9.B.215 The Plasmodium Basal Complex Transmembrane Protein (BTP) Family 

The intraerythrocytic developmental cycle of Plasmodium falciparum is completed with the release of up to 32 invasive daughter cells, the merozoites, into the blood stream. Before release, the final step of merozoite development is the assembly of the cortical pellicle, a multi-layered membrane structure. This unique apicomplexan feature includes the inner membrane complex (IMC) and the parasite's plasma membrane. A dynamic ring structure, referred to as the basal complex, is part of the IMC and helps to divide organelles and abscises in the maturing daughter cells. Kono et al. 2016 analyzed the dynamics of the basal complex of P. falciparum. They identified a novel transmembrane protein of the basal complex termed BTP1, which is probably specific to the genus Plasmodium. It colocalizes with the known basal complex marker protein MORN1 and shows distinct dynamics as well as localization when compared to other IMC proteins during schizogony. Using a parasite plasma membrane marker cell line, Kono et al. 2016 correlated dynamics of the basal complex with the acquisition of the maternal membrane. The found that the plasma membrane invagination and IMC propagation are interlinked during the final steps of cell division.  A transport function for BTP1 has been suggested.