, rif and stevor. The molecular mechanisms governing activation of individual members remain ill-defined. To investigate the molecular events of the initial transcriptional activation process we focused on a member of the apicomplexan ApiAP2 transcription factor family predicted to bind to the 5' upstream regions of the var gene family, AP2-exp (PF3D7_1466400). Viable AP2-exp mutant parasites rely on expressing no less than a short truncated protein including the N-terminal AP2 DNA-binding domain. RNA-seq analysis in mutant parasites r

SUBMITTER: Martins RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5656681 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature