title: Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast and its transcriptional regulation through calcium signaling.
abstract: Malaria has been present since ancient time and remains a major global health problem in developing countries. Plasmodium falciparum belongs to the phylum Apicomplexan, largely contain disease-causing parasites and characterized by the presence of apicoplast. It is a very essential organelle of P. falciparum responsible for the synthesis of key molecules required for the growth of the parasite. Indispensable nature of apicoplast makes it a potential drug target. Calcium signaling is important in the establishment of malaria parasite inside the host. It has been involved in invasion and egress of merozoites during the asexual life cycle of the parasite. Calcium signaling also regulates apicoplast metabolism. Therefore, in this review, we will focus on the role of apicoplast in malaria biology and its metabolic regulation through Ca++signaling.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, BandarSindri, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India.
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, BandarSindri, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India.
authors.forename: Drista
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, BandarSindri, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India.
authors.forename: Rani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, BandarSindri, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India.
authors.forename: Nazia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khatoon
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, BandarSindri, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India.
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, BandarSindri, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India. tarun@curaj.ac.in.
authors.forename: Tarun Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Bhatt
mesh_terms: D063546:Apicoplasts / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; apicoplast; calcium signaling; malaria; transcription regulation