Mutant/mutation
The mutant expresses a C-terminal mCherry-tagged version of AP2-L (transcription factor with AP2 domain(s)) and expresses GFP under a constitutive promoter (eef1a).

Protein (function)
Apetala 2 (AP2)-family proteins are transcription factors that have DNA-binding domains of 60 amino acids called AP2 domains. Recently, AP2 genes have been found in the genomes of Plasmodium parasites. In P. falciparum 27 AP2-family genes have been identified. Among these genes, 26 are conserved in the other Plasmodium species whose entire genomes have been sequenced. Each member of this family has 1 to 4 AP2 domains, and the amino acid sequences of these domains are highly conserved among Plasmodium orthologs.
AP2-L encodes a protein of 1272 amino acids with two AP2 domains. These domains are located near the C-terminus of the protein and are separated from each other by a short linker.

Phenotype
Phenotype analyses of a mutant lacking expression of AP2-L (RMgm-792) indicate that the lack of expression of AP2-L does not affect blood stage and mosquito stage development. Gliding motility, cell traversal and hepatocyte invasion of sporozoites is normal. Liver stage development is strongly reduced.
Analyses of a mutant expressing a C-terminal GFP-tagged version of AP2-L (RMgm-793) showed expression and localisation of AP2-L in the nucleus of erythrocytic trophozoites, oocyst-derived sporozoites, salivary gland sporozoites and liver stages.
The mutant expressing a C-terminal mCherry-tagged version of AP2-L and expressing GFP under the constitutive eef1a promoter showed mCherry-tagged AP2-L in the nucleus of liver stages beginning at 12 hpi and rapidly increased from 24 hpi to 36 hpi with the progress of nuclear division. However, fluorescent signals completely disappeared in the large sized LS parasites at 48 hpi, suggesting that AP2-L is rapidly eliminated from the LS parasites when parasites complete schizogony.

Additional information

Other mutants
RMgm-792: A mutant lacking expression of AP2-L
RMgm-793: A mutant expressing a C-terminal GFP-tagged version of AP2-L.