Charakterisierung und sub-zelluläre Lokalisierung von Enzymen des DOXP-Wegs in Plasmodium falciparum

• Antragsteller: Dr. Jochen Wiesner
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Stoffwechselphysiologie, Biochemie und Genetik der Mikroorganismen
• Förderung: Förderung von 2004 bis 2007
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5436184

In previous studies we demonstrated that in P. falciparum isoprenoids are synthesised by the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DOXP) pathway. This pathway was discovered only recently and had not been fully elucidated at the beginning of our work. During the first two years funding period we were able to functionally characterise the last two missing enzymes, GcpE and LytB. Both enzymes turned out to represent oxygen-sensitive [4Fe-4S] proteins. Although not fully proven, there is evidence that the biochemical reactions of the DOXP pathway may take place inside the plastid-like organelle (apicoplast) of P. falciparum. Therefore, we plan to study the sub-cellular localisation of the involved enzymes. In addition, we plan to identify additional apicoplast-resident proteins required as co-factors for the enzymatic activity of GcpE and LytB. We expect that these studies will contribute to our understanding of the metabolic functions of the apicoplast.

• DFG-Verfahren: Schwerpunktprogramme
• Teilprojekt zu: SPP 1131: Intrazelluläre Lebensformen
• Beteiligte Person: Professor Dr. Ewald Beck