The NTP generating activity of pyruvate kinase II is critical for apicoplast maintenance in Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: The apicoplast of Plasmodium falciparum parasites is believed to rely on the import of three-carbon phosphate compounds for use in organelle anabolic pathways, in addition to the generation of energy and reducing power within the organelle. We generated a series of genetic deletions in an apicoplast metabolic bypass line to determine which genes involved in apicoplast carbon metabolism are required for blood-stage parasite survival and organelle maintenance. We found that pyruvate kinase II (PyrKII) is essential for organelle maintenance, but that production of pyruvate by PyrKII is not responsible for this phenomenon. Enzymatic characterization of PyrKII revealed activity against all NDPs and dNDPs tested, suggesting that it may be capable of generating a broad range of nucleotide

SUBMITTER: Swift RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7556864 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature