PfSOD2 Is Targeted to the Apicoplast in the Intra-Erythrocytic

Stages of P. falciparum. IFA on live erytrocytes infected with transgenic P. falciparum parasites expressing PfSOD2GFP. The construct starts either at the second methionine ( MNLKIL. . .) and is controlled by the PfCRT promoter (panel a), or at he first methionine (MLYKLY. . .) and is controlled by the PfSOD2 promoter (panel b). The mitochondrion is labeled in red with MitoTracker and the localization PfSOD2-GFP to the apicoplast is detected in green. The same construct was stably expressed in the strain 3D7 and the same results were observed. Moreover, PfSOD2 was also shown to localize to the apicoplast only in the gametocytes (panel c). The arrows indicate the apicoplast.

Pino P, Foth BJ, Kwok LY, Sheiner L, Schepers R, Soldati T, Soldati-Favre D. Dual targeting of antioxidant and metabolic enzymes to the mitochondrion and the apicoplast of Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog. 2007 3(8):e115.