A MFS-like plasma membrane transporter required for Leishmania virulence protects the parasites from iron toxicity.

ABSTRACT: Iron is essential for many cellular processes, but can generate highly toxic hydroxyl radicals in the presence of oxygen. Therefore, intracellular iron accumulation must be tightly regulated, by balancing uptake with storage or export. Iron uptake in Leishmania is mediated by the coordinated action of two plasma membrane proteins, the ferric iron reductase LFR1 and the ferrous iron transporter LIT1. However, how these parasites regulate their cytosolic iron concentration to prevent toxicity remains unknown. Here we characterize Leishmania Iron Regulator 1 (LIR1), an iron responsive protein with similarity to membrane transporters of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) and plant nodulin-like proteins. LIR1 localizes on the plasma membrane of L. amazonensis promastigotes and intracellula

SUBMITTER: Laranjeira-Silva MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6021107 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature