The Plasmodium cell-cycle: facts and questions.

Conference item

The Plasmodium life-cycle contains within it several discrete cell-cycles whose molecular controls are very poorly understood. Of the five (or more) periods of DNA synthesis within the P. falciparum life-cycle, that associated with erythrocytic schizogony has been studied in the greatest detail and even here, controversy exists as to the precise nature and timing of the major, cell-cycle events. Thus, while it is clear that DNA synthesis (S phase) starts around 28-31h after merozoite invasion (soon after the appearance of pigmented trophozoites), neither flow-cytometric nor precursor-incorporation studies have provided a definite answer as to whether rapid and successive G2 and then M (mitotic) phases occur during schizogony. These and other problems of interpretation of the P. falciparum cell-cycle are considered.

Authors: Arnot, D; Gull, K

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology
• Volume: 92
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 361-365
• Publication date: 1998-06-01
• Event title: 9th Malaria Meeting of the British-Society-for-Parasitology
• DOI: 10.1080/00034989859357
• EISSN: 1364-8594
• ISSN: 0003-4983
• Keywords: Erythrocytes; Plasmodium; DNA, Protozoan; Time Factors; Cell Cycle; Animals