title: Aberrant transcription and the failure of Plasmodium falciparum to differentiate into gametocytes.
abstract: In the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, a DNA rearrangement is associated with erroneous transcription of the early gametocyte antigen gene, Pfg27/25, and the failure of the blood stages to differentiate into gametocytes. Altered blood stage-specific patterns of mRNA accumulation were observed for the Pfg27/25 gene, in mutant P. falciparum parasites that have lost the capacity to differentiate sexually. Each mutant demonstrates a DNA rearrangement upstream of the coding sequence. The location of the gene proximal breakpoint correlates with the complete absence of stable Pfg27/25 transcripts or with the accumulation of aberrant Pfg27/25 mRNAs in the asexual stages. The rearrangement identifies a labile region of the genome which contributes to accurate stage-specific Pfg27/25 gene transcription and may be necessary for a critical early step in sexual differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Molecular Parasitology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10010.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Pologe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015342:DNA Probes; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016053:RNA, Protozoan