Dolichols are essential for survival of asexual stage P. falciparum parasites. Parasites treated with apicoplast inhibitors cannot synthesise IPP in their subsequent cycle. Without this essential metabolite, these parasites become depleted in dolichols which are required for the synthesis of GPI anchors and the normal membrane association of their anchored proteins. Upon mislocalisation of GPI-anchored proteins normal schizont development is halted with incomplete segmentation. These schizonts proved incapable of egress, and the merozoites that do form are unable to invade new RBCs even when mechanically purified from mature segmented schizonts. Bulloch MS, Huynh LK, Kennedy K, Ralton JE, McConville MJ, Ralph SA. Apicoplast-derived isoprenoids are essential for biosynthesis of GPI protein anchors, and consequently for egress and invasion in Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Pathog. 2024 PMID: 39241090.