Advantages and disadvantages of conditional systems for characterization of essential genes in Toxoplasma gondii

Elena Jiménez-Ruiz, Eleanor H. Wong, Gurman S. Pall, Markus Meissner*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The dissection of apicomplexan biology has been highly influenced by the genetic tools available for manipulation of parasite DNA. Here, we describe different techniques available for the generation of conditional mutants. Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the three most commonly used regulation systems: the tetracycline inducible system, the regulation of protein stability and site-specific recombination are discussed. Using some previously described examples we explore some of the pitfalls involved in gene-function analysis using these systems that can lead to wrong or over-interpretation of phenotypes. We will also mention different options to standardize the application of these techniques for the characterization of gene function in high-throughput.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1390-1398
Number of pages9
JournalParasitology
Volume141
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2014

Keywords

  • Apicomplexan parasites
  • Conditional mutants
  • Dicre
  • Gold-standard genetic tools
  • Protein destabilization
  • Tetracycline inducible system

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Infectious Diseases

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