title: The acidocalcisome.
abstract: The acidocalcisome is an electron-dense acidic organelle which contains a matrix of pyrophosphate and polyphosphates with bound calcium and other cations. Its limiting membrane possesses a number of pumps and exchangers for the uptake and release of these elements. The acidocalcisome does not belong to the endocytic pathway and may represent a branch of the secretory pathway in trypanosomatids and apicomplexan parasites. The acidocalcisome is possibly involved in polyphosphate and cation storage and in adaptation of these microoganisms to environmental stress.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA. rodoc@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Docampo
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D014351:Trypanosomatina / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases