Left Panel: Conditional deletion of PfFRM2 abrogates the intracellular F-actin network in P. falciparum: IFA staining of the apicoplast with a CPN60 antibody (red) together with the fluorescent F-actin network (green) confirms a defect in apicoplast segregation in RAP treated parasites (white arrows). Nuclei are stained in blue and brightfield images are provided alongside. Examples of normally segregated apicoplasts, intermediate and severely disrupted apicoplasts have been provided. Scale bars 5μm. Right panel: Defects in merozoite formation/ cytokinesis in PfFRM2 cKO parasites. IFA on Percoll-purified mature LoxPpffrm2/CBEME schizonts 44h post DMSO/RAP treatment, further allowed to mature for 4h in Compound 2: An anti-GAP45 antibody (red) revealed defects to varying degrees in IMC formation in these parasites. Examples for unsegmented, intermediate and segmented IMCs have been provided.

Felix Stortz J, Del Rosario M, Singer M, Wilkes JM, Meissner M, Das S. Formin-2 drives polymerisation of actin filaments enabling segregation of apicoplasts and cytokinesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Elife. 2019 8. pii: E49030.