title: Proteomic analysis of the Plasmodium male gamete reveals the key role for glycolysis in flagellar motility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gametogenesis and fertilization play crucial roles in malaria transmission. While male gametes are thought to be amongst the simplest eukaryotic cells and are proven targets of transmission blocking immunity, little is known about their molecular organization. For example, the pathway of energy metabolism that power motility, a feature that facilitates gamete encounter and fertilization, is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasmodium berghei microgametes were purified and analysed by whole-cell proteomic analysis for the first time. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001163.
  
  
  RESULTS
  615 proteins were recovered, they included all male gamete proteins described thus far. Amongst them were the 11 enzymes of the glycolytic pathway. The hexose transporter was localized to the gamete plasma membrane and it was shown that microgamete motility can be suppressed effectively by inhibitors of this transporter and of the glycolytic pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes the first whole-cell proteomic analysis of the malaria male gamete. It identifies glycolysis as the likely exclusive source of energy for flagellar beat, and provides new insights in original features of Plasmodium flagellar organization.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Imperial College, London, UK. arthur.talman@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Arthur M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Talman
authors.forename: Judith H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Ceereena
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ubaida-Mohien
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lawniczak
authors.forename: Mark N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Wass
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ecker
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stanway
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.forename: Michael J E
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.forename: Georges K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Christophides
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Rhoel R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dinglasan
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sinden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D006019:Glycolysis; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome