Publication Date:
2019
Description:
〈sec〉〈st〉Synopsis〈/st〉〈p〉〈textbox textbox-type="graphic"〉〈p〉〈inline-fig〉〈/inline-fig〉〈/p〉〈/textbox〉〈/p〉
〈p〉The number and length of microtubules are highly variable within metazoan cells. This study reveals that tuning the number and the length of cytoplasmic microtubules affects the formation, infectivity, and length of sporozoites of the protozoan parasite 〈i〉Plasmodium〈/i〉.〈/p〉
〈p〉 〈l type="unord"〉〈li〉〈p〉Depletion of microtubules in 〈i〉Plasmodium〈/i〉 does not inhibit chromosome segregation.〈/p〉〈/li〉
〈li〉〈p〉Reducing the number and length of microtubules reduces cell size and decreases infectivity of sporozoites.〈/p〉〈/li〉
〈li〉〈p〉Mathematical modeling predicts that tubulin expression levels dictate microtubule number rather than length, because nucleation rate is higher than elongation rate.〈/p〉〈/li〉〈/l〉 〈/p〉〈/sec〉
Print ISSN:
0261-4189
Electronic ISSN:
1460-2075
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
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