Emerging Mechanisms of Endocytosis in .

Eukaryotes critically rely on endocytosis of autologous and heterologous material to maintain homeostasis and to proliferate. Although mechanisms of endocytosis have been extensively identified in mammalian and plant systems along with model systems including budding yeast, relatively little is known about endocytosis in protozoan parasites including those belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. Whereas it has been long established that the apicomplexan agents of malaria ( spp.) internalize and degrade hemoglobin from infected red blood cells to acquire amino acids for growth, that the related and pervasive parasite has a functional and active endocytic system was only recently discovered. Here we discuss emerging and hypothesized mechanisms of endocytosis in with reference to model systems and malaria parasites. Establishing a framework for potential mechanisms of endocytosis in will help guide future research aimed at defining the molecular basis and biological relevance of endocytosis in this tractable and versatile parasite.