Structural and functional characterization of an iron–sulfur cluster assembly scaffold protein-SufA from Plasmodium vivax

Apicoplast Journey and Its Essentiality as a Compartment for Malaria Parasite Survival

“…In this process, the Fe–S cluster biosynthesis pathway has an essential function to provide [4Fe–4S] clusters for the IspG and IspH enzyme functionality ( Figure 1 ) ( Pala et al., 2018 ; Swift et al., 2022 ). In our study, the IspG enzyme expressed and purified in laboratory conditions was not functional until a [4Fe–4S] cluster to this oxidized IspG was not transferred in an artificially reduced environment ( Pala et al., 2016 ; Saggu et al., 2017 ; Pala et al., 2019 ).…”

[Fe–S] cluster assembly in the apicoplast and its indispensability in mosquito stages of the malaria parasite

“…Although in vitro reconstitution experiments cannot differentiate between scaffolds which assemble [Fe–S] clusters, and carriers which bind an already assembled cluster, the previously demonstrated essentiality of Pf SufC indicates that scaffold function of the Pf SufB‐C 2 ‐D complex cannot be substituted by another apicoplast protein. The recently reported in vitro reconstitution of Plasmodium vivax SufA that binds [4Fe–4S] is thus consistent with its role as a transfer protein rather than a scaffold.…”

Roles of Ferredoxin-Dependent Proteins in the Apicoplast of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites

“…Both SufA and NfuApi were previously localized to the apicoplast ( 33 , 53 ). Additionally, SufA was shown to interact with SufB of the SufBC 2 D complex and accept FeS cofactors ( 54 ), and NfuApi appears to accept and transfer FeS cofactors as well ( 53 ). To determine the roles of these proteins in P. falciparum , we targeted both the sufA and nfuApi genes for deletion in the PfMev line under continuous supplementation with mevalonate and were successful in deleting both proteins ( Fig.…”