Mutant/mutation
The mutant expressing a c-myc tagged (C-terminal) version of MISFIT

Protein (function)
MISFIT is an 180 kDa protein bearing a Formin Homology 2 (FH2) domain, the defining feature of formins, and a nuclear localization signal (NLS). Phenotype analyses of a mutant lacking expression of MISFIT (RMgm-321) indicate that MISFIT plays a critical role during development of the ookinete into the oocyst. Ookinetes invade the mosquito midgut but are arrested in development during their subsequent transformation into oocysts (see also 'Additional Information').

Phenotype
Phenotype analyses indicate expression of MISFIT in nuclei of male gametocytes, zygotes and ookinetes. The nuclear location is consistent with its NLS prediction.
Phenotype analyses of a mutant lacking expression of MISFIT (RMgm-321) indicate that MISFIT plays a critical role during development of the ookinete into the oocyst. Mosquitoes infected with parasites expressing myc-tagged MISFIT produced normal numbers of sporulating oocysts comparable to those in control mosquito infections, indicating that the tagged protein is fully functional.

Additional information
Contrary to the clear detection of myc-tagged in male gametes by western blot , immunofluorescence staining could not confirm the presence of this protein in emerging or released male gametes. In all confocal observations of exflagellating male gametocytes, myc-tagged MISFIT staining was confined within the parental gametocyte nucleus. The nuclear staining of MISFIT in zygotes and ookinetes resembled that in male gametocytes, with a broader pattern than that of the DNA staining and sometimes polarized or peripheral distribution.

Based on phenotype analyses of a mutant lacking expression of MISFIT (RMgm-321)it has been suggested that MISFIT is involved in the regulation of microtubule remodeling during DNA replication and chromosome segregation in mitosis in male gametocytes and/or meiosis in zygotes.

Other mutants
RMgm-321: A mutant lacking expression of MISFIT