Polyphosphate content and fine structure of acidocalcisomes of Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

Although acidocalcisomes have been well characterized morphologically in other apicomplexan parasites, no such characterization has been done in Plasmodium spp. Here, we report that Plasmodium falciparum merozoites possess electron-dense organelles rich in phosphorus and calcium, as detected by X-ray microanalysis of intact cells, which are similar to the acidocalcisomes of other apicomplexans, but of more irregular form. In agreement with these results malaria parasites possess large amounts of short- and long-chain polyphosphate (polyP), which are associated with acidocalcisomes in other organisms. PolyP levels were highest in the trophozoite stage of the parasite. Treatment of isolated trophozoites with chloroquine resulted in a significant hydrolysis of polyP. Taken together, these results provide evidence that acidocalcisomes from Plasmodium falciparum do not differ significantly from acidocalcisomes of other apicomplexan parasites.