SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector

The SAS6-like (SAS6L) protein, a truncated paralogue of the ubiquitous basal body/centriole protein SAS6, has been characterised recently as a flagellum protein in trypanosomatids, but associated with the conoid in apicomplexan Toxoplasma. The conoid has been suggested to derive from flagella parts,...

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Main Authors: Wall, Richard J., Roques, Magali, Katris, Nicholas J., Koreny, Ludek, Stanway, Rebecca R., Brady, Declan, Waller, Ross F., Tewari, Rita
Format: Article
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2016
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34207/
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author Wall, Richard J.
Roques, Magali
Katris, Nicholas J.
Koreny, Ludek
Stanway, Rebecca R.
Brady, Declan
Waller, Ross F.
Tewari, Rita
author_facet Wall, Richard J.
Roques, Magali
Katris, Nicholas J.
Koreny, Ludek
Stanway, Rebecca R.
Brady, Declan
Waller, Ross F.
Tewari, Rita
author_sort Wall, Richard J.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description The SAS6-like (SAS6L) protein, a truncated paralogue of the ubiquitous basal body/centriole protein SAS6, has been characterised recently as a flagellum protein in trypanosomatids, but associated with the conoid in apicomplexan Toxoplasma. The conoid has been suggested to derive from flagella parts, but is thought to have been lost from some apicomplexans including the malaria-causing genus Plasmodium. Presence of SAS6L in Plasmodium, therefore, suggested a possible role in flagella assembly in male gametes, the only flagellated stage. Here, we have studied the expression and role of SAS6L throughout the Plasmodium life cycle using the rodent malaria model P. berghei. Contrary to a hypothesised role in flagella, SAS6L was absent during gamete flagellum formation. Instead, SAS6L was restricted to the apical complex in ookinetes and sporozoites, the extracellular invasive stages that develop within the mosquito vector. In these stages SAS6L forms an apical ring, as we show is also the case in Toxoplasma tachyzoites. The SAS6L ring was not apparent in blood-stage invasive merozoites, indicating that the apical complex is differentiated between the different invasive forms. Overall this study indicates that a conoid-associated apical complex protein and ring structure is persistent in Plasmodium in a stage-specific manner.
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spelling nottingham-342072020-05-04T17:57:54Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34207/ SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector Wall, Richard J. Roques, Magali Katris, Nicholas J. Koreny, Ludek Stanway, Rebecca R. Brady, Declan Waller, Ross F. Tewari, Rita The SAS6-like (SAS6L) protein, a truncated paralogue of the ubiquitous basal body/centriole protein SAS6, has been characterised recently as a flagellum protein in trypanosomatids, but associated with the conoid in apicomplexan Toxoplasma. The conoid has been suggested to derive from flagella parts, but is thought to have been lost from some apicomplexans including the malaria-causing genus Plasmodium. Presence of SAS6L in Plasmodium, therefore, suggested a possible role in flagella assembly in male gametes, the only flagellated stage. Here, we have studied the expression and role of SAS6L throughout the Plasmodium life cycle using the rodent malaria model P. berghei. Contrary to a hypothesised role in flagella, SAS6L was absent during gamete flagellum formation. Instead, SAS6L was restricted to the apical complex in ookinetes and sporozoites, the extracellular invasive stages that develop within the mosquito vector. In these stages SAS6L forms an apical ring, as we show is also the case in Toxoplasma tachyzoites. The SAS6L ring was not apparent in blood-stage invasive merozoites, indicating that the apical complex is differentiated between the different invasive forms. Overall this study indicates that a conoid-associated apical complex protein and ring structure is persistent in Plasmodium in a stage-specific manner. Nature Publishing Group 2016-06-03 Article PeerReviewed Wall, Richard J., Roques, Magali, Katris, Nicholas J., Koreny, Ludek, Stanway, Rebecca R., Brady, Declan, Waller, Ross F. and Tewari, Rita (2016) SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector. Scientific Reports . ISSN 2045-2322 http://www.nature.com/articles/srep28604 doi:10.1038/srep28604 doi:10.1038/srep28604
spellingShingle Wall, Richard J.
Roques, Magali
Katris, Nicholas J.
Koreny, Ludek
Stanway, Rebecca R.
Brady, Declan
Waller, Ross F.
Tewari, Rita
SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector
title SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector
title_full SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector
title_fullStr SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector
title_full_unstemmed SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector
title_short SAS6-like protein in Plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector
title_sort sas6-like protein in plasmodium indicates that conoid-associated apical complex proteins persist in invasive stages within the mosquito vector
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34207/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34207/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34207/