Variable microtubule architecture in the malaria parasite

• Verfasst von: Ferreira, Josie [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Pražák, Vojtěch [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Vasishtan, Daven [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Siggel, Marc [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Hentzschel, Franziska [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Binder, Annika M. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Pietsch, Emma [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kosinski, Jan [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Frischknecht, Friedrich [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Gilberger, Tim W. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Grünewald, Kay [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Variable microtubule architecture in the malaria parasite
• Verf.angabe: Josie L. Ferreira, Vojtěch Pražák, Daven Vasishtan, Marc Siggel, Franziska Hentzschel, Annika M. Binder, Emma Pietsch, Jan Kosinski, Friedrich Frischknecht, Tim W. Gilberger & Kay Grünewald
• Jahr: 2023
• Umfang: 17 S.
• Fussnoten: Online veröffentlicht: 03. März 2023 ; Gesehen am 13.11.2023
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Nature Communications
• Ort Quelle: [London] : Springer Nature, 2010
• Jahr Quelle: 2023
• Band/Heft Quelle: 14(2023), Artikel-ID 1216, Seite 1-17
• ISSN Quelle: 2041-1723
• DOI: doi:10.1038/s41467-023-36627-5
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Cryoelectron tomography
• Sach-SW: Microtubules
• Sach-SW: Parasite biology
• K10plus-PPN: 1870112393

Abstract

Microtubules are a ubiquitous eukaryotic cytoskeletal element typically consisting of 13 protofilaments arranged in a hollow cylinder. This arrangement is considered the canonical form and is adopted by most organisms, with rare exceptions. Here, we use in situ electron cryo-tomography and subvolume averaging to analyse the changing microtubule cytoskeleton of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, throughout its life cycle. Unexpectedly, different parasite forms have distinct microtubule structures coordinated by unique organising centres. In merozoites, the most widely studied form, we observe canonical microtubules. In migrating mosquito forms, the 13 protofilament structure is further reinforced by interrupted luminal helices. Surprisingly, gametocytes contain a wide distribution of microtubule structures ranging from 13 to 18 protofilaments, doublets and triplets. Such a diversity of microtubule structures has not been observed in any other organism to date and is likely evidence of a distinct role in each life cycle form. This data provides a unique view into an unusual microtubule cytoskeleton of a relevant human pathogen.