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Polyphosphate Content and Fine Structure of Acidocalcisomes of Plasmodium falciparum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2004

Felix A. Ruiz ,
Shuhong Luo ,
Silvia N.J. Moreno  and
Roberto Docampo
Felix A. Ruiz
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology and Center for Zoonoses Research, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802
Shuhong Luo
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology and Center for Zoonoses Research, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802
Silvia N.J. Moreno
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology and Center for Zoonoses Research, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802
Roberto Docampo
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology and Center for Zoonoses Research, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802
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Abstract

Although acidocalcisomes have been well characterized morphologically in other apicomplexan parasites, no such characterization has been done in Plasmodium spp. Here, we report that Plasmodium falciparum merozoites possess electron-dense organelles rich in phosphorus and calcium, as detected by X-ray microanalysis of intact cells, which are similar to the acidocalcisomes of other apicomplexans, but of more irregular form. In agreement with these results malaria parasites possess large amounts of short- and long-chain polyphosphate (polyP), which are associated with acidocalcisomes in other organisms. PolyP levels were highest in the trophozoite stage of the parasite. Treatment of isolated trophozoites with chloroquine resulted in a significant hydrolysis of polyP. Taken together, these results provide evidence that acidocalcisomes from Plasmodium falciparum do not differ significantly from acidocalcisomes of other apicomplexan parasites.

Keywords

PlasmodiumacidocalcisomesX-ray microanalysispolyphosphatecalcium
Type
Feature Articles
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 10 , Issue 5 , October 2004 , pp. 563 - 567
Copyright
© 2004 Microscopy Society of America

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