tRNA modifying enzymes MnmE and MnmG are essential for Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast maintenance
2024
Essential Enzymes for Plasmodium falciparum Apicoplast Maintenance
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Elahi Rubayet, Dinis Luciana Ribeiro, Swift Russell P., Liu Hans B., Prigge Sean T.
Primary Institution: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Hypothesis
MnmE and MnmG are essential for the maintenance of the Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast.
Conclusion
MnmE and MnmG are crucial for the biosynthesis of xm5s2U modifications in tRNAs, and their deletion leads to apicoplast disruption and parasite death.
Supporting Evidence
- The apicoplast of Plasmodium falciparum contains a complete minimal set of tRNAs.
- MnmE and MnmG are localized in the apicoplast and are essential for xm5s2U biosynthesis.
- Deletion of MnmE or MnmG leads to apicoplast disruption and parasite death.
Takeaway
This study shows that certain enzymes are really important for the survival of a tiny part of the malaria parasite, and without them, the parasite can't live.
Methodology
Comparative genomics was used to identify orthologs of enzymes involved in the xm5s2U biosynthetic pathway.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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