Maternal inheritance of extrachromosomal DNA in malaria parasites

Alison Creasey, Kamini Mendis, Jane Carlton, Don Williamson, Iain Wilson, Richard Carter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum has two extrachromosomal genomes, the mitochondrial 6-kb DNA element and the 35-kb circular DNA. The mitochondrial gene cytochrome b on the 6-kb element has been shown to be inherited uniparentally. In order to ascertain whether the route is maternal or paternal we have examined preparations of male and female gametes of the closely related Plasmodium gallinaceum for the presence of extrachromosomal DNA. DNA from purified preparations of gametes was hybridised to probes for both the 6-kb and 35-kb extrachromosomal genomes. Both probes hybridised to the preparation of Plasmodium gallinaceum female gametes but not to that of the males. We conclude that the extrachromosomal DNAs of malaria parasites are transmitted maternally.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)95-98
Number of pages4
JournalMolecular and Biochemical Parasitology
Volume65
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1994

Keywords

  • Extrachromosomal genomes
  • Maternal inheritance
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Plasmodium gallinaceum

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology

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