An SR protein is essential for activating DNA repair in malaria parasites.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of human malaria, replicates within the erythrocytes of its host, where it encounters numerous pressures that cause extensive DNA damage, which must be repaired efficiently to ensure parasite survival. Malaria parasites, which have lost the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway for repairing DNA double-strand breaks, have evolved unique mechanisms that enable them to robustly maintain genome integrity under such harsh conditions. However, the nature of these adaptations is unknown. We show that a highly conserved RNA splicing factor, P. falciparum (Pf)SR1, plays an unexpected and crucial role in DNA repair in malaria parasites. Using an inducible and reversible system to manipulate PfSR1 expression, we demonstrate t

SUBMITTER: Goyal M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8435287 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature