Fate of haem iron in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

• DOI: 10.1042/bj20020793
• Publication Date: 2002-07-28T21:38:53Z
• Authors: Timothy J. EGAN; Jill M. COMBRINCK; Joanne EGAN; Giovanni R. HEARNE; Helder M. MARQUES; Skhumbuzo NTENTENI; B. Trevor SEWELL; Peter J. SMITH; Dale TAYLOR; Donelly A. van SC...; Jason C. WALDEN
• Keywords: Hemeproteins; 0301 basic medicine; Spectroscopy, Mossbauer; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Iron; Plasmodium falciparum; Animals; Heme; 3. Good health

Chemical analysis has shown that Plasmodium falciparum trophozoites contain 61±2% of the iron within parasitized erythrocytes, which 92±6% is located food vacuole. Of this, 88±9% in form haemozoin. 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy shows haemozoin only detectable species trophozoites. Electron spectroscopic imaging confirms this conclusion.