Fig. 5: Gametocyte subpellicular microtubules (SPMTs) have a wide range of protofilament numbers with random polarity.
From: Variable microtubule architecture in the malaria parasite
a Micrograph showing a row of singlet and doublet SPMT cross sections and highlighting the range of sizes. Protofilament numbers are indicated (for doublets of the A tubule). Micrographs at two different tilt angles were stitched to show SPMT transversal views. b Segmentation of a stage III gametocyte nucleus with a spindle pole body at a nuclear pore complex. Microtubule colours correspond to protofilament numbers as shown in c, d. c. Bar chart of the distribution of different protofilament numbers in SPMTs (blue) N = 155 and nuclear spindles (lilac) N = 31. Distributions are significantly different (p = 5 × 10−8, chi-squared). d Isosurfaces of microtubules from subvolume averaging with protofilament numbers from 13 to 18. e Schematic representation of the differences in microtubule diameter. f Segmentation of a stage III gametocyte with transversely sectioned SPMTs. Microtubule colours correspond to protofilament numbers as shown in c, d. ‘+/−’ indicates the polarity of each microtubule. Unannotated slice through tomogram shown in Fig. S3d and full volume in supplemental movie S4.
