Mutant/mutation
The mutant expresses a C-terminal mCherry-3xMyc tagged version of MDR2 and expresses GFP under control of the constitutive HSP70 promoter

Protein (function)
In different Plasmodium parasites 14-16 ABC-transporter genes have been identified (16 in P. falciparum, 14 in P. berghei). Based on phylogenetic analysis of the conserved nucleotide-binding domains, seven of these are recognized as members of the B family of ABC transporters (both in P. falciparum and in P. berghei). This includes MDR2.

Phenotype
See also mutants RMgm-1165 and RMgm-1166 that lack expression of MDR2. These mutants show decreased oocyst and sporozoite production.

The mutant expressing tagged MDR2 showed normal development throughout the complete life cycle indicating that the mCherry-3xMyc tag did not affect the function of MDR2.

Expression of PbMDR2::mCherry was observed in blood stages and in ookinetes. Weak expression was observed in oocysts and sporozoites.

In  both  asexual  blood  stages  and  gametocytes  of  Pbmdr2::mCherry  fluorescence  signals  were detected,  which  is  in  agreement  with  MDR2  detection  in  the  P.  falciparum  proteomes  of  these stages.  The  fluorescence  signals  are  mainly  associated  with  hemozoin  granules  (in  both  asexual stages, gametocytes and ookinetes), which may suggest that this protein is located on the food vacuole membrane as P.  berghei trophozoites and gametocytes have many small food vacuoles. In  mature schizonts these food vacuoles merge into one or two large vesicles containing hemozoin, and  it  is  in  these  vesicles  that  we  also  observe  fluorescent  signal).  In  addition,    fluorescence signals were found associated with the plasma lemma of blood stages, which is especially  clear in  merozoites of mature schizonts. Fluorescence signals were also during oocyst development. From day 10 onwards,  before sporozoite formation,  a highly structured fluorescence pattern is observed within the oocyst  possibly associated with early sporoblast formation. In more mature oocysts,  when sporozoite formation is observed, the fluorescence signal becomes more diffuse but it is only  associated with the areas within the oocyst where sporozoites are present and are budding from the  sporoblasts.

Additional information

Other mutants
See the link multidrug resistance protein (mdr) for more MDR mutants
See also mutants RMgm-1165 and RMgm-1166 that lack expression of MDR2.