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A lactate and formate transporter in the intraerythrocytic malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

Author

Listed:
  • Rosa V. Marchetti

    (Research School of Biology, Australian National University)

  • Adele M. Lehane

    (Research School of Biology, Australian National University)

  • Sarah H. Shafik

    (Research School of Biology, Australian National University)

  • Markus Winterberg

    (Research School of Biology, Australian National University)

  • Rowena E. Martin

    (Research School of Biology, Australian National University)

  • Kiaran Kirk

    (Research School of Biology, Australian National University)

Abstract

The intraerythrocytic malaria parasite relies primarily on glycolysis to fuel its rapid growth and reproduction. The major byproduct of this metabolism, lactic acid, is extruded into the external medium. In this study, we show that the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum expresses at its surface a member of the microbial formate–nitrite transporter family (PfFNT), which, when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, transports both formate and lactate. The transport characteristics of PfFNT in oocytes (pH-dependence, inhibitor-sensitivity and kinetics) are similar to those of the transport of lactate and formate across the plasma membrane of mature asexual-stage P. falciparum trophozoites, consistent with PfFNT playing a major role in the efflux of lactate and hence in the energy metabolism of the intraerythrocytic parasite.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosa V. Marchetti & Adele M. Lehane & Sarah H. Shafik & Markus Winterberg & Rowena E. Martin & Kiaran Kirk, 2015. "A lactate and formate transporter in the intraerythrocytic malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7721
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7721
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    Cited by:

    1. Gerry Q Tonkin-Hill & Leily Trianty & Rintis Noviyanti & Hanh H T Nguyen & Boni F Sebayang & Daniel A Lampah & Jutta Marfurt & Simon A Cobbold & Janavi S Rambhatla & Malcolm J McConville & Stephen J R, 2018. "The Plasmodium falciparum transcriptome in severe malaria reveals altered expression of genes involved in important processes including surface antigen–encoding var genes," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-40, March.

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