Plasmodium telomeres: a pathogen's perspective.
New data on the organization of plasmodial telomeres has recently become available. Telomeres form clusters of four to seven heterologous chromosome ends at the nuclear periphery in asexual and sexual parasite stages. This subnuclear compartment promotes gene conversion between members of subtelomeric virulence factor genes in heterologous chromosomes resulting in diversity of antigenic and adhesive phenotypes. This has important implications for parasite survival.
Scherf
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A
Unité de Biologie des Interactions Hôte-Parasite, CNRS URA 1960, Institut Pasteur, 25, rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France. ascherf@pasteur.fr
Figueiredo
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LM
Freitas-Junior
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LH
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics