Confocal microscopy of an early schizont transgenically expressing SAP(1-367)-GFP (missing C-terminal sequence). GFP fluorescence was acquired by laser scanning through the parasite producing z stacks. a) Merged images of GFP and Hoechst staining of the nuclei; b) live images of the parasite taken in differential interference contrast. Capturing z-stack images through the parasite, it was possible to deduce the punctate GFP localization as being not only on the parasite’s surface where it might point to the formation of cytostomes but fluorescence was also seen in a more diffuse pattern in the cytosol, which could possibly represent a snapshot of vesicle trafficking. It is also localized in the food vacuole. This gene product was formerly described as anchoring glideosome associated protein 50 (GAP50).

Müller IB, Knöckel J, Eschbach ML, Bergmann B, Walter RD, Wrenger C. Secretion of an acid phosphatase provides a possible mechanism to acquire host nutrients by Plasmodium falciparum. Cell Microbiol. 2010 12:677-91. Copyright John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 2010.