Molecular basis of synchronous replication of malaria parasites in the blood stage

Author(s)

Dos Santos, Benedito M. ^[1] ; Pereira, Pedro H. S. ^[1] ; Garcia, Celia R. S. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Clin & Toxicol Anal, Lab Funct Genom & Antimalarial Discovery, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Current Opinion in Microbiology; v. 63, p. 210-215, OCT 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The search for host factors that leads to malaria parasite synchronization has been the focus of several laboratories. The host hormone melatonin synchronizes Plasmodium falciparum in culture by increasing the number of mature parasite stages through a PLC-IP3 activation. Melatonin signaling is linked to crosstalk between Ca2+-cAMP that results in PKA activation. Two other kinases, PfPK7 and PfelK1, and the nuclear protein PfMORC that lacks melatonin sensitivity in the inducible knock-down parasites are also identified as part of the hormone-signal transduction pathways. Melatonin also modulates P. falciparum mitochondrial fission genes FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2 in a stage-specific manner. How these multiple molecular mechanisms are orchestrated to lead to parasite synchronization is a fascinating and opened biological question. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/08684-7 - Decoding Plasmodium signaling at molecular level as a new tool to the development of new antimalarials
• Grantee: Célia Regina da Silva Garcia
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/08988-9 - Evaluation of compounds with antimalarial potential and study of the signal transduction mechanism of GPCR (G-Protein Coupled Receptor) like PfSR25 in Plasmodium falciparum
• Grantee: Benedito Matheus dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)