Artigo
Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Intraerythrocytic Stages of Plasmodium falciparum
Fecha
2009-04-10Registro en:
Journal of Biological Chemistry. Bethesda: Amer Soc Biochemistry Molecular Biology Inc, v. 284, n. 15, p. 9974-9985, 2009.
0021-9258
10.1074/jbc.M807464200
WOS:000264892900040
Autor
Tonhosolo, Renata
D'Alexandri, Fabio Luiz
De Rosso, Veridiana Vera
Gazarini, Marcos Leoni [UNIFESP]
Matsumura, Miriam Yukiko
Peres, Valnice de Jesus
Merino, Emilio Fernando
Carlton, Jane M.
Wunderlich, Gerhard
Mercadante, Adriana Zerlotti
Kimura, Emilia Akemi
Katzin, Alejandro Miguel
Institución
Resumen
Carotenoids are widespread lipophilic pigments synthesized by all photosynthetic organisms and some nonphotosynthetic fungi and bacteria. All carotenoids are derived from the C40 isoprenoid precursor geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, and their chemical and physical properties are associated with light absorption, free radical scavenging, and antioxidant activity. Carotenoids are generally synthesized in well defined subcellular organelles, the plastids, which are also present in the phylum Apicomplexa, which comprises a number of important human parasites, such as Plasmodium and Toxoplasma. Recently, it was demonstrated that Toxoplasma gondii synthesizes abscisic acid. We therefore asked if Plasmodium falciparum is also capable of synthesizing carotenoids. Herein, biochemical findings demonstrated the presence of carotenoid biosynthesis in the intraerythrocytic stages of the apicomplexan parasite P. falciparum. Using metabolic labeling with radioisotopes, in vitro inhibition tests with norflurazon, a specific inhibitor of plant carotenoid biosynthesis, the results showed that intraerythrocytic stages of P. falciparum synthesize carotenoid compounds. A plasmodial enzyme that presented phytoene synthase activity was also identified and characterized. These findings not only contribute to the current understanding of P. falciparum evolution but shed light on a pathway that could serve as a chemotherapeutic target.