Fig. 1: PfPPP8 is a basal complex protein required for the formation of uniform merozoites during segmentation. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: PfPPP8 is a basal complex protein required for the formation of uniform merozoites during segmentation.

From: A PPP-type pseudophosphatase is required for the maintenance of basal complex integrity in Plasmodium falciparum

Fig. 1

a Localization of PfPPP8 via immunofluorescence and colocalization with PfBCP1 (left images) and PfMORN1 (right images). Top row, individual slices; bottom row, maximum projections. b PfPPP8-smV5Tet replication curve with (PfPPP8-sufficient) and without (PfPPP8-deficient) ATc. Data shown as mean with 95% CI (n = 3). c Quantification of PfPPP8 knockdown by immunoblot. Data shown as mean ± SD (n = 4). d Visualization of PfPPP8-deficient phenotype with an inner membrane complex marker (PfGAP45) and apical organellar marker (PfAMA1) compared to PfPPP8-sufficient parasites mid-segmentation and stalled with E64 via immunofluorescence. e Visualization of PfPPP8-deficient phenotype with a parasite plasma membrane marker (PfMSP1) and a basal complex marker (PfMORN1) compared to PfPPP8-sufficient parasites mid-segmentation and stalled with E64 via immunofluorescence. f Visualization of PfPPP8-deficient phenotype via transmission electron microscopy of E64-stalled schizonts, demonstrating overall defective segmentation despite properly formed rhoptries (red arrow) and apical polar rings (blue arrow). White boxes on the image of the entire schizont (left image in each column) indicate the zoomed-in region depicted in the right image of each panel.

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