title: Analogous expression pattern of Plasmodium falciparum replication initiation proteins PfMCM4 and PfORC1 during the asexual and sexual stages of intraerythrocytic developmental cycle.
abstract: DNA replication takes place at five different stages during the life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum including the human and mosquito hosts. DNA replication initiation, the rate-determining step is poorly understood in Plasmodium. Here we show that PfMCM4 and PfORC1, two members of prereplication initiation complex are expressed specifically in the nucleus during the trophozoite and schizont stages of the asexual parasitic life cycle where maximum amount of DNA replication takes place. Further, we show that these proteins are also expressed in gametocytes, where DNA replication also occurs. These results expand our knowledge on these proteins and resolves discrepancies arising from previous studies with respect to the expression pattern of replication initiation proteins during the parasite's life cycle.
authors.affiliation: Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Parul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mehra
authors.forename: Ramgopal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nitharwal
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Anup K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Suman Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dhar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004261:DNA Replication; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D051738:Origin Recognition Complex / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051738:Origin Recognition Complex; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C045264:replication initiator protein; D004265:DNA Helicases