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Effect of various stress factors on mitochondrial processes of pathogenic protists
Ženíšková, Kateřina ; Šuťák, Róbert (advisor) ; van Hellemond, Jaap (referee) ; Leitsch, David (referee)
Mitochondria perform various important functions in cells. They are the main site of energy metabolism, biosynthetic and regulatory processes, and the center of iron metabolism. Additionally, mitochondria are also the central organelle responsible for the production of potentially dangerous reactive oxygen species and possess a self-destructive arsenal capable of inducing whole-cell apoptosis. This single organelle thus controls the fate of the entire cell. Given these facts, this organelle has become the focus of interest for many scientists and pharmaceutical companies developing drugs targeting mitochondria. During evolution, unicellular parasites have evolved several mechanisms to survive, defend themselves and reproduce in the hostile environment of their host. One of these mechanisms is the ability to adapt its mitochondrial metabolism to maintain the viability of the whole cell. This work focuses on mitochondria from two different perspectives: First, concerning the phenomenon of nutritional immunity, we studied the effect of iron and copper deprivation on the mitochondria of the "brain-eating" amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Proteomic analysis of cells pre-incubated with specific chelators, together with the determination of several enzyme activities and measurements of oxygen consumption,...
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