HDP—A Novel Heme Detoxification Protein from the Malaria Parasite
Figure 3
Circuitous transport and delivery of HDP to the FV.
A, HDP is secreted into the cytosol of infected erythrocytes (arrowhead) in early ring stages before any Hz could be detected inside the parasite. B, After secreting it into the host cell cytosol, parasite intakes HDP through the cytostome. C, HDP could be found in transport vesicles destined to the FV. D, Transport vesicles deliver HDP to the FV. E, HDP (arrows) was found in close proximity of Hz crystals. F, HDP (18 nm particles) is transported to FV along with hemoglobin (12 nm particles). Inset G, HDP is being internalized along with hemoglobin. Inset H, Transport vesicle ready to deliver both, HDP and hemoglobin, to the FV. cyt, cytostome; fv, food vacuole; fvm, fv membrane; hz, hemozoin; hdp, heme detoxification protein; hb, hemoglobin; nu, nucleus; par, parasite; ppm, parasite plasma membrane; pvm, parasitophorous vacuole membrane; irbc, infected red blood cell; rbcm, RBC membrane; tv, transport vesicle. Bar, 0.5 µm.