Fig. 6
F-actin is in association with subpellicular microtubules. a Representative 3D-SIM imaging of a tachyzoite shows MIC2 vesicles associated with a continuous F-actin network connecting the apical and the posterior end. b Surface rendered 3D images from A). Stacks z1–z5 (top) and z1–z9 (bottom). F-actin network is found connecting MIC2 vesicles to the apical, posterior and lateral sides of the parasite. c Z5 and Z9 stacks show overlay and independent channels for actin, MIC2 and microtubules. F-actin bundles accumulate in the apical and posterior end (top panel, white arrows) and are connecting to the lateral periphery of the parasite in close association with microtubules (bottom panel, white arrows). MIC2 vesicles also accumulate and decorate the actin bundle architecture of the posterior and apical ends (cyan arrows). Short microtubules not connected to the long fully structured microtubules are found at the posterior end of the parasite in close association with actin and MIC2 vesicles (yellow arrows). d Intensity profiles show unambiguous co-localisation of MIC2 vesicles with actin at the posterior end. Profiles were expressed as a percentage of the highest intensity for each channel. e, f, g 3D surface rendered and Z-stack SIM images of a representative tachyzoite show a continuous, cytosolic F-actin network connecting a region close to the apicoplast and the trans-Golgi network with microtubules in the lateral end of the parasites (white arrows). h, i, j, k 3D surface rendered and Z-stack SIM images show a parasite with both short and unusually long microtubules (yellow arrows) localised at the posterior end (yellow arrows). l, m, n 3D surface rendered and Z-stacks SIM images of a representative parasite show microtubules and MIC2 vesicles connected with a cytosolic F-actin network extended in the axial and lateral plane of the parasite. o Intensity profiles from N) suggest a connection of a cytosolic F-actin network with microtubules and MIC2 vesicles. Profiles were expressed as a percentage of the highest intensity for each channel. Scale bar 1 µm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file
