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Diversity in mitochondrial metabolic pathways in parasitic protists Plasmodium and Cryptosporidium.
- Source :
-
Parasitology international [Parasitol Int] 2010 Sep; Vol. 59 (3), pp. 305-12. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Apr 27. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Apicomplexans are obligate intracellular parasites and occupy diverse niches. They have remodeled mitochondrial carbon and energy metabolism through reductive evolution. Plasmodium lacks mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase and H(+)-translocating NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I, NDH1). The mitochondorion contains a minimal mtDNA ( approximately 6kb) and carries out oxidative phosphorylation in the insect vector stages, by using 2-oxoglutarate as an alternative means of entry into the TCA cycle and a single-subunit flavoprotein as an alternative NADH dehydrogenase (NDH2). In the blood stages of mammalian hosts, mitochondrial enzymes are down-regulated and parasite energy metabolism relies mainly on glycolysis. Mitosomes of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis (human intestine parasites) lack mtDNA, pyruvate dehydrogenase, TCA cycle enzymes except malate-quinone oxidoreductase (MQO), and ATP synthase subunits except alpha and beta. In contrast, mitosomes of Cryptosporidium muris (a rodent gastric parasite) retain all TCA cycle enzymes and functional ATP synthase and carry out oxidative phosphorylation with pyruvate-NADP(+) oxidoreductase (PNO) and a simple and unique respiratory chain consisting of NDH2 and alternative oxidase (AOX). Cryptosporidium and Perkinsus are early branching groups of chromoalveolates (apicomplexa and dinoflagellates, respectively), and both Cryptosporidium mitosome and Perkinsus mitochondrion use PNO, MQO, and AOX. All apicomplexan parasites and dinoflagellates share MQO, which has been acquired from epsilon-proteobacteria via lateral gene transfer. By genome data mining on Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium and Perkinsus, here we summarized their mitochondrial metabolic pathways, which are varied largely from those of mammalian hosts. We hope that our findings will help in understanding the apicomplexan metabolism and development of new chemotherapeutics with novel targets.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Cryptosporidiosis parasitology
Cryptosporidium enzymology
Cryptosporidium genetics
DNA, Mitochondrial genetics
DNA, Mitochondrial metabolism
Humans
Malaria parasitology
Mitochondria enzymology
Mitochondria genetics
Plasmodium enzymology
Plasmodium genetics
Cryptosporidium metabolism
Metabolic Networks and Pathways
Mitochondria metabolism
Plasmodium metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-0329
- Volume :
- 59
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Parasitology international
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20433942
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2010.04.005