The Role of the Histone Methyltransferase PfSET10 in Antigenic Variation by Malaria Parasites: a Cautionary Tale
Che Julius Ngwa, Mackensie Gross, Jean-Pierre Musabyimana, Gabriele Pradel, Kirk Deitsch
Abstract
The identification of specific epigenetic regulatory proteins in infectious organisms has become a high-profile research topic and a focus for several drug development initiatives. However, studies that define specific roles for different epigenetic modifiers occasionally report differing results, and we similarly provide evidence regarding the histone methyltransferase PfSET10 that is in stark contrast with previously published results. We believe that the conflicting results, rather than suggesting erroneous conclusions, instead reflect the importance of revisiting previous conclusions using newly developed methodologies, as well as caution in interpreting seemingly contrary results in fields that are known to display considerable plasticity, for example metabolism and epigenetics.