Intracellular Ca Signaling in Protozoan Parasites: An Overview with a Focus on Mitochondria.

Ca signaling has been involved in controling critical cellular functions such as activation of proteases, cell death, and cell cycle control. The endoplasmatic reticulum plays a significant role in Ca storage inside the cell, but mitochondria have long been recognized as a fundamental Ca pool. Protozoan parasites such as , , and display a Ca signaling toolkit with similarities to higher eukaryotes, including the participation of mitochondria in Ca-dependent signaling events.

Melatonin activates FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2 Plasmodium falciparum related-genes for mitochondria fission: Mitoemerald-GFP as a tool to visualize mitochondria structure.

Malaria causes millions of deaths worldwide and is considered a huge burden to underdeveloped countries. The number of cases with resistance to all antimalarials is continuously increasing, making the identification of novel drugs a very urgent necessity. A potentially very interesting target for novel therapeutic intervention is the parasite mitochondrion.