A fine balance between oxidised and reduced haem controls the survival of intraerythrocytic plasmodia.
The polymerisation of haemoglobin-derived ferri-protoporphyrin IX (Fe(III)PPIX) to haemozoin (malaria pigment) is a crucial process for intraerythrocytic plasmodia to prevent haem toxicity. It is also the target of in-use antimalarial drugs and newer compounds. This reaction and the inhibition thereof can be reproduced and studied in vitro.
Taramelli
D
D
Istituto di Microbiologia, Università di Milano, Italy. donatella.taramelli@unimi.it
Monti
D
D
Basilico
N
N
Parapini
S
S
Omodeo-Salé
F
F
Olliaro
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism*; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006427:Hemin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000378:metabolism*
D000962:Antimalarials; D006420:Hemeproteins; C020753:hemozoin; D006418:Heme; D006427:Hemin