Disruption of the Plasmodium falciparum 2-Cys peroxiredoxin gene renders parasites hypersensitive to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.
In parasitism, Plasmodium falciparum is exposed to toxic reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Peroxiredoxins (Prx) are ubiquitously distributed antioxidant enzymes. In bacteria and yeast, Prx have also been implicated in detoxifying RNS. Here, we used a gene targeting strategy to investigate the physiological role of 2-Cys Prx of P. falciparum, PfTPx-1, in living parasite cells. The PfTPx-1-null parasite line was more sensitive to paraquat (a superoxide donor) and sodium nitroprusside (a nitric oxide donor), than wildtype. These findings suggest that PfTPx-1 protects the parasite cells from oxidative and nitrosative stresses.
Komaki-Yasuda
Kanako
K
Research Institute, International Medical Center of Japan, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, 162-8655, Tokyo, Japan. komaki@ri.imcj.go.jp <komaki@ri.imcj.go.jp>
Kawazu
Shin-ichiro
S
Kano
Shigeyuki
S
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D007700:Kinetics; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054464:Peroxiredoxins; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D010544:Peroxidases; C477005:2-Cys peroxiredoxin, Plasmodium falciparum; D054464:Peroxiredoxins; D010269:Paraquat