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Abstract
36 D. S. Roos and others Mining the P. falciparum genome database any nucleated cell in any tissue within these organisms (Frenkel 1973). While the behaviour of these parasites is strikingly different, their basic biochemistry, genetics, and subcellular architecture are strikingly similar. All apicomplexan parasites synthesize pyrimidines de novo, making antifolate treatment a mainstay for anti-parasite chemotherapy; all are purine auxotrophs, raising interest in purine salvage enzymes as possible targets for new drug treatments (Ullman & Carter 1995). All replicate in haploid form, but undergo sexual recombination in the de � nitive host (mosquitoes for Plasmodium, cats for Toxoplasma, etc.) (Frenkel 1973; Levine 1988). All of these parasites exhibit a distinctive ‘apical complex ’ of organelles, for which the phylum Apicomplexa is named: including specialized secretory organelles (rhoptries and micronemes), and cytoskeletal elements (the conoid and associated structures of unknown composition or function) (Chobotar & Scholtyseck 1982). The precise function of these organelles is unknown, but they are thought to be involved in host cell attachment and invasion. Microneme contents are secreted upon host cell contact, and rhoptry contents are released coincident with the establishment of the intracellular parasitophorous vacuole within which replicating parasites reside (Carruthers & Sibley 1997). Apicomplexan parasites also harbour a variety of other unusual organelles. The inner membrane complex—a � attened patchwork of vesicles—is central to the peculiar mode of division observed in these parasites (endodyogeny, endopolyogeny, schizogeny) (Shef � eld &
Keyphrases
falciparum genome database apicomplexan parasite purine auxotrophs carruthers sibley chobotar scholtyseck shef eld microneme content basic biochemistry distinctive apical complex associated structure possible target rhoptry content cytoskeletal element unknown composition unusual organelle attened patchwork subcellular architecture undergo sexual recombination nucleated cell anti-parasite chemotherapy ullman carter intracellular parasitophorous vacuole purine salvage precise function peculiar mode phylum apicomplexa inner membrane complex host cell contact antifolate treatment host cell attachment haploid form specialized secretory organelle new drug treatment
