ZIPCO, a putative metal ion transporter, is crucial for Plasmodium liver‐stage development. Issue 11 (25th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sahu, Tejram; Boisson, Bertrand; Lacroix, Céline; Bischoff, Emmanuel; Richier, Quentin; Formaglio, Pauline; Thiberge, Sabine; Dobrescu, Irina; Ménard, Robert; Baldacci, Patricia
• Is Part Of: EMBO molecular medicine. Volume 6:Issue 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1387
• Page End: 1397
• Publication Date: 2014-09-25
• Subjects: Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Medical genetics -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.04205
• DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201403868
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-4676

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="emmm201403868-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The malaria parasite, <italic>Plasmodium</italic>, requires iron for growth, but how it imports iron remains unknown. We characterize here a protein that belongs to the ZIP (Zrt‐, Irt‐like Protein) family of metal ion transport proteins and have named ZIP domain‐containing protein (ZIPCO). Inactivation of the ZIPCO‐encoding gene in <italic>Plasmodium berghei</italic>, while not affecting the parasite's ability to multiply in mouse blood and to infect mosquitoes, greatly impairs its capacity to develop inside hepatocytes. Iron/zinc supplementation and depletion experiments suggest that ZIPCO is required for parasite utilization of iron and possibly zinc, consistent with its predicted function as a metal transporter. This is the first report of a ZIP protein having a crucial role in <italic>Plasmodium</italic> liver‐stage development, as well as the first metal ion transporter identified in <italic>Plasmodium</italic> pre‐erythrocytic stages. Because of the drastic dependence on iron of <italic>Plasmodium</italic> growth, ZIPCO and related proteins might constitute attractive drug targets to fight against malaria.</p> </abstract>