Linked Life Data

18288187

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/18288187

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
7181
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-2-21
pubmed:abstractText
Many parasitic Apicomplexa, such as Plasmodium falciparum, contain an unpigmented chloroplast remnant termed the apicoplast, which is a target for malaria treatment. However, no close relative of apicomplexans with a functional photosynthetic plastid has yet been described. Here we describe a newly cultured organism that has ultrastructural features typical for alveolates, is phylogenetically related to apicomplexans, and contains a photosynthetic plastid. The plastid is surrounded by four membranes, is pigmented by chlorophyll a, and uses the codon UGA to encode tryptophan in the psbA gene. This genetic feature has been found only in coccidian apicoplasts and various mitochondria. The UGA-Trp codon and phylogenies of plastid and nuclear ribosomal RNA genes indicate that the organism is the closest known photosynthetic relative to apicomplexan parasites and that its plastid shares an origin with the apicoplasts. The discovery of this organism provides a powerful model with which to study the evolution of parasitism in Apicomplexa.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
1476-4687
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:day
21
pubmed:volume
451
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
959-63
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-5-23
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
A photosynthetic alveolate closely related to apicomplexan parasites.
pubmed:affiliation
School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, Darlington, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't