Interaction of apicoplast-encoded elongation factor (EF) EF-Tu with nuclear-encoded EF-Ts mediates translation in the Plasmodiumfalciparum plastid

► Elucidation of translation elongation factor function in the Plasmodium apicoplast. ► Establishment of targeting of nucleus-encoded elongation factor (EF) EF-Ts to the apicoplast. ► Demonstration of interaction between apicoplast-encoded EF-Tu and EF-Ts. ► Evaluation of inhibitory effects of kirromycin on EF-Tu-nucleotide interaction. ► Evidence for an additional chaperone-related reductase activity of apicoplast EF-Tu.