Microtubule number and length determine cellular shape and function in Plasmodium

ABSTRACT: Microtubules are cytoskeletal filaments essential for many cellular processes, including establishment and maintenance of polarity, intracellular transport, division and migration. In most metazoan cells, the number and length of microtubules is highly variable, while they can be precisely defined in some protozoan organisms. However, in either case the significance of these two key parameters for cells is not known. Here, we quantitatively study the impact of modulating microtubule number and length in Plasmodium, the protozoan parasite causing malaria. Using a gene deletion and replacement strategy targeting one out of two ?-tubulin genes, we show that chromosome segregation proceeds in the oocyste even in the absence of microtubules. However, fewer and shorter microtubules severely impa

SUBMITTER: Prof. Friedrich Frischknecht 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-EMBOJ-2018-100984 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other