Efficient iron uptake via a reductive mechanism in procyclic Trypanosoma brucei.

Jan Mach, Jan Tachezy, Robert Sutak

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic.

The Journal of parasitology 2013 Apr

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The bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei acquires iron from transferrin by receptor-mediated endocytosis. However, it is unknown how procyclic forms that cannot bind transferrin acquire iron. Here, we show that the procyclic form of T. brucei efficiently takes up iron from ferric complexes via a reductive mechanism and that iron obtained using this mechanism is transported to, and used in, the mitochondria. The affinity of the transport system is comparable to that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae , with an apparent K(m) of 0.85 μM.

Citation

Jan Mach, Jan Tachezy, Robert Sutak. Efficient iron uptake via a reductive mechanism in procyclic Trypanosoma brucei. The Journal of parasitology. 2013 Apr;99(2):363-4