Distinct localization patterns of two putative mitochondrial proteins in the microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi

Microsporidia were once considered amitochondriate, but have now been found to retain relict mitochondria called mitosomes. These organelles have been identified by immunolocalization in Trachipleistophora hominis, whereas most data on function have been inferred from the presence of mitochondrial protein-encoding sequences in the genome of Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Here we describe the localization of two such enzymes in E. cuniculi cells. Immunofluorescent localization of ferredoxin involved in mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster assembly reveals a punctate distribution as expected for mitochondria. In contrast, localization of mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase suggests a cytoplasmic distribution in E. cuniculi and possible relocalization of this typically mitochondrial protein.