Transcriptional regulator HDP1 regulates expansion of the inner membrane complex during early sexual differentiation of malaria parasites [ChIP-Seq]

In this study, we identify HDP1, a previously uncharacterized DNA-binding protein first expressed during early sexual differentiation. The development of HDP1-deficient gametocytes arrests at the Stage I to Stage II transition and ends in loss of viability. Analysis of gene expression and HDP1-binding shows that this protein functions as a positive transcriptional regulator of genes essential for gametocyte development, including genes that are critical for the expansion of the inner membrane complex (IMC) that gives P. falciparum gametocytes their characteristic shape. We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing on nuclei from hdp1-gfp and hdp1-Ty1 gametocytes on day 5 of development, with the latter serving as a negative control, in order to evaluate HDP1-genome wide binding. Two biologically independent replicates were evaluated.