The Plasmodium falciparum CCCH Zinc Finger Protein ZNF4 Plays an Important Role in Gametocyte Exflagellation through the Regulation of Male Enriched Transcripts.

ABSTRACT: CCCH zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) function mainly as RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and play a central role in the mRNA metabolism. Over twenty seven CCCH-ZFPs are encoded in the genome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria tropica. However, little is known about their functions. In this study, we characterize one member of the PfCCCH-ZFP named ZNF4. We show that ZNF4 is highly expressed in mature gametocytes, where it predominantly localizes to the cytoplasm. Targeted gene disruption of ZNF4 showed no significant effect in asexual blood stage replication and gametocyte development while male gametocyte exflagellation was significantly impaired, leading to reduced malaria transmission in the mosquito. Comparative transcriptomics betwe

SUBMITTER: Hanhsen B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9139750 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature