Skip to main content
Fig. 8 | Parasites & Vectors

Fig. 8

From: A polo-like kinase modulates cytokinesis and flagella biogenesis in Giardia lamblia

Fig. 8

Functional defects caused by ectopic expression of mutant GlPLKs in Giardia. Giardia carrying the empty vector (pKS-3HA.neo), and Giardia expressing wild-type GlPLK, K51R mutant GlPLK, or T178AT183A mutant GlPLK, were constructed by electroporation of the corresponding plasmid into Giardia trophozoites. a Western blot analysis showing the expression of HA-tagged mutant GlPLK proteins in Giardia. Cell extracts were prepared from Giardia carrying the vector plasmid (lane 1), Giardia expressing K51R mutant GlPLK (lane 2), or T178AT183A mutant GlPLK (lane 3), and reacted with anti-HA antibodies. b Growth curves of Giardia carrying the vector plasmid (open circles) or expressing wild-type GlPLK (closed squares), K51R mutant GlPLK (open triangles) or T178AT183A mutant GlPLK (closed triangles). The number of parasites per milliliter was determined using a hemocytometer. Each experiment comprised three cultures and was repeated three times using independently obtained transfected cells. c Effects of the ectopic expression of mutant GlPLKs on the nuclear phenotypes of G. lamblia. Various cells, Giardia carrying the vector plasmid (open bars) and Giardia expressing wild-type GlPLK (closed bars), K51R mutant GlPLK (gray bars) or T178AT183A mutant GlPLK (dotted bars), were stained with Giemsa solution. At least 300 cells were examined for the number and position of the nuclei under each condition using an Axiovert 200 microscope. Among the cells with two nuclei in the normal position, the number of cells showing nuclear condensation was also recorded (hatched bars). d Effects of the ectopic expression of mutant GlPLKs on flagella formation in G. lamblia. Flagella length was measured in 35 cells per condition. Data are presented as an average of three independent experiments. Asterisks indicate that the difference is statistically signiicant at *P = 0.01–0.05 and **P < 0.01, respectively

Back to article page