Pink or blue: sex determination in malaria gametocytes

Pradel G, Petter M (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Trends in Parasitology Elsevier

DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2025.09.011

Abstract

Sex determination in eukaryotes defines whether an organism develops as male or female and is shaped by genetic and environmental factors. In the malaria parasite Plasmodium, recent data suggest that sex determination is decided at two critical checkpoints. First, chromatin remodeling activates the master regulator AP2-G, triggering a transcriptional cascade that commits the parasites to sexual development and drives the expression of genes crucial for male and female gametocytes. Second, post-transcriptional processes – including the stabilization and suppression of transcript via RNA-binding proteins – guide the branching into male or female gametocytes through threshold-trait-dependent mechanisms. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate the two checkpoints of sex determination in malaria gametocytes.

Authors with CRIS profile

Michaela Petter Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene

Involved external institutions

Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Pradel, G., & Petter, M. (2025). Pink or blue: sex determination in malaria gametocytes. Trends in Parasitology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2025.09.011

MLA:

Pradel, Gabriele, and Michaela Petter. "Pink or blue: sex determination in malaria gametocytes." Trends in Parasitology (2025).

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