H3K36 methylation reprograms gene expression to drive early gametocyte development in Plasmodium falciparum.
Jessica ConnacherGabrielle A JoslingLindsey M OrchardJanette ReaderManuel LlinásLyn-Marié BirkholtzPublished in: Epigenetics & chromatin (2021)
Taken together, our results provide the first description of an association between global gene expression reprogramming and histone post-translational modifications during P. falciparum early sexual development. The stage II gametocyte-specific abundance of H3K36me2&3 manifests predominantly as an independent regulatory mechanism targeted towards genes that are repressed post-commitment. H3K36me2&3-associated repression of genes is therefore involved in key transcriptional shifts that accompany the transition from early gametocyte differentiation to intermediate development.