Mutant/mutation
The mutant lacks expression of MiGS

Protein (function)
PyMiGS (PY17X_1451500) is a 594 amino acid protein containing an N-terminal signal peptide, aspartyl protease-like domain, and a C-terminal transmembrane domain. The aspartyl protease-like domain is conserved among MiGS orthologues in other Plasmodium species.

Phenotype
Normal gametocyte production. Reduced osmiophilic body (OB) formation in male gametocytes. Normal gametocyte egress from the erythrocyte. Reduced numbers of exflagellating males after RBC egress. Reduced fertilisation/ookinete formation.

Additional information
Evidence is presented:
- that MiGS is expressed in male gametocytes and microgametes (and not in female gametoctyes).
- PyMiGS is localized to the osmiophilic body (OB) and microgamete surface
- PyMiGS is important for OB formation in male gametocytes (reduced OB formation in the knock-out mutant)
- PyMiGS is dispensable for gametocyte egress from the erythrocyte.
- PyMiGS plays an important role in exflagellation. 66% of PyWT male activated gametocytes performed exflagellation, whereas 14% to 35% of ΔPyMiGS male activated gametocytes exflagellated
- In the case of PyWT, 91% of female gametocytes transformed to zygotes or further developed to ookinetes. In contrast, only 34% of ΔPyMiGS clone #1 and 57% of ΔPyMiGS clone #2 transformed to zygote or ookinetes
- The oocyst numbers of ΔPyMiGS on day 10 post-feeding were also decreased compared with those of PyWT. This reduction was comparable to the reduction of zygote/ookinete conversion rate observed in the ΔPyMiGS gametes.

Other mutants
See the link PF3D7_1234400 for other mutants (with slight differences in phenotypes)