Mutant/mutation
The mutant expresses a C-terminal mCherry-tagged version of ROM4

Protein (function)
Rhomboid proteins are intra-membrane proteases that play a role in multiple processes. They belong to a family of serine proteases that cleave cell-surface proteins within their transmembrane domains. The Plasmodium genome encodes a total of 8 rhomboid proteases (ROM1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10).

P. falciparum ROM4 has been detected in proteome analyses of asexual blood stages, gametocytes and sporozoites.
In vitro substrates of P. falciparum ROM4 include the merozoite-specific proteins AMA1 (apical membrane antigen 1) and proteins of the EBL (erythrocyte binding ligands) and RBL (reticulocyte binding ligands) families as well as several proteins of the invasive ookinete- and sporozoite-stages, such as TRAP (thrombospondin-related anonymous protein), CTRP (circumsporozoite- and TRAP-related protein) and MAEBL (merozoite adhesive erythrocytic binding protein).
Evidence has been presented for cleavage of of the erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA175) by P. falciparum ROM4 during merozoite invasion.
It has been suggested that ROM4 plays a role in processing of thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) at the surface of sporozoites

See RMgm-187 for unsuccessful attempts to disrupt the P. berghei rom4 gene, indicating an essential role of ROM4 for asexual blood stage development

Phenotype
See RMgm-187 for unsuccessful attempts to disrupt the P. berghei rom4 gene, indicating an essential role of ROM4 for asexual blood stage development

In the mCherry::gfp mutant weak mCherry signals were observed in schizonts and in gametocytes with evidence for increased signals in (activated) male gametocytes. However, the very weak fluorescence signals in asexual blood stages prevented confirmation of merozoite surface location as was observed in P. falciparum

Additional information

Other mutants
RMgm-176: an independent mutant lacking expression of rhomboid protease ROM1
RMgm-177: a mutant lacking expression of rhomboid protease ROM1 (partial disruption)
RMgm-178: a mutant lacking expression of rhomboid protease ROM3
RMgm-179: a mutant lacking expression of rhomboid protease ROM10
RMgm-187: unsuccessful attempts to disrupt rhomboid protease rom4
RMgm-659: P. y. yoelii 17XNL mutant lacking expression of rhomboid protease ROM1
RMgm-660: P. y. yoelii 17XNL mutant expressing  a (N-terminal) HA-tagged version of rhomboid protease ROM1
RMgm-758: unsuccessful attempts to disrupt rhomboid protease rom6
RMgm-759: unsuccessful attempts to disrupt rhomboid protease rom7
RMgm-760: unsuccessful attempts to disrupt rhomboid protease rom8
RMgm-761: a mutant lacking expression of rhomboid protease ROM1 (complete disruption)
RMgm-762: a mutant lacking expression of rhomboid protease ROM9
RMgm-763: a mutant expressing  a (C-terminal) GFP-tagged version of rhomboid protease ROM3