Mutant/mutation
The mutant lacks expression of AP2R-2

Protein (function)
Through a screen, a gene with a domain related to Plasmodium AP2 family proteins (PBANKA_1418100) was identified. This domain is conserved at the C-terminus of eight Plasmodium AP2 family proteins, named ACDC (AP2-coincident domain mainly at the C-terminus) domain. This gene, hereafter referred to as AP2 TF- related gene 2 (AP2R-2) also possesses the domain at the C-terminus of the encoded protein but lacks AP2 domains. 

Phenotype
Two independent disruptants were obtained. Mature-appearing female and male gametocytes were observed in Giemsa-stained blood smears. However, in ookinete culture, they failed to develop into mature ookinetes. In mosquito transmission experiments, no oocysts were found in the midgut 14 days after mosquito blood-feeding.

Additional information
Fluorescence microscopy using transgenic parasites expressing AP2R-2 as a mNeonGreen-tagged protein showed that it is expressed in the  nucleus of female gametocytes. 

From the Abstract:
'Fluorescence microscopy showed that AP2-G expression was first observed in the parasite 12 h after erythrocyte invasion and peaked at 18 h when sexual features were first manifested in  early gametocytes. Expression of  AP2-G decreased with manifestation of  sex-specific features. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) was performed at peak AP2-G expression and identified over 1000 binding sites in the genome. The main binding motif of the TF predicted from the binding sites was GTACNY. Predicted targets contained a number of genes related to protein biogenesis, suggesting that AP2-G plays a role in establishing a cellular basis required for sexual differentiation. AP2-G binding sites also existed upstream of gametocyte-specific TFs, namely AP2-G2, AP2-FG, and AP2-G itself. Furthermore, the target contained two AP2 TF-related genes. Disruption of  these genes resulted in  the arrest of  ookinete development. These results suggest another role of  AP2-G: activating a  transcriptional cascade to  promote conversion into early gametocytes.'

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