ApiAP2 Gene-Network Regulates Gametocytogenesis in Plasmodium Parasites

Table 1

The ApiAP2 genes in Plasmodium species.

ApiAP2 encoding gene				Stage(s) of impact	Putative role(s) in Plasmodium species
P. falciparum	Syntenic ortholog in P. berghei	Syntenic ortholog in P. yoelii	Name		P. falciparum	P. berghei	P. yoelii
PF3D7_0404100	PBANKA_1001800	PY17X_1003200	AP2-SP2	Oocyte-sporozoites	n.a	(i) Enhance production of early sporozoite [75]	(i) Enhance production of early sporozoite [60]
PF3D7_0420300	PBANKA_0521700	PY17X_0523100			n.a		(i) No observed functional role in the entire life cycle [60]
PF3D7_0516800	PBANKA_1231600	PY17X_1235000	AP2-O2	Zygote-ookinete	n.a	(i) Enhance production of infective ookinete [75]	(i) Enhance production of oocyst [60]; (ii) Enhance production of salivary gland sporozoites [60]
PF3D7_0604100	PBANKA_0102900	PY17X_0104500	SIP2	Schizont	(i) Repress var gene [91]; (ii) Formation of heterochromatin and maintaining genome integrity [91]	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_0611200	PBANKA_0109500	PY17X_0111100			n.a	(i) Mediate host immune evasion [92]	n.a
PF3D7_0613800	PBANKA_0112100	PY17X_0113700			n.a	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_0622900	PBANKA_1121800	PY17X_1123200	AP2-Tel/SP3	Oocyte-sporozoites	(i) Maintain telomerase mechanisms [93]	(i) Production of mature/infective sporozoite [75]	(i) Production of matured/infective salivary gland sporozoites [60]
PF3D7_0730300	PBANKA_0214400	PY17X_0215800	AP2-L	Liver stage sporozoites	n.a	(i) Enhance infectivity and maturation of liver-stage sporozoites [94]	n.a
PF3D7_0802100	PBANKA_1228100	PY17X_1231600			n.a	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_0934400	PBANKA_0835200	PY17X_0838600			n.a	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_1007700	PBANKA_1205900	PY17X_1209100	AP2-I		(i) Regulate RBC invasion genes [95]	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_1107800	PBANKA_0939100	PY17X_0941600
PF3D7_1115500	PBANKA_0932300	PY17X_0934300			n.a	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_1139300	PBANKA_0909600	PY17X_0911000			n.a	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_1143100	PBANKA_0905900	PY17X_0907300	AP2-O	Zygote, ookinete, blood-stage, gametocyte	(i) Regulate Var gene switching in intraerythrocytic asexual parasite forms [82]; (ii) Promote recruitment of HP1 and indirectly repress gametocyte-associated genes [82]; (iii) Increase production of oocytes [82]	(i) Production of ookinete [75, 96, 97]; (ii) Promote mosquito immunity evasion [97]	(i) Production of ookinete [60]
PF3D7_1222400	n.a.	n.a.	AP2-G4		(i) Contribute to sexual commitment but its role is not well-defined [66]	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_1222600	PBANKA_1437500	PY17X_1440000	AP2-G	Asexual-gametocyte	(i) Initiate sexual commitment and regulate early gametocyte development [26]; (ii) Regulate RBC invasion gene [24]	(i) Responsible for sexual differentiation [98]	(i) Initiate sexual commitment [60]; (ii) Regulate early gametocyte development [60]
PF3D7_1239200	PBANKA_1453700	PY17X_1456200			n.a	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_1305200	PBANKA_1403700	PY17X_1405400			n.a	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_1317200	PBANKA_1415700	PY17X_1417400	AP2-G3/FG	Gametocyte	(i) Transmits cytoplasmic signals into the nucleus to initiate ap2-g transcription [28]	(i) Enhance maturation of female gametocytes [45]	(i) Transmits cytoplasmic signals into the nucleus to initiate ap2-g transcription [60]; (ii) Enhance maturation of both male and female gametocytes [60]
PF3D7_1342900	PBANKA_1356000	PY17X_1361700			n.a	n.a	n.a
PF3D7_1350900	PBANKA_1363700	PY17X_1369400	AP2-O4	Zygote-ookinete	n.a	(i) Production of infective ookinete [75]	(ii) Enhance early oocyst development [60]
PF3D7_1408200	PBANKA_1034300	PY17X_1036700	AP2-G2	Asexual-gametocyte	(i) Enhance the production and maturation of gametocytes, described in detail in AP2-G2 part of the text	(i) Enhance maturation of gametocytes [25]; (ii) Repress ookinete, sporozoite, liver, and merozoite stage genes [68, 75]	(i) Enhance maturation of gametocytes [60]
PF3D7_1429200	PBANKA_1015500	PY17X_1017000	AP2-O3	Zygote-ookinete	n.a	(i) Enhance the production and maturation of ookinete [75]; (ii) Repress microgametocyte genes at the ookinete stage [75]; (iii) Involved in zygote metabolism [75]	(i) Enhance the production and maturation of ookinete [60]; (ii) Enhance transcription of genes that promote the expression of ookinete development genes [60]; (iii) Enhance transcription of female-specific genes [44]; (iv) Repress male-specific genes [44]
PF3D7_1449500	PBANKA_1313200	PY17X_1317000	AP2-O5	Zygote-ookinete	n.a	(i) Enhance the production of motile ookinete [75]	(i) Enhance the production of motile ookinete [60]
PF3D7_1456000	PBANKA_1319700	PY17X_1323500	AP2-HC		(i) No observed functional role in gametocytes [83]	(i) No observed functional role in entire life cycle [75]	(i) No observed functional role in entire life cycle [60]
PF3D7_1466400	PBANKA_1329800	PY17X_1334500	AP2-SP/EXP	Asexual-gametocyte	(i) Involved in the proliferation of intraerythrocytic forms [99]; (ii) Repress var genes [99]; (iii) Enhance the production of sporozoite [100]	(i) Enhance the production of sporozoite [75]; (ii) Negative regulator of female-specific genes [75]	n.a

Notes: n.a: not available.