Transition of Plasmodium sporozoites into liver stage-like forms is regulated by the RNA binding protein Pumilio.

• Main Authors: Carina S S Gomes-Santos, Joanna Braks, Miguel Prudêncio, Céline Carret, Ana Rita Gomes, Arnab Pain, Theresa Feltwell, Shahid Khan, Andrew Waters, Chris Janse, Gunnar R Mair, Maria M Mota
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-05-01
• Series: PLoS Pathogens
• Online Access: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/21625527/pdf/?tool=EBI

Many eukaryotic developmental and cell fate decisions that are effected post-transcriptionally involve RNA binding proteins as regulators of translation of key mRNAs. In malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.), the development of round, non-motile and replicating exo-erythrocytic liver stage forms from slender, motile and cell-cycle arrested sporozoites is believed to depend on environmental changes experienced during the transmission of the parasite from the mosquito vector to the vertebrate host. Here we identify a Plasmodium member of the RNA binding protein family PUF as a key regulator of this transformation. In the absence of Pumilio-2 (Puf2) sporozoites initiate EEF development inside mosquito salivary glands independently of the normal transmission-associated environmental cues. Puf2- sporozoites exhibit genome-wide transcriptional changes that result in loss of gliding motility, cell traversal ability and reduction in infectivity, and, moreover, trigger metamorphosis typical of early Plasmodium intra-hepatic development. These data demonstrate that Puf2 is a key player in regulating sporozoite developmental control, and imply that transformation of salivary gland-resident sporozoites into liver stage-like parasites is regulated by a post-transcriptional mechanism.