Revealing the molecular determinants of gender in malaria parasites.
Malaria parasites have a complex life cycle with asexual multiplication in a vertebrate host and obligate sexual reproduction in the mosquito; however, commitment to sexual development begins in the vertebrate with differentiation of female and male gametocytes. In this issue of Cell, Khan et al. (2005) used elegant approaches to purify male and female gametocytes and elucidated their respective proteome, providing the basis for understanding sexual development in this pathogen.
Cowman
Alan F
AF
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 3050, Australia.
Crabb
Brendan S
BS
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020543:Proteome; D019849:Sex Determination Processes
D020543:Proteome