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Haem detoxification by an insect

Author

Listed:
  • Marcus F. Oliveira

    (Departamento de Bioqíumica Médica)

  • José R. Silva

    (Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes)

  • Marílvia Dansa-Petretski

    (Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes)

  • Wanderley de Souza

    (Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária)

  • Ulysses Lins

    (Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Ges)

  • Cláudia M. S. Braga

    (Petrobrás/CENPES, Setor de Química Orgânica, Cidade Universitária)

  • Hatisaburo Masuda

    (Departamento de Bioqíumica Médica)

  • Pedro L. Oliveira

    (Departamento de Bioqíumica Médica)

Abstract

Haem is involved in many biological reactions, including oxygen transport, respiration and photosynthesis. In the free state, however, haem can generate reactive oxygen species that can damage biological molecules. It can also disrupt the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes1. In Plasmodium parasites, which are the aetiological agents of malaria disease, up to 80% of host-cell haemoglobin is digested2, leaving the free haem group to be detoxified in the parasite's food vacuole by polymerizing it into a harmless dark-brown crystalline structure called malaria pigment or haemozoin3. Haem detoxification is also a challenge for blood-sucking insects, which digest several times their own weight of vertebrate blood during a blood meal. Here we show that haem polymerization into haemozoin is not exclusive to Plasmodium: it also occurs in the midgut of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus(Hemiptera), an important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas’ disease.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus F. Oliveira & José R. Silva & Marílvia Dansa-Petretski & Wanderley de Souza & Ulysses Lins & Cláudia M. S. Braga & Hatisaburo Masuda & Pedro L. Oliveira, 1999. "Haem detoxification by an insect," Nature, Nature, vol. 400(6744), pages 517-518, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:400:y:1999:i:6744:d:10.1038_22910
    DOI: 10.1038/22910
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    Cited by:

    1. Marilvia Dansa de Alencar & Lígia Souza Ferreira & Gabriela Calegário & Flávia Borges Mury, 2015. "Alpha-glucosidases from Non-hematophagous Organisms Crystallize Heme in Vitro," International Journal of Sciences, Office ijSciences, vol. 4(08), pages 24-33, August.

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