Loss of pH Control in Plasmodium falciparum Parasites Subjected to Oxidative Stress
Date
2013-03-11
Authors
van Schalkwyk, Donelly A.
Saliba, Kevin J.
Biagini, Giancarlo A.
Bray, Patrick G.
Kirk, Kiaran
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Public Library of Science
Abstract
The intraerythrocytic malaria parasite is susceptible to oxidative stress and this may play a role in the mechanism of action of some antimalarial agents. Here we show that exposure of the intraerythrocytic malaria parasite to the oxidising agent hydrogen peroxide results in a fall in the intracellular ATP level and inhibition of the parasite's V-type H(+)-ATPase, causing a loss of pH control in both the parasite cytosol and the internal digestive vacuole. In contrast to the V-type H(+)-ATPase, the parasite's digestive vacuole H(+)-pyrophosphatase is insensitive to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. This work provides insights into the effects of oxidative stress on the intraerythrocytic parasite, as well as providing an alternative possible explanation for a previous report that light-induced oxidative stress causes selective lysis of the parasite's digestive vacuole.
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adenosine triphosphate, cytosol, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen-ion concentration, inorganic pyrophosphatase, intracellular membranes, plasmodium falciparum, vacuolar proton-translocating atpases, vacuoles, oxidative stress
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PLoS ONE
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Journal article
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