Testing Enzymatic Heme Degradation by Malaria Parasites
نویسندگان
چکیده
Background: Malaria parasites detoxify copious amounts of heme during human infection but enzyme involvement remains unclear. Results: Parasite-infected and uninfected erythrocytes contain indistinguishable low levels of heme catabolites, and a heme oxygenase-like parasite protein binds but does not degrade heme. Conclusion: P. falciparum parasites do not enzymatically degrade heme. Significance: This study comprehensively answers a long-standing question regarding heme metabolism in this important parasite.
منابع مشابه
Direct Tests of Enzymatic Heme Degradation by the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum*
Malaria parasites generate vast quantities of heme during blood stage infection via hemoglobin digestion and limited de novo biosynthesis, but it remains unclear if parasites metabolize heme for utilization or disposal. Recent in vitro experiments with a heme oxygenase (HO)-like protein from Plasmodium falciparum suggested that parasites may enzymatically degrade some heme to the canonical HO p...
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