Surface attachment, promoted by the actomyosin system of Toxoplasma gondii is important for efficient gliding motility and invasion.
Jamie A WhitelawFernanda Latorre-BarraganSimon GrasGurman S PallJacqueline M LeungAoife HeaslipSaskia EgarterNicole AndenmattenShane R NelsonDavid M WarshawGary E WardMarkus MeissnerPublished in: BMC biology (2017)
We demonstrate that parasite actin is essential during the lytic cycle and cannot be compensated by other molecules. Our data suggest a conventional polymerisation mechanism in vivo that depends on a critical concentration of G-actin. Importantly, we demonstrate that the actomyosin system of the parasite functions in attachment to the surface substrate, and not necessarily as force generator.