biostudies-literaturePace TFrancis Crick InstituteCancer Research UKMedical Research CouncilThe Francis Crick InstituteWellcome Truste13028https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6766862biostudies-literatureUnknown21(7)The Plasmodium subtilisin-like serine protease SUB1 is expressed in hepatic and both asexual and sexual blood parasite stages. SUB1 is required for egress of invasive forms of the parasite from both erythrocytes and hepatocytes, but its subcellular localisation, function, and potential substrates in the sexual stages are unknown. Here, we have characterised the expression profile and subcellular localisation of SUB1 in Plasmodium berghei sexual stages. We show that the protease is selectively expressed in mature male gametocytes and localises to secretory organelles known to be involved in gamete egress, called male osmiophilic bodies. We have investigated PbSUB1 function in the sexual stages by generating P. berghei transgenic lines deficient in PbSUB1 expression or enzyme activity in gamCellular microbiologyThe Plasmodium berghei serine protease PbSUB1 plays an important role in male gamete egress.PMC676686210043FC001043Grasso FPonzi MCamarda GBlackman MJOlivieri ASuarez CPace TfalseThe Plasmodium berghei serine protease PbSUB1 plays an important role in male gamete egress.The Plasmodium subtilisin-like serine protease SUB1 is expressed in hepatic and both asexual and sexual blood parasite stages. SUB1 is required for egress of invasive forms of the parasite from both erythrocytes and hepatocytes, but its subcellular localisation, function, and potential substrates in the sexual stages are unknown. Here, we have characterised the expression profile and subcellular localisation of SUB1 in Plasmodium berghei sexual stages. We show that the protease is selectively expressed in mature male gametocytes and localises to secretory organelles known to be involved in gamete egress, called male osmiophilic bodies. We have investigated PbSUB1 function in the sexual stages by generating P. berghei transgenic lines deficient in PbSUB1 expression or enzyme activity in gam2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Jul2025-04-04T19:02:39.397Z2019-10-11T07:12:55ZS-EPMC67668623094186810.1111/cmi.13028