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Calcium signalling in malaria parasites
Author(s) -
Brochet Mathieu,
Billker Oliver
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.13324
Subject(s) - effector , biology , second messenger system , microbiology and biotechnology , secretion , intracellular , intracellular parasite , malaria , regulator , calcium signaling , signalling , immunology , genetics , biochemistry , gene
Summary Ca 2+ is a ubiquitous intracellular messenger in malaria parasites with important functions in asexual blood stages responsible for malaria symptoms, the preceding liver‐stage infection and transmission through the mosquito. Intracellular messengers amplify signals by binding to effector molecules that trigger physiological changes. The characterisation of some Ca 2+ effector proteins has begun to provide insights into the vast range of biological processes controlled by Ca 2+ signalling in malaria parasites, including host cell egress and invasion, protein secretion, motility and cell cycle regulation. Despite the importance of Ca 2+ signalling during the life cycle of malaria parasites, little is known about Ca 2+ homeostasis. Recent findings highlighted that upstream of stage‐specific Ca 2+ effectors is a conserved interplay between second messengers to control critical intracellular Ca 2+ signals throughout the life cycle. The identification of the molecular mechanisms integrating stage‐transcending mechanisms of Ca 2+ homeostasis in a network of stage‐specific regulator and effector pathways now represents a major challenge for a meaningful understanding of Ca 2+ signalling in malaria parasites.