Mutant/mutation
The mutant lacks expression of CDPK3 (calcium-dependent protein kinase 3).

Protein (function)
CDPK3 belongs to an expanded family of Ca²⁺ dependent protein kinases (CDPKs). CDPKs combine an amino-terminal serine/threonine kinase domain and a carboxy-terminal calmodulin-like domain, composed of four EF hands, in the same molecule. In plants, CDPKs translate Ca²⁺ signals generated by external stimuli into cellular responses, thereby regulating cell division and differentiation, the development of tolerance to stress stimuli and the specific defense responses to pathogens.

Phenotype
The phenotype analyses indicate a role of CDPK3 in the transformation of the mature ookinete into the oocyst. Specifically, ookinetes fail to bind and traverse the cell of the midgut wall. Electron microscopic analyses demonstrated that the disruptant ookinetes could not access midgut epithelial cells by traversing the layer covering the cell surface. See also RMgm-168 for a further analysis of motility and traversal behaviour of ookinetes lacking expression of CDPK3.
The production of infectious sporozoites by the few oocysts that were formed, indicates that the role of CDPK3 is restricted to the ookinete stage.

Additional information
An independent mutant lacking expression of CDPK3, RMgm-154, has been generated which show a comparable defect in ookinete to oocyst transition. However, instead of the specific defect in traversal of the layer covering the epithelial cells, a more general defect in  motility of the ookinetes was observed, suggesting a role for CDPK3 in regulating productive gliding motility of ookinetes.

Disruption of the P. falciparum ortholog has been attempted (Solyakov et al., 2011, Nat Commun, 2:565).
The gene is likely essential for asexual proliferation. After transfection with a KO vector a weak PCR signal diagnostic for integration was observed, indicating that integration does transiently occur but parasites with a disrupted locus do not persist. Cloning will be required to validate this interpretation for this gene.

Other mutants
RMgm-154: An independent mutant lacking expression of CDPK3
RMgm-168: A mutant lacking expression of CDPK3 and expressing GFP under control of the hsp70 promoter. This mutant has been generated by crossing mutant RMgm-165 lacking expression of CDPK3 with mutant RMgm-166 that expresses GFP
RMgm-12: A mutant lacking expression CDPK4