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Comparative proteomics of vesicles essential for the egress of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes from red blood cells
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  • Juliane Sassmannshausen,
  • Sandra Bennink,
  • Ute Distler,
  • Juliane Küchenhoff,
  • Allen M. Minns,
  • Scott E. Lindner,
  • Paul-Christian Burda,
  • Stefan Tenzer,
  • Tim W. Gilberger,
  • Gabriele Pradel
Juliane Sassmannshausen
Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen
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Sandra Bennink
Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen
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Ute Distler
University Medical Centre of the Johannes-Gutenberg University
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Juliane Küchenhoff
Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen
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Allen M. Minns
The Pennsylvania State University Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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Scott E. Lindner
The Pennsylvania State University Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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Paul-Christian Burda
Centre for Structural Systems Biology
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Stefan Tenzer
University Medical Centre of the Johannes-Gutenberg University
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Tim W. Gilberger
Centre for Structural Systems Biology
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Gabriele Pradel
Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Transmission of malaria parasites to the mosquito is mediated by sexual precursor cells, the gametocytes. Upon entering the mosquito midgut, the gametocytes egress from the enveloping erythrocyte while passing through gametogenesis. Egress follows an inside-out mode during which the membrane of the parasitophorous vacuole ruptures prior to the erythrocyte membrane. Membrane rupture requires the exocytosis of specialized secretory vesicles of the parasites; i.e. the osmiophilic bodies (OBs) involved in rupturing the parasitophorous vacuole membrane, and vesicles (here termed g-exonemes) that harbour the perforin-like protein PPLP2 required for erythrocyte lysis. While several OB proteins are known, like G377 and MDV1/Peg3, the protein composition of the g-exonemes remains unclear. Here, we used high-resolution imaging and BioID methods to study the two types of egress vesicles in Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. We show that OB exocytosis precedes discharge of the g-exonemes and that exocytosis of the g-exonemes, but not of the OBs, is calcium-sensitive. Further, the two types of vesicles exhibit distinct proteomes. In addition to known egress-related proteins, our analyses revealed novel components of OBs and g-exonemes, including proteins involved in vesicle trafficking. Our data provide insight into the immense molecular machinery required for the inside-out egress of P. falciparum gametocytes.
30 Jan 2023Submitted to Molecular Microbiology
31 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
31 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
01 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
14 Jun 20231st Revision Received
19 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
19 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept