Shifting metabolism alters rRNA expression in malaria parasites

Evi Hadjimichael; Kirk W Deitsch

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2026.01.014

Shifting metabolism alters rRNA expression in malaria parasites

Trends Parasitol. 2026 Mar;42(3):158-159. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.01.014. Epub 2026 Feb 24.

Authors

Evi Hadjimichael¹, Kirk W Deitsch²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: kwd2001@med.cornell.edu.

PMID: 41741251
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.01.014

Abstract

Malaria parasites display the unique property of expressing distinct ribosomal RNAs at different points in their transmission cycle. Couble et al. determined that derepression of the mosquito-specific rDNA loci is initiated by altered NAD⁺/nicotinamide (NAM) ratios, resulting from the metabolic shift that parasites undergo as they transition into the mosquito stages.

Keywords: Silent Information Regulator 2 (Sir2); glycolysis; histone deacetylase; oxidative phosphorylation; ribosomal RNA.

MeSH terms

Animals
Malaria* / parasitology
NAD / metabolism
Niacinamide / metabolism
Plasmodium falciparum* / genetics
Plasmodium falciparum* / metabolism
Plasmodium* / genetics
Plasmodium* / metabolism
RNA, Ribosomal* / genetics
RNA, Ribosomal* / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal
NAD
Niacinamide