We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
On the mechanisms involved in biological heme crystallization.
- Authors
Stiebler, Renata; Soares, Juliana B. R. Correa; Timm, Bruno L.; Silva, José Roberto; Mury, Flavia B.; Dansa-Petretski, Marilvia; Oliveira, Marcus F.
- Abstract
Blood-feeding organisms digest hemoglobin, releasing large quantities of heme inside their digestive tracts. Free heme is very toxic, and these organisms have evolved several mechanisms to protect against its deleterious effects. One of these adaptations is the crystallization of heme into the dark-brown pigment hemozoin (Hz). Here we review the process of Hz formation, focusing on organisms other than Plasmodium that have contributed to a better understanding of heme crystallization. Hemozoin has been found in several distinct classes of organisms including protozoa, helminths and insects and Hz formation is the predominant form of heme detoxification. The available evidence indicates that amphiphilic structures such as phospholipid membranes and lipid droplets accompanied by specific proteins play a major role in heme crystallization. Because this process is specific to a number of blood-feeding organisms and absent in their hosts, Hz formation is an attractive target for the development of novel drugs to control illnesses associated with these hematophagous organisms.
- Subjects
HEME; CRYSTALLIZATION; HEMOGLOBINS; BLOOD pigments; PHOSPHOLIPIDS; MALARIA; SCHISTOSOMIASIS
- Publication
Journal of Bioenergetics & Biomembranes, 2011, Vol 43, Issue 1, p93
- ISSN
0145-479X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10863-011-9335-x