Mechanistic Insights into Autophagy like Process and Physiological Role of Autophagy in P. falciparum

Mechanistic Insights into Autophagy like Process and Physiological Role of Autophagy in P. falciparum

After establishing that basal and starvation-induced autophagy supports invasion and development of the parasite, by studying in detail the modulation of two autophagy-related proteins ATG8 and ATG5, we have investigated the functions of other autophagy proteins too, PfATG18 and the putative PfATG1.

PfATG18 is involved in non-canonical as well as canonical functions; which are

Vacuole fission and fusion

Autophagy

Hemoglobin trafficking

 

Schematic diagram of various roles of PfATG18