Coenzyme A requirement of malaria parasites: effects of coenzyme A precursors on extracellular development in vitro of Plasmodium lophurae

Abstract

The extracellular development in vitro of the avian malaria Plasmodium lophurae is favored by addition to the medium of coenzyme A at 0.05 mM. Coenzyme A can be replaced by dephospho coenzyme A and to some extent by phosphopantetheine, but not by phosphopantothenoylcysteine or by phosphopantothenic acid. The activity of the two former precursors results from their conversion to coenzyme A by enzymes in the erythrocyte extract of the culture medium in the presence of ATP, also an essential ingredient of the medium. Hence, P. lophurae in its erythrocytic stage has an absolute requirement for an exogenous source of coenzyme A.