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Title: Not your Mother’s MAPKs: Apicomplexan MAPK function in daughter cell budding
Reversible phosphorylation by protein kinases is one of the core mechanisms by which biological signals are propagated and processed. Mitogen-activated protein kinases, or MAPKs, are conserved throughout eukaryotes where they regulate cell cycle, development, and stress response. Here, we review advances in our understanding of the function and biochemistry of MAPK signaling in apicomplexan parasites. As expected for well-conserved signaling modules, MAPKs have been found to have multiple essential roles regulating both Toxoplasma tachyzoite replication and sexual differentiation in Plasmodium . However, apicomplexan MAPK signaling is notable for the lack of the canonical kinase cascade that normally regulates the networks, and therefore must be regulated by a distinct mechanism. We highlight what few regulatory relationships have been established to date, and discuss the challenges to the field in elucidating the complete MAPK signaling networks in these parasites.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1553334
PAR ID:
10398239
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Editor(s):
Kafsack, Bjorn F.C.
Date Published:
Journal Name:
PLOS Pathogens
Volume:
18
Issue:
10
ISSN:
1553-7374
Page Range / eLocation ID:
e1010849
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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