Mitotic and post-mitotic microtubular structures of cultured parasites viewed by immunofluorescence using: (a) anti-P. falciparum b-tubulin antibodies; and (b and c) GT335 (monoclonal anti-polyglutamylated tubulin) visualised with fluorescein isothiocyanate, left) and nuclear bodies stained with DAPI (right). Note microtubule-organising centres (large arrows), hemispindles (arrow head) and radial microtubule spokes (double-arrow). Scale bars =4 mm. Glutamylated tubulins appeared to be limited to the microtubule-organising centres ( b) with no labelling of parasite hemispindles observed. Interestingly, glutamylated tubulins were predominantly located in post-mitotic microtubular structures in a regular radial array, like the spokes of a cartwheel.

Fennell BJ, Al-shatr ZA, Bell A. Isotype expression, post-translational modification and stage-dependent production of tubulins in erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum. Int J Parasitol. 2008 38:527-39. Copyright Elevier 2011.