Hemozoin (β-hematin) (Hz)

Hemozoin, also known as the malaria pigment, is a biocrystal synthesized by Plasmodium parasites during their intraerythrocytic life cycle stage (PubMed: 11591450). As the parasite digests host hemoglobin within its acidic food vacuole to obtain essential amino acids, it releases large quantities of free heme (ferriprotoporphyrin IX), which is highly toxic due to its ability to generate reactive oxygen species and disrupt cellular membranes (Nature: 10.1038/ncomms14401). To survive, the parasite detoxifies this heme by polymerizing it into insoluble, chemically inert hemozoin crystals (PNAS: 10.1073/pnas.0404934101). This biomineralization process is a critical survival mechanism and serves as a major therapeutic target for several classes of antimalarial drugs, most notably the quinolines (Science: 10.1126/science.255.5045.717). Drugs like chloroquine interfere with this process by binding to heme or the crystal surface, preventing further polymerization and causing the buildup of toxic heme-drug complexes that ultimately lead to parasite death (Biochemistry: 10.1021/bi00014a028).

Other names

Malaria pigmentFerriprotoporphyrin IX polymerBeta-hematinHeme crystalHeme polymer

Inhibition of heme biocrystallization into hemozoin, leading to the accumulation of toxic free ferriprotoporphyrin IX which causes oxidative stress and membrane damage within the parasite food vacuole (PubMed: 15566334).