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Acidocalcisomes - conserved from bacteria to man.

Roberto Docampo1, Wanderley de Souza, Kildare Miranda

  • 1Department of Cellular Biology and Center for Tropical and Global Emerging Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA. rdocampo@cb.uga.edu

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|March 2, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Acidocalcisomes, organelles conserved across evolution, store calcium and polyphosphate. This review details their structure, composition, and vital functions in various organisms, particularly trypanosomatids.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Acidocalcisomes are electron-dense, acidic organelles rich in calcium and polyphosphate.
  • These organelles are conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes and were first described in trypanosomatids.
  • They are implicated in cation/phosphorus storage, polyphosphate metabolism, calcium/pH homeostasis, and osmoregulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the ultrastructure, composition, and function of acidocalcisomes.
  • To consolidate knowledge on acidocalcisomes across different trypanosomatids and other organisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on acidocalcisomes.
  • Comparative analysis of acidocalcisome characteristics in various species.

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Main Results:

  • Acidocalcisomes exhibit conserved features across diverse organisms, highlighting their fundamental biological role.
  • Detailed characterization in trypanosomatids provides a model for understanding acidocalcisome function.
  • Functions include ion storage, metabolic roles, and maintaining cellular homeostasis.

Conclusions:

  • Acidocalcisomes are evolutionarily significant organelles with diverse and critical cellular functions.
  • Further research in various organisms, including trypanosomatids, will elucidate their complete roles.