title: Polyamine synthesis and salvage pathways in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: We demonstrate, for the first time, a functional polyamine biosynthetic pathway in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum that culminates in the synthesis of spermine. Additionally, we also report putrescine and spermidine salvage in the malaria parasite. Putrescine and spermidine transport in P. falciparum infected red blood cells is a highly specific, carrier mediated and active process, mediated by new transporters that differ from the transporters of uninfected red blood cells in their kinetic parameters, Vmax and km, as well as in their activation energy.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: T N C
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Ramya
authors.forename: Namita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Surolia
authors.forename: Avadhesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Surolia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000378:metabolism; D013095:Spermidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine