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Research article

Plasmodium falciparum mitochondria import tRNAs along with an active phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase

Arvind Sharma, Amit Sharma
Biochemical Journal Feb 01, 2015, 465 (3) 459-469; DOI: 10.1042/BJ20140998
Arvind Sharma
Structural and Computational Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India
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Amit Sharma
Structural and Computational Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India
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Abstract

The Plasmodium falciparum protein translation enzymes aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are an emergent family of drug targets. The aaRS ensemble catalyses transfer of amino acids to cognate tRNAs, thus providing charged tRNAs for ribosomal consumption. P. falciparum proteome expression relies on a total of 36 aaRSs for the three translationally independent compartments of cytoplasm, apicoplast and mitochondria. In the present study, we show that, of this set of 36, a single genomic copy of mitochondrial phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (mFRS) is targeted to the parasite mitochondria, and that the mFRS gene is exclusive to malaria parasites within the apicomplexan phyla. Our protein cellular localization studies based on immunofluorescence data show that, along with mFRS, P. falciparum harbours two more phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (FRS) assemblies that are localized to its apicoplast and cytoplasm. The ‘extra’ mFRS is found in mitochondria of all asexual blood stage parasites and is competent in aminoacylation. We show further that the parasite mitochondria import tRNAs from the cytoplasmic tRNA pool. Hence drug targeting of FRSs presents a unique opportunity to potentially stall protein production in all three parasite translational compartments.

  • aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
  • mitochondrial import
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • tRNA

Abbreviations: aaRS, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase; ACP, leader–GFP, apicoplast-targeting signal peptide of acyl carrier protein (ACP) fused to GFP; aFRS, apicoplastic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase; ap-tRNA, apicoplast-encoded tRNA; cFRS, cytoplasmic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase; CRS, cystinyl-tRNA synthetase; cy-tRNA, nuclear-encoded cytoplasmic tRNA; FRS, phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase; KRS, lysyl-tRNA synthetase; MBP, maltose-binding protein; mFRS, mitochondrial phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase; RBC, red blood cell; SSC, saline/sodium citrate buffer

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February 2015

Volume: 465 Issue: 3

Biochemical Journal: 465 (3)
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Plasmodium falciparum mitochondria import tRNAs along with an active phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase
Arvind Sharma, Amit Sharma
Biochemical Journal Feb 2015, 465 (3) 459-469; DOI: 10.1042/BJ20140998
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Plasmodium falciparum mitochondria import tRNAs along with an active phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase
Arvind Sharma, Amit Sharma
Biochemical Journal Feb 2015, 465 (3) 459-469; DOI: 10.1042/BJ20140998

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Keywords

aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
mitochondrial import
Plasmodium falciparum
tRNA

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