Figure 5

Slices through a reconstructed tomogram of a Plasmodium falciparum merozoite. The apicoplast appears close to the nucleus and the rhoptries. White arrowhead points to an interaction between the apicoplast membrane and the rhoptry membrane. Within the apicoplast matrix, several ribosome-like particles were observed (black arrowheads). Black arrows indicate the different regions with a widening between the two outermost membranes and the two innermost membranes. White arrows indicate electron dense structures (possibly translocons) in the apicoplast membranes. In H, the density distribution over the lines show that the apicoplast has four membranes (top profile), but in some slices through the tomogram only three electron dense lines are apparent (bottom profile), due to the close apposition of two membranes. Scale bars: A-G = 25 nm.