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Detailing organelle division and segregation in Plasmodium falciparum
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Detailing organelle division and segregation in Plasmodium falciparum

Julie M J Verhoef, Cas Boshoven, Felix Evers, Laura J Akkerman, Barend C A Gijsbrechts, Marga van de Vegte-Bolmer, Geert-Jan van Gemert, Akhil B Vaidya and Taco W A Kooij
The Journal of cell biology, v 223(12)
02 Dec 2024
PMID: 39485315
url
https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202406064View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Animals Apicoplasts - genetics Apicoplasts - metabolism Cell Division Centrioles - metabolism Centrioles - ultrastructure Erythrocytes - parasitology Erythrocytes - ultrastructure Humans Malaria, Falciparum - metabolism Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology Malaria, Falciparum - pathology Mitochondria - metabolism Mitochondria - ultrastructure Organelles - metabolism Organelles - ultrastructure Plasmodium falciparum - metabolism Plasmodium falciparum - ultrastructure Protozoan Proteins - genetics Protozoan Proteins - metabolism
The malaria-causing parasite, P. falciparum, replicates through schizogony, a tightly orchestrated process where numerous daughter parasites are formed simultaneously. Proper division and segregation of one-per-cell organelles, like the mitochondrion and apicoplast, are essential, yet remain poorly understood. We developed a new reporter parasite line that allows visualization of the mitochondrion in blood and mosquito stages. Using high-resolution 3D imaging, we found that the mitochondrion orients in a cartwheel structure, prior to stepwise, non-geometric division during last-stage schizogony. Analysis of focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy data confirmed these mitochondrial division stages. Furthermore, these data allowed us to elucidate apicoplast division steps, highlighted its close association with the mitochondrion, and showed putative roles of the centriolar plaques in apicoplast segregation. These observations form the foundation for a new detailed mechanistic model of mitochondrial and apicoplast division and segregation during P. falciparum schizogony and pave the way for future studies into the proteins and protein complexes involved in organelle division and segregation.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Cell Biology
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