A Protein Palmitoylation Cascade Regulates Microtubule Cytoskeleton Integrity in Plasmodium

ABSTRACT: Morphogenesis of many protozoans depends on a polarized establishment of cytoskeletal structures. In malaria causing parasites this can be observed when a round zygote develops into an elongated motile ookinete within the mosquito stomach. This morphogenesis is mediated by the pellicle cytoskeletal structures, including the inner membrane complex (IMC) and the underlying subpellicular microtubules (SPM). How the parasite maintains the IMC-SPM connection and establishes a dome-like structure of SPM to support cell elongation is unclear. Here we show that palmitoylation of N-terminal cysteines of two IMC proteins (ISP1/ISP3) regulates the IMC localization of ISP1/ISP3 and zygote to ookinete differentiation. Palmitoylation of ISP1/ISP3 is catalyzed by an IMC-residing palmitoyl-S-acyl-transfer

SUBMITTER: Xu Wang 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-EMBOJ-2019-104168 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other