The membrane occupation and recognition nexus protein 1 (MORN1) is highly conserved among apicomplexan parasites and is associated with several structures that have a role in cell division. MORN1 is required for basal complex assembly and loss of MORN1 results in defects in apicoplast division and daughter segregation. MORN1 specifically localizes to ring structures at the apical and posterior end of the inner membrane complex and to the centrosome, a specialized nuclear structure that organizes the mitotic spindle. Time-lapse imaging of tagged MORN1 revealed that these structures are highly dynamic and appear to play a role in nuclear division and daughter cell budding. Overexpression of MORN1 resulted in severe but specific defects in nuclear segregation and daughter cell formation. In Toxoplasma gondii, MORN1 is associated with the spindle poles, the anterior and posterior rings of the inner membrane complex (IMC).

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