Widespread release of translational repression across Plasmodium’s host-to-vector transmission event

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012823
• Publication Date: 2025-01-08T19:35:30Z
• Authors: Kelly T. Rios; James P. McGee; Aswathy Sebastian; Sanjaya Aththawal...; Robert L. Moritz; Marina Feric; Sabrina Absalon; Kristian E. Swear...; Scott E. Lindner
• Keywords: Translational regulation; Plasmodium (life cycle); Plasmodium berghei

Malaria parasites must respond quickly to environmental changes, including during their transmission between mammalian and mosquito hosts. Therefore, female gametocytes proactively produce translationally repress mRNAs that encode essential proteins the zygote requires establish a new infection. While release of translational repression individual has been documented, details global have not. Moreover, changes in spatial arrangement composition DOZI/CITH/ALBA complex contribute control are also not known. we conducted first quantitative, comparative transcriptomics DIA-MS proteomics Plasmodium across host-to-vector event document repression. Using zygotes P . yoelii , found ~200 transcripts released for translation soon after fertilization, those encoding functions. identified many remain repressed beyond this point. TurboID-based proximity regulatory revealed substantial and/or compositional event, which consistent with recent, paradigm-shifting models control. Together, these data provide model mechanisms promote Plasmodium’s efficient from host vector.