Superoxide dismutase and catalase in the murine malaria, Plasmodium berghei: content and subcellular distribution.

Plasmodium berghei, a murine malaria, lacks endogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD). Instead it appears to take up and concentrate SOD from its host cell, the erythrocyte. We now demonstrate that the adopted host enzyme is localized in granules which are probably lysosomes. In addition, isolated P. berghei parasites contain only low levels of catalase, probably as a result of contamination of the preparation with host cell material. Thus, the cytosol of this organism appears to be deficient in enzymes which protect against damage by activated oxygen.