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The apicoplast of Plasmodium falciparum is translationally active
Author(s) -
Chaubey Sushma,
Kumar Ambrish,
Singh Divya,
Habib Saman
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04538.x
Subject(s) - apicoplast , biology , plastid , thiostrepton , organelle , plasmodium falciparum , apicomplexa , tufa , translation (biology) , gene , genetics , messenger rna , rna , ribosome , malaria , chloroplast , materials science , metallurgy , carbonate , immunology
Summary Apicoplast, the plastid‐like organelle of apicomplexan parasites, has generated interest as a putative drug target. Although transcripts for genes encoded by the 35 kb circular plastid DNA have been detected, the actual presence of their protein products has only been postulated. We provide evidence for translation of the tufA gene encoded by the Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast genome. Translation elongation factor Tu (EF‐Tu), the product of tufA , was localized within the organelle. TufA was found to express maximally in the trophozoite stage of the intraerythrocytic cycle. Additionally, the drug thiostrepton that has a binding site in apicoplast LSU rRNA, reduced P. falciparum apicoplast EF‐Tu levels thus strengthening the view that translation in the apicoplast is the site of action of this drug.