FEATURES

FAMILY

DESCRIPTION

Also known as CDPK4_PLAF7, CDPK4, CPK4. Calcium-dependent protein kinase which acts as a sensor and effector of intracellular Ca(2+) levels probably in part downstream of cGMP-activated PKG kinase (PubMed:19307175, PubMed:19666141). Plays a central role in the host erythrocytes and hepatocytes infection cycles, sexual reproduction and mosquito transmission of the parasite. During the liver stage, involved in sporozoite motility and thus in sporozoite invasion of host hepatocytes, probably together with CDPK1 and CDPK5. Involved in merosome egress from host hepatocytes, probably together with CDPK5. During the asexual blood stage, involved in merozoite invasion of host erythrocytes and motility by stabilizing the inner membrane complex, a structure below the plasma membrane which acts as an anchor for the glidosome, an acto-myosin motor. Required for cell cycle progression in the male gametocyte. During male gametogenesis in the mosquito gut, required to initiate the first round of DNA replication, probably by facilitating the assembly of the pre-replicative MCM complex, to assemble the first mitotic spindle and, at the end of gametogenesis, to initiate axoneme motility, cytokinesis and subsequent exflagellation. For each of these steps, may phosphorylate SOC1, SOC2 and SOC3, respectively. Together with CDPK1, regulates ookinete gliding in the mosquito host midgut (By similarity). May interact with the pre-replication MCM complex prior male gametogenesis activation.

EXTERNAL LINKS

CDPK4

Mutations

Mutation(s) distribution

Mutations table