Dissecting the transcription regulatory network in malaria parasites at early transmission stages. (360G-Wellcome-202600_Z_16_Z)

During the progress through its complex life cycle, the malaria parasite requires strict control of gene expression, but the mechanisms controlling this process remain poorly understood and unexplored for therapeutic purposes. A group of apicomplexa-specific putative transcription factors with AP2 DNA binding domain(s) (apiAP2) has been identified as major regulators of the parasite transcriptome at multiple stages. However role of the majority of the members of the family and their targets are unknown. My recent work identified that a network of at least four interacting apiAP2 proteins controls gene expression during the major bottleneck of Plasmodium life cycle – ookinete formation. Here I propose to analyse this network identifying the key apiAP2 proteins involved and their targets, binding partners and interactions with the epigenetic landscape. The resulting comprehensive model of transcription regulation at the critical stage of parasite transmission would provide valuable insights into the key aspects of parasite biology (potentially resulting in new drug targets) and generate the tools for further investigation of transcription regulation across the parasite life cycle.