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Evolving Insights into Protein Trafficking to the Multiple Compartments of the Apicomplexan Plastid 1
Author(s) -
PARSONS MARILYN,
KARNATAKI ANURADHA,
DEROCHER AMY E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2009.00405.x
Subject(s) - apicoplast , plastid , biology , endosymbiosis , phylogenetic tree , organelle , evolutionary biology , apicomplexa , plasmodium (life cycle) , computational biology , compartment (ship) , phylogenetics , microbiology and biotechnology , plasmodium falciparum , genetics , chloroplast , parasite hosting , gene , malaria , oceanography , geology , world wide web , computer science , immunology
. The apicoplast is a relict plastid found in many medically important apicomplexan parasites, such as Plasmodium and Toxoplasma . Phylogenetic analysis and the presence of four bounding membranes indicate that the apicoplast arose from a secondary endosymbiosis. Here we review what has been discovered about the complex journey proteins take to reach compartments of the apicoplast. The targeting sequences for luminal proteins are well‐defined, but those routing proteins to other compartments are only beginning to be studied. Recent work suggests that the trafficking mechanisms involve a variety of molecules of different phylogenetic origins. We highlight some remaining questions regarding protein trafficking to this divergent organelle.