By Morgan Nwanguma
Malaria parasites harbour tiny, constantly spinning crystals that have baffled scientists for years. New research shows that their motion is driven by a rocket-like reaction that breaks down hydrogen peroxide and releases energy. This activity may help the parasite neutralise toxic chemicals and regulate iron more effectively. The finding could pave the way for new treatments and inspire advances in microscopic robotics.
Key Points
· The malaria parasite contains microscopic crystals that spin continuously, a phenomenon that has puzzled researchers for decades.
· Scientists have discovered that this motion is powered by the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, similar to reactions used in rocket propulsion.
· The spinning may help the parasite survive by safely removing toxic peroxide and controlling harmful iron compounds.
Impact: This discovery could lead to new antimalarial therapies and drive innovation in micro-scale robotic systems.
Spinning Crystals Inside Malaria Parasites
Each cell of the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum contains a small compartment filled with microscopic iron crystals. While the parasite remains alive, these crystals are in constant motion – spinning, bouncing, and colliding within the confined space like loose particles in a rapidly shaking machine. Their movement is so fast and erratic that it has been difficult for scientists to study with conventional tools. Once the parasite dies, however, the motion stops instantly.
These iron crystals have long been a major target for antimalarial drugs, but their unusual behaviour has remained a mystery since it was first observed.
“People don’t talk about what they don’t understand, and because the motion of these crystals is so mysterious and bizarre, it’s been a blind spot for parasitology for decades,” says Paul Sigala, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (SFESOM) at the University of Utah.
At the moment, the team led by Sigala has revealed the method responsible for this weird behaviour. The crystals are driven by a chemical reaction that has semblance of the one used to power rockets.
The findings recently published in PNAS will possibly lead to new strategies for treating malaria while lending further understanding towards the design of nanoscale robotic systems.
Rocket-Like Chemistry Powers Crystal Motion
The study team was able to establish that the crystals, made from an iron-containing compound known as heme, are activated by the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water as well as oxygen. This feedback lets off energy, giving rise to the force required to keep the crystals in motion.
This sort of momentum is very popular in aerospace engineering, where hydrogen peroxide is made use of as a fuel to launch spacecraft, but prior to this time it has not been known in a biological structure. “This hydrogen peroxide decomposition has been used to power large-scale rockets,” says Erica Hastings, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in biochemistry in the SFESOM. “But I don’t think it has ever been observed in biological systems.”
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