The apicoplast biogenesis and metabolism: current progress and questions

Xiaowei Chen; Xun Suo; Guan Zhu; Bang Shen

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2024.10.019

The apicoplast biogenesis and metabolism: current progress and questions

Trends Parasitol. 2024 Nov 19:S1471-4922(24)00308-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.10.019. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xiaowei Chen¹, Xun Suo¹, Guan Zhu², Bang Shen³

Affiliations

¹ National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
² State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4467, USA. Electronic address: cryptosporida@gmail.com.
³ Key Laboratory Preventive Veterinary of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China. Electronic address: shenbang@mail.hzau.edu.cn.

PMID: 39567343
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.10.019

Abstract

Many apicomplexan parasites have a chloroplast-derived apicoplast containing several metabolic pathways. Recent studies have greatly expanded our understanding of apicoplast biogenesis and metabolism while also raising new questions. Here, we review recent progress on the biological roles of individual metabolic pathways, focusing on two medically important parasites, Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. We highlight the similarities and differences in how similar apicoplast metabolic pathways are utilized to adapt to different parasitic lifestyles. The execution of apicoplast metabolic functions requires extensive interactions with other subcellular compartments, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Apicoplast metabolic functions have historically been considered attractive drug targets, and a comprehensive understanding of their metabolic capacities and interactions with other organelles is essential to fully realize their potential.

Keywords: Plasmodium spp.; Toxoplasma gondii; apicoplast metabolism; endosymbiosis; organelle biogenesis; secondary plastid.

Publication types

Review