Microsporidia contain a tiny mitochondrial remnant called a mitosome, but the function of this organelle is unknown. Microsporidian genomes encode several components of the mitochondrial iron–sulphur-cluster machinery. This paper describes the cloning, characterization and subcellular localization of several Fe–S-cluster components for two microsporidia. Although some components localize to the mitosome, others are cytosolic, raising questions about how their function is coordinated.
- Alina V. Goldberg
- Sabine Molik
- T. Martin Embley
