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- Title
Sodium-dependent uptake of inorganic phosphate by the intracellular malaria parasite.
- Authors
Saliba, Kevin J.; Martin, Rowena E.; Bröer, Angelika; Henry, Roselani I.; McCarthy, C. Siobhan; Downie, Megan J.; Allen, Richard J. W.; Mullin, Kylie A.; McFadden, Geoffrey I.; Bröer, Stefan; Kirk, Kiaran
- Abstract
As the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, grows within its host erythrocyte it induces an increase in the permeability of the erythrocyte membrane to a range of low-molecular-mass solutes, including Na+ and K+ (ref. 1). This results in a progressive increase in the concentration of Na+ in the erythrocyte cytosol. The parasite cytosol has a relatively low Na+ concentration and there is therefore a large inward Na+ gradient across the parasite plasma membrane. Here we show that the parasite exploits the Na+ electrochemical gradient to energize the uptake of inorganic phosphate (Pi), an essential nutrient. Pi was taken up into the intracellular parasite by a Na+-dependent transporter, with a stoichiometry of 2Na+:1Pi and with an apparent preference for the monovalent over the divalent form of Pi. A Pi transporter (PfPiT) belonging to the PiT family was cloned from the parasite and localized to the parasite surface. Expression of PfPiT in Xenopus oocytes resulted in Na+-dependent Pi uptake with characteristics similar to those observed for Pi uptake in the parasite. This study provides new insight into the significance of the malaria-parasite-induced alteration of the ionic composition of its host cell.
- Subjects
LETTERS to the editor; PLASMODIUM falciparum
- Publication
Nature, 2006, Vol 443, Issue 7111, p582
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Letter
- DOI
10.1038/nature05149