Mitochondria in Malaria and Related Parasites: Ancient, Diverse and Streamlined

Overview

Journal J Bioenerg Biomembr

Publisher Springer

Specialties Biochemistry
Biology
Endocrinology

Date 2008 Sep 25

PMID 18814021

Citations 26

Authors

Michael W Mather

Akhil B Vaidya

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Parasitic organisms have emerged from nearly every corner of the eukaryotic kingdom and hence display tremendous diversity of form and function. This diversity extends to their mitochondria and mitochondrion-derived organelles. While the principles of the chemiosmotic theory apply to all these pathogens, the differences from their hosts provide opportunities for therapeutic development. In this review we discuss examples of mitochondrial systems from a deep-branching phylum, Apicomplexa. Many important human pathogens, such as malaria parasites, belong to this phylum. Unique features of their mitochondria are validated targets for drugs that are selectively toxic to the parasites.

Citing Articles

Malate dehydrogenase in parasitic protozoans: roles in metabolism and potential therapeutic applications.

Springer A, Agrawal S, Chang E Essays Biochem. 2024; 68(2):235-251.

PMID: 38938216 PMC: 11461325. DOI: 10.1042/EBC20230075.

Unique Properties of Apicomplexan Mitochondria.

Lamb I, Okoye I, Mather M, Vaidya A Annu Rev Microbiol. 2023; 77:541-560.

PMID: 37406344 PMC: 11156254. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032421-120540.

Erythrocyte membrane with CLIPPKF as biomimetic nanodecoy traps merozoites and attaches to infected red blood cells to prevent Plasmodium infection.

He Z, Yu C, Pan Z, Li X, Zhang X, Huang Q J Nanobiotechnology. 2023; 21(1):15.

PMID: 36647056 PMC: 9841648. DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01709-x.

Parasite powerhouse: A review of the Toxoplasma gondii mitochondrion.

Usey M, Huet D J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2022; 69(6):e12906.

PMID: 35315174 PMC: 9490983. DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12906.

Properties of Plasmodium falciparum with a Deleted Apicoplast DNA Gyrase.

Tan S, Mudeppa D, Kokkonda S, White 3rd J, Patrapuvich R, Rathod P Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2021; 65(9):e0058621.

PMID: 34152814 PMC: 8370227. DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00586-21.

References

Gray M, Lang B, Burger G . Mitochondria of protists. Annu Rev Genet. 2004; 38:477-524. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.genet.37.110801.142526. View

Winter R, Kelly J, Smilkstein M, Dodean R, Bagby G, Rathbun R . Evaluation and lead optimization of anti-malarial acridones. Exp Parasitol. 2006; 114(1):47-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2006.03.014. View

Wilson C, Smith A, Baylon R . Characterization of the delta-aminolevulinate synthase gene homologue in P. falciparum. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1996; 75(2):271-6. DOI: 10.1016/0166-6851(95)02531-6. View

Das A, Syin C, Fujioka H, Zheng H, Goldman N, Aikawa M . Molecular characterization and ultrastructural localization of Plasmodium falciparum Hsp 60. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1997; 88(1-2):95-104. DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(97)00081-9. View

Learngaramkul P, Petmitr S, Krungkrai S, Prapunwattana P, Krungkrai J . Molecular characterization of mitochondria in asexual and sexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Cell Biol Res Commun. 1999; 2(1):15-20. DOI: 10.1006/mcbr.1999.0145. View

Srivastava I, Vaidya A . A mechanism for the synergistic antimalarial action of atovaquone and proguanil. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1999; 43(6):1334-9. PMC: 89274. DOI: 10.1128/AAC.43.6.1334. View

Sherman I . Biochemistry of Plasmodium (malarial parasites). Microbiol Rev. 1979; 43(4):453-95. PMC: 281489. DOI: 10.1128/mr.43.4.453-495.1979. View

Xiang H, McSurdy-Freed J, Moorthy G, Hugger E, Bambal R, Han C . Preclinical drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic evaluation of GW844520, a novel anti-malarial mitochondrial electron transport inhibitor. J Pharm Sci. 2006; 95(12):2657-72. DOI: 10.1002/jps.20681. View

Sato S, Wilson R . The genome of Plasmodium falciparum encodes an active delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase. Curr Genet. 2002; 40(6):391-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00294-002-0273-3. View

10.

Suzuki T, Hashimoto T, Yabu Y, Kido Y, Sakamoto K, Nihei C . Direct evidence for cyanide-insensitive quinol oxidase (alternative oxidase) in apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum: phylogenetic and therapeutic implications. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004; 313(4):1044-52. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.12.038. View

11.

van Dooren G, Marti M, Tonkin C, Stimmler L, Cowman A, McFadden G . Development of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion and apicoplast during the asexual life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Microbiol. 2005; 57(2):405-19. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04699.x. View

12.

Xu P, Widmer G, Wang Y, Ozaki L, Alves J, Serrano M . The genome of Cryptosporidium hominis. Nature. 2004; 431(7012):1107-12. DOI: 10.1038/nature02977. View

13.

Abrahamsen M, Templeton T, Enomoto S, Abrahante J, Zhu G, Lancto C . Complete genome sequence of the apicomplexan, Cryptosporidium parvum. Science. 2004; 304(5669):441-5. DOI: 10.1126/science.1094786. View

14.

Ossorio P, Sibley L, Boothroyd J . Mitochondrial-like DNA sequences flanked by direct and inverted repeats in the nuclear genome of Toxoplasma gondii. J Mol Biol. 1991; 222(3):525-36. DOI: 10.1016/0022-2836(91)90494-q. View

15.

Feagin J, Mericle B, Werner E, Morris M . Identification of additional rRNA fragments encoded by the Plasmodium falciparum 6 kb element. Nucleic Acids Res. 1997; 25(2):438-46. PMC: 146428. DOI: 10.1093/nar/25.2.438. View

16.

Mirande M . The ins and outs of tRNA transport. EMBO Rep. 2007; 8(6):547-9. PMC: 2002533. DOI: 10.1038/sj.embor.7400989. View

17.

LaGier M, Tachezy J, Stejskal F, Kutisova K, Keithly J . Mitochondrial-type iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis genes (IscS and IscU) in the apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parvum. Microbiology (Reading). 2003; 149(Pt 12):3519-3530. DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.26365-0. View

18.

Vaidya A, Mather M . A post-genomic view of the mitochondrion in malaria parasites. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2005; 295:233-50. DOI: 10.1007/3-540-29088-5_9. View

19.

Mather M, Henry K, Vaidya A . Mitochondrial drug targets in apicomplexan parasites. Curr Drug Targets. 2007; 8(1):49-60. DOI: 10.2174/138945007779315632. View

20.

Fry M, Pudney M . Site of action of the antimalarial hydroxynaphthoquinone, 2-[trans-4-(4'-chlorophenyl) cyclohexyl]-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (566C80). Biochem Pharmacol. 1992; 43(7):1545-53. DOI: 10.1016/0006-2952(92)90213-3. View