A mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates male gametogenesis and transmission of the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei.
Differentiation of malaria parasites into sexual forms (gametocytes) in the vertebrate host and their subsequent development into gametes in the mosquito vector are crucial steps in the completion of the parasite's life cycle and transmission of the disease. The molecular mechanisms that regulate the sexual cycle are poorly understood. Although several signal transduction pathways have been implicated, a clear understanding of the pathways involved has yet to emerge. Here, we show that a Plasmodium berghei homologue of Plasmodium falciparum mitogen-activated kinase-2 (Pfmap-2), a gametocyte-specific mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), is required for male gamete formation. Parasites lacking Pbmap-2 are competent for gametocytogenesis, but exflagellation of male gametocytes, the process that leads to male gamete formation, is almost entirely abolished in mutant parasites. Consistent with this result, transmission of mutant parasites to mosquitoes is grossly impaired. This finding identifies a crucial role for a MAPK pathway in malaria transmission.
Rangarajan
Radha
R
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Bei
Amy K
AK
Jethwaney
Deepa
D
Maldonado
Priscilla
P
Dorin
Dominique
D
Sultan
Ali A
AA
Doerig
Christian
C
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007303:Insect Vectors; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1