Male fertility of malaria parasites is determined by GCS1, a plant-type reproduction factor.
Malaria, which is caused by Plasmodium parasites, is transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes. When gametocytes, the precursor cells of Plasmodium gametes, are transferred to a mosquito, they fertilize and proliferate, which render the mosquito infectious to the next vertebrate host. Although the fertilization of malaria parasites has been considered as a rational target for transmission-blocking vaccines, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we show that the rodent malaria parasite gene Plasmodium berghei GENERATIVE CELL SPECIFIC 1 (PbGCS1) plays a central role in its gametic interaction. PbGCS1 knockout parasites show male sterility, resulting in unsuccessful fertilization. Because such a male-specific function of GCS1 has been observed in angiosperms, this indicates, for the first time, that parasite sexual reproduction is controlled by a machinery common to flowering plants. Our present findings provide a new viewpoint for understanding the parasitic fertilization system and important clues for novel strategies to attack life-threatening parasites.
Hirai
Makoto
M
Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke City, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan. mhirai@ms.jichi.ac.jp
Arai
Meiji
M
Mori
Toshiyuki
T
Miyagishima
Shin-Ya
SY
Kawai
Satoru
S
Kita
Kiyoshi
K
Kuroiwa
Tsuneyoshi
T
Terenius
Olle
O
Matsuoka
Hiroyuki
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000235:genetics; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D010940:Plant Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins