Gamete interruptus; a novel calcium-dependent kinase is essential for malaria sexual reproduction

Cell. 2004 May 14;117(4):419-20. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(04)00455-6.

Abstract

Malaria parasites undergo sexual fertilization minutes after the bloodmeal enters the mosquito midgut. In this issue of Cell, Billker et al. (2004) describe a new Plasmodium calcium-dependent protein kinase essential for gamete formation, and show that it is required for parasite transmission.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Germ Cells / cytology
  • Germ Cells / enzymology*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / physiology
  • Plasmodium / cytology
  • Plasmodium / enzymology*
  • Protein Kinases / isolation & purification
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Reproduction / physiology*
  • Xanthurenates / metabolism

Substances

  • Xanthurenates
  • xanthurenic acid
  • Protein Kinases
  • calcium-dependent protein kinase