Additional remarks phenotype | Mutant/mutation
The mutant expresses a C-terminal mNeonGreen-tagged version of AP2R-1
See also mutants RMgm-5199 and RMgm-5200 targeting this gene by the same group with a different expression pattern when the gene was tagged with GFP (as a result of translational repression in female gametocytes).
Protein (function)
Through a screen, a gene containing a putative AP2 domain was identified (PBANKA_0612400). Although the E- value obtained from SMART analysis was not small enough to conclude that it is an AP2 domain (E-value =0.042), the domain has a structural characteristics of AP2 domain: three antiparallel β-sheets followed by a single α-helix. A unique feature in this putative AP2 domain was a long insertion sequence between predicted sheets 2 and 3. Assuming that the high E-value is attributed to this sequence, we deleted it from the original sequence of the putative AP2 domain and subjected the modified sequence to SMART analysis. As a result, a much smaller E-value (E-value <1 ×105) was obtained from the putative AP2 domain, suggesting that this gene, hereafter referred to as AP2 TF-related gene 1 (AP2R-1), is a novel member of the Plasmodium AP2 family.
Phenotype
Fluorescence microscopy using transgenic parasites expressing AP2R-1 as a mNeonGreen-tagged protein showed that it is expressed in the nucleus of female gametocytes.
Additional information
From the Abstract:
'Fluorescence microscopy showed that AP2-G expression was first observed in the parasite 12 h after erythrocyte invasion and peaked at 18 h when sexual features were first manifested in early gametocytes. Expression of AP2-G decreased with manifestation of sex-specific features. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) was performed at peak AP2-G expression and identified over 1000 binding sites in the genome. The main binding motif of the TF predicted from the binding sites was GTACNY. Predicted targets contained a number of genes related to protein biogenesis, suggesting that AP2-G plays a role in establishing a cellular basis required for sexual differentiation. AP2-G binding sites also existed upstream of gametocyte-specific TFs, namely AP2-G2, AP2-FG, and AP2-G itself. Furthermore, the target contained two AP2 TF-related genes. Disruption of these genes resulted in the arrest of ookinete development. These results suggest another role of AP2-G: activating a transcriptional cascade to promote conversion into early gametocytes.'
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