Patty B. Chen

Nuclear acetyl-CoA production by acetyl-CoA synthetase enables dynamic histone acetylation and gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum

This study shows that acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACAS) in Plasmodium falciparum is essential for nuclear histone acetylation, which regulates gene expression and the transcriptional cycle during the parasite's life cycle.

Taurine is a Natural Host Cytoadhesion Inhibitor in Asymptomatic Malaria Cases

This study identifies taurine as a host metabolite that inhibits malaria parasite cytoadhesion in asymptomatic infections, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.

N6-methyladenosine primes the malaria parasite for transmission

This paper identifies N6-methyladenosine (m6A) as a mechanism enabling malaria parasites to rapidly restructure protein synthesis during transmission, dependent on temperature changes and the m6A-binding protein YTH.2.

Micro-C reveals MORC/ApiAP2-mediated links between distant, functionally related genes in the human malaria parasite

The paper uses Micro-C to map DNA-DNA contacts in Plasmodium falciparum, revealing heterochromatic and euchromatic structures mediated by MORC/ApiAP2 and other factors.