Synthesis of Chloroplast Galactolipids in Apicomplexan Parasites

Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and digalactosyldiacylglycerol are major chloroplast lipids of algae and land plants and are synthesized within the plastid envelope. Here we report that in Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum lysates, radiolabeled UDP-galactose is incorporated into monogalactosylcerebrosides, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and digalactosyldiacylglycerol due to distinct enzymological activities. Furthermore, DGDG is immunologically detected in apicomplexans.