Figure 2.

Apicoplast development and DNA replication are hardly inhibited by calcium ionophores. (a) Apicoplast DNA replication is not inhibited by calcium ionophores. Box plots for the log⁡⁡2 expression ratios of averaged oligos representing all apicoplast genes (obtained from the microarray hybridization results filtered for 3-fold change in 2 time points) and log⁡⁡2 ratios of the treated and untreated apicoplast DNA (obtained from a CGH experiment where the total DNA from the treated parasites was hybridized against the total DNA from the untreated parasites) have been compared. (b) Western blots show the processed band (≈35 kDa) of the ACP-GFP fusion protein (≈40 kDa) directed towards apicoplast indicating that the protein has been imported and processed without much interference even after 6 hours after treatment. Fluorescence microscopy done on ACP-GFP expressing parasites confirms the western results. (c) Relative expression of apicoplast genes in ionomycin treatment of schizonts both in presence and absence of 3 mM EGTA. (I-ionomycin, I + E-ionomycin plus EGTA).