Fig. 4

Relationship between heme or iron utilization and hemozoin formation. A Formation of malaria hemozoin at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 h post-infection with P. falciparum. B Comparison of merozoite numbers between P. falciparum 3D7^WT and P. falciparum 3D7^C580Y reveals that P. falciparum 3D7^C580Y produces fewer merozoites compared with P. falciparum 3D7^WT. C Gene expression heatmaps display expression patterns across various developmental stages of P. falciparum 3D7^WT and P. falciparum 3D7^C580Y. Volcano plots illustrate differential gene expression between 30 and 42 h post-infection. Supplementary Data 1–4 provide detailed information on gene expression. D Heatmaps of gene expression indicate the expression patterns of reproduction- and lipid-related genes. Volcano plots show differential gene expression between 30 and 42 h post-infection (see Supplementary Data 5–6). E Differential expression analysis of genes associated with DNA synthesis, iron, and heme utilization was conducted at 18 h and 42 h between P. falciparum 3D7^WT and P. falciparum 3D7^C580Y. F Comparison of hemozoin content between P. falciparum 3D7^WT and P. falciparum 3D7^C580Y indicates that P. falciparum 3D7^C580Y produces less hemozoin than P. falciparum 3D7^WT. G The schematic diagram illustrates that during the trophozoite stage, parasites consume more heme and iron, resulting in reduced heme accumulation, and consequently, less hemozoin formation. Conversely, in the schizont stage, parasites consume lower amounts of heme and iron, leading to increased heme accumulation and greater production of hemozoin. Furthermore, the interaction between hemozoin formation and host lipids suggests that increased hemozoin production can supply more processed lipids for parasite utilization. Hz, hemozoin. All scale bars indicate 1 μm. Asterisks denote significance: **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001