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The Plasmodium HU homolog, which binds the plastid DNA sequence‐independent manner, is essential for the parasite's survival
Author(s) -
Sasaki Narie,
Hirai Makoto,
Maeda Katsura,
Yui Ryoko,
Itoh Kie,
Namiki Syoko,
Morita Teppei,
Hata Masayuki,
Murakami-Murofushi Kimiko,
Matsuoka Hiroyuki,
Kita Kiyoshi,
Sato Shigeharu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.03.071
Subject(s) - plasmodium berghei , biology , plastid , plasmodium falciparum , parasite hosting , genome , gene , genetics , plasmodium (life cycle) , malaria , apicomplexa , dna , computational biology , chloroplast , world wide web , computer science , immunology
The nuclear genome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum encodes a homolog of the bacterial HU protein (PfHU). In this study, we characterised PfHU's physiological function. PfHU, which is targeted exclusively to the parasite's plastid, bound its natural target – the plastid DNA – sequence‐independently and complemented lack of HU in Escherichia coli . The HU gene could not be knocked‐out from the genome of Plasmodium berghei , implying that HU is important for the parasite's survival. As the human cell lacks the HU homolog, PfHU is a potential target for drugs to control malaria.