Inhibition of AMA1 shedding by cleavage site mutagenesis has no effect on invasion, but AMA1 disruption prevents invasion and leads to RBC lysis. IFA showing loss of AMA1 expression in RAP-treated iDAMA1 cycle 0 schizonts. Given the role of AMA1 in TJ formation, we examined whether the DSUB2 phenotype might in part reflect loss of AMA1 function. We generated a parasite line (iDAMA1) in which DiCre-mediated excision ablated AMA1 expression by severely truncating the gene. RAP treatment of the parasites produced the expected genomic modifications with loss of AMA1 expression in mature cycle 0 schizonts of the iDAMA1 clones.

Collins CR, Hackett F, Howell SA, Snijders AP, Russell MR, Collinson LM, Blackman MJ. The malaria parasite sheddase SUB2 governs host red blood cell membrane sealing at invasion. Elife. 2020 9:e61121