Apicomplexan cytoskeleton and motors: key regulators in morphogenesis, cell division, transport and motility.
Protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa undergo a lytic cycle whereby a single zoite produced by the previous cycle has to encounter a host cell, invade it, multiply to differentiate into a new zoite generation and escape to resume a new cycle. At every step of this lytic cycle, the cytoskeleton and/or the gliding motility apparatus play a crucial role and recent results have elucidated aspects of these processes, especially in terms of the molecular characterization and interaction of the increasing number of partners involved, and the signalling mechanisms implicated. The present review aims to summarize the most recent findings in the field.
Santos
Joana M
JM
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva CMU, 1 rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Lebrun
Maryse
M
Daher
Wassim
W
Soldati
Dominique
D
Dubremetz
Jean-Francois
JF
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development