Glutathione – Functions and Metabolism in the Malarial Parasite Plasmodium falciparum
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K. Becker
Abstract
When present as a trophozoite in human erythrocytes, the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum exhibits an intense glutathione metabolism. Glutathione plays a role not only in antioxidative defense and in maintaining the reducing environment of the cytosol. Many of the known glutathione-dependent processes are directly related to the specific lifestyle of the parasite. Reduced glutathione (GSH) supports rapid cell growth by providing electrons for deoxyribonucleotide synthesis and it takes part in detoxifying heme, a product of hemoglobin digestion. Free radicals generated in the parasite can be scavenged in reaction sequences involving the thiyl radical GS as well as the thiolate GS. As a substrate of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione is conjugated to nondegradable compounds including antimalarial drugs. Furthermore, it is the coenzyme of the glyoxalase system which detoxifies methylglyoxal, a byproduct of the intense glycolysis taking place in the trophozoite. Proteins involved in GSH-dependent processes include glutathione reductase, glutaredoxins, glyoxalase I and II, glutathione S-transferases, and thioredoxins. These proteins, as well as the ATP-dependent enzymes of glutathione synthesis, are studied as factors in the pathophysiology of malaria but also as potential drug targets. Methylene blue, an inhibitor of the structurally known P. falciparum glutathione reductase, appears to be a promising antimalarial medication when given in combination with chloroquine.
Copyright © 2003 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- Glutathione, Related Enzymology, and Leopold Flohé
- 'Lest I Forget Thee, Glutathione...'
- Glutathione Pathways in the Brain
- The Role of Glutathione Peroxidases in Trypanosomatids
- Cytoprotection against Oxidative Stress and the Regulation of Glutathione Synthesis
- The Parasite-Specific Trypanothione Metabolism of Trypanosoma and Leishmania
- Glutathione – Functions and Metabolism in the Malarial Parasite Plasmodium falciparum
- Oxidative Stress Caused by Inactivation of Glutathione Peroxidase and Adaptive Responses
- Versatility of Selenium Catalysis in PHGPx Unraveled by LC/ESI-MS/MS
- Modulation of the Chymotrypsin-Like Activity of the 20S Proteasome by Intracellular Redox Status: Effects of Glutathione Peroxidase-1 Overexpression and Antioxidant Drugs
- Microflora Trigger Colitis in Mice Deficient in Selenium-Dependent Glutathione Peroxidase and Induce Gpx2 Gene Expression
- Recruitment of the Interleukin-1 Receptor (IL-1RI)-Associated Kinase IRAK to the IL-1RI Is Redox Regulated
- Kinetics and Redox-Sensitive Oligomerisation Reveal Negative Subunit Cooperativity in Tryparedoxin Peroxidase of Trypanosoma brucei brucei
- Testis-Specific Expression of the Nuclear Form of Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase (PHGPx)
- Selective Recognition of Peptide Sequences by Glutathione Transferases: A Possible Mechanism for Modulation of Cellular Stress-Induced Signaling Pathways
- Biosynthesis of Trypanothione in Trypanosoma brucei brucei
- Transcriptional Regulation of Cytosol and Membrane Alanyl-Aminopeptidase in Human T Cell Subsets
- Regulation of Gene Transcription by a Constitutively Active Mutant of Activating Transcription Factor 2 (ATF2)
- Solvent Isotope Effect on the Reaction Catalysed by the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex from Escherichia coli
- Selective Induction of Liver Parenchymal Cell Heme Oxygenase-1 in Selenium-Deficient Rats
Articles in the same Issue
- Glutathione, Related Enzymology, and Leopold Flohé
- 'Lest I Forget Thee, Glutathione...'
- Glutathione Pathways in the Brain
- The Role of Glutathione Peroxidases in Trypanosomatids
- Cytoprotection against Oxidative Stress and the Regulation of Glutathione Synthesis
- The Parasite-Specific Trypanothione Metabolism of Trypanosoma and Leishmania
- Glutathione – Functions and Metabolism in the Malarial Parasite Plasmodium falciparum
- Oxidative Stress Caused by Inactivation of Glutathione Peroxidase and Adaptive Responses
- Versatility of Selenium Catalysis in PHGPx Unraveled by LC/ESI-MS/MS
- Modulation of the Chymotrypsin-Like Activity of the 20S Proteasome by Intracellular Redox Status: Effects of Glutathione Peroxidase-1 Overexpression and Antioxidant Drugs
- Microflora Trigger Colitis in Mice Deficient in Selenium-Dependent Glutathione Peroxidase and Induce Gpx2 Gene Expression
- Recruitment of the Interleukin-1 Receptor (IL-1RI)-Associated Kinase IRAK to the IL-1RI Is Redox Regulated
- Kinetics and Redox-Sensitive Oligomerisation Reveal Negative Subunit Cooperativity in Tryparedoxin Peroxidase of Trypanosoma brucei brucei
- Testis-Specific Expression of the Nuclear Form of Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase (PHGPx)
- Selective Recognition of Peptide Sequences by Glutathione Transferases: A Possible Mechanism for Modulation of Cellular Stress-Induced Signaling Pathways
- Biosynthesis of Trypanothione in Trypanosoma brucei brucei
- Transcriptional Regulation of Cytosol and Membrane Alanyl-Aminopeptidase in Human T Cell Subsets
- Regulation of Gene Transcription by a Constitutively Active Mutant of Activating Transcription Factor 2 (ATF2)
- Solvent Isotope Effect on the Reaction Catalysed by the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex from Escherichia coli
- Selective Induction of Liver Parenchymal Cell Heme Oxygenase-1 in Selenium-Deficient Rats
