Elucidation of universal function by comparative proteomics of degenerated chloroplasts of Apicomplexa protozoan

Apicomplexan protozoa, a group of parasitic unicellular eukaryotes such as malaria parasites, have organelles of chloroplast origin in their cells (hereafter referred to as ‘protozoan chloroplasts’). Protozoan chloroplasts have lost their photosynthetic ability but are essential for survival. However, their universal physiological significance has not been elucidated. Hirokazu Sakamoto focuses on Perkinsus, which has the most degenerate protozoan chloroplasts, even losing its own genome, and is promoting the analysis of their essential functions. He has been staying in the Yeh laboratory since October 2023, preparing the experimental environment and conducting basic experiments for this study. They analyzed the functions of the identified proteins, discussed the need to develop efficient gene disruption methods to identify factors essential for protozoan chloroplast maintenance, and examined the applicability of new gene introduction and gene disruption methods in marine photosynthetic eukaryotes, diatoms.

Project details

Basic Science

Jan 2022 — Dec 2023

$90,919

Japan