Plasmodium transcription repressor AP2-O3 regulates sex-specific identity of gene expression in female gametocytes.

ABSTRACT: Male and female gametocytes are sexual precursor cells essential for mosquito transmission of malaria parasite. Differentiation of gametocytes into fertile gametes (known as gametogenesis) relies on the gender-specific transcription program. How the parasites establish distinct repertoires of transcription in the male and female gametocytes remains largely unknown. Here, we report that an Apetala2 family transcription factor AP2-O3 operates as a transcription repressor in the female gametocytes. AP2-O3 is specifically expressed in the female gametocytes. AP2-O3-deficient parasites produce apparently normal female gametocytes. Nevertheless, these gametocytes fail to differentiate into fully fertile female gametes, leading to developmental arrest in fertilization and early development post-f

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8097350 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature