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The transcription factor AP2XI-2 is a key negative regulator of Toxoplasma gondii merogony

Wang, Jin-Lei; Li, Ting-Ting; Zhang, Nian-Zhang; Wang, Meng; Sun, Li-Xiu; Zhang, Zhi-Wei; Fu, Bao-Quan; Elsheikha, Hany M.; Zhu, Xing-Quan

The transcription factor AP2XI-2 is a key negative regulator of Toxoplasma gondii merogony Thumbnail


Authors

Jin-Lei Wang

Ting-Ting Li

Nian-Zhang Zhang

Meng Wang

Li-Xiu Sun

Zhi-Wei Zhang

Bao-Quan Fu

Xing-Quan Zhu



Abstract

Sexual development in Toxoplasma gondii is a multistep process that culminates in the production of oocysts, constituting approximately 50% of human infections. However, the molecular mechanisms governing sexual commitment in this parasite remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the transcription factors AP2XI-2 and AP2XII-1 act as negative regulators, suppressing merozoite-primed pre-sexual commitment during asexual development. Depletion of AP2XI-2 in type II Pru strain induces merogony and production of mature merozoites in an alkaline medium but not in a neutral medium. In contrast, AP2XII-1-depleted Pru strain undergoes several rounds of merogony and produces merozoites in a neutral medium, with more pronounced effects observed under alkaline conditions. Additionally, we identified two additional AP2XI-2-interacting proteins involved in repressing merozoite programming. These findings underscore the intricate regulation of pre-sexual commitment by a network of factors and suggest that AP2XI-2 or AP2XII-1-depleted Pru parasites can serve as a model for studying merogony in vitro.

Citation

Wang, J., Li, T., Zhang, N., Wang, M., Sun, L., Zhang, Z., …Zhu, X. (2024). The transcription factor AP2XI-2 is a key negative regulator of Toxoplasma gondii merogony. Nature Communications, 15(1), Article 793. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44967-z

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 10, 2024
Online Publication Date Jan 26, 2024
Publication Date Jan 26, 2024
Deposit Date Jan 26, 2024
Publicly Available Date Jan 30, 2024
Journal Nature Communications
Electronic ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 1
Article Number 793
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44967-z
Keywords Parasite genetics; Parasite physiology
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/30151136
Publisher URL https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-44967-z
Additional Information Received: 8 July 2023; Accepted: 10 January 2024; First Online: 26 January 2024; : The authors declare no competing interests.

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