Recent Advances in the [Fe–S] Cluster Biogenesis (SUF) Pathway Functional in the Apicoplast of Plasmodium

Abstract

Iron–sulphur [Fe–S] clusters are one of the most ancient and ubiquitous cofactors required for a wide variety of proteins active in processes such as electron transport, enzyme catalysis, and gene regulation.

In the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, the SUF pathway (Fe–S cluster biosynthesis) is essential for the maintenance of the parasite during the erythrocytic and sexual stages.

In Plasmodium, the SUF pathway provides clusters to the enzymes functional in the apicoplast and participating in major metabolic pathways such as fatty acid biosynthesis, isoprenoids biosynthesis, tRNA modifications, etc.

The [Fe–S] cluster biogenesis in Plasmodium is similar to the one operational in the bacterial system and can be a putative drug target.