The malaria parasite PP1 phosphatase controls the initiation of the egress pathway of asexual blood-stages by regulating the rounding-up of the vacuole

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum infections remains a major human threat in endemic countries. Its proliferation within the host relies on the iteration of red blood cell invasion, multiplication and release of newly formed parasites in the blood circulation. This last step, named egress, is tightly regulated by a signaling pathway controlled by phospho-regulation. The phosphatase PP1 is a conserved pleiotropic enzyme that regulates various biological processes in mammals and controls the replication and egress mechanisms in P. falciparum. Indeed, PP1-depleted parasites are unable to egress from the erythrocytes and remain trapped within a vacuole in the host cell.

Seveno, M., Loubens, M. N., Berry, L., Graindorge, A., Lebrun, M., Lavazec, C., & Lamarque, M. H. (2025). The malaria parasite PP1 phosphatase controls the initiation of the egress pathway of asexual blood-stages by regulating the rounding-up of the vacuole. PLOS Pathogens, 21(1), e1012455. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012455

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