scholarly journals Localization of ferrochelatase in Plasmodium falciparum

2004 ◽  
Vol 384 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundaramurthy VARADHARAJAN ◽  
B. K. Chandrashekar SAGAR ◽  
Pundi N. RANGARAJAN ◽  
Govindarajan PADMANABAN
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Enzymic Activity ◽  
Malarial Parasite ◽  
Parasite Genome ◽  
Marker Proteins ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum

Our previous studies have demonstrated de novo haem biosynthesis in the malarial parasite (Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei). It has also been shown that the first enzyme of the pathway is the parasite genome-coded ALA (δ-aminolaevulinate) synthase localized in the parasite mitochondrion, whereas the second enzyme, ALAD (ALA dehydratase), is accounted for by two species: one species imported from the host red blood cell into the parasite cytosol and another parasite genome-coded species in the apicoplast. In the present study, specific antibodies have been raised to PfFC (parasite genome-coded ferrochelatase), the terminal enzyme of the haem-biosynthetic pathway, using recombinant truncated protein. With the use of these antibodies as well as those against the hFC (host red cell ferrochelatase) and other marker proteins, immunofluorescence studies were performed. The results reveal that P. falciparum in culture manifests a broad distribution of hFC and a localized distribution of PfFC in the parasite. However, PfFC is not localized to the parasite mitochondrion. Immunoelectron-microscopy studies reveal that PfFC is indeed localized to the apicoplast, whereas hFC is distributed in the parasite cytoplasm. These results on the localization of PfFC are unexpected and are at variance with theoretical predictions based on leader sequence analysis. Biochemical studies using the parasite cytosolic and organellar fractions reveal that the cytosol containing hFC accounts for 80% of FC enzymic activity, whereas the organellar fraction containing PfFC accounts for the remaining 20%. Interestingly, both the isolated cytosolic and organellar fractions are capable of independent haem synthesis in vitro from [4-14C]ALA, with the cytosol being three times more efficient compared with the organellar fraction. With [2-14C]glycine, most of the haem is synthesized in the organellar fraction. Thus haem is synthesized in two independent compartments: in the cytosol, using the imported host enzymes, and in the organellar fractions, using the parasite genome-coded enzymes.

scholarly journals The effect of purified aminoaldehydes produced by polyamine oxidation on the development in vitro of Plasmodium falciparum in normal and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase-deficient erythrocytes

1986 ◽  
Vol 236 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
D M L Morgan ◽  
U Bachrach ◽  
Y G Assaraf ◽  
E Harari ◽  
J Golenser
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Lethal Effect ◽  
Human Erythrocytes ◽  
Malarial Parasite ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Development In Vitro ◽  
Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Polyamine Oxidation

Purified aminoaldehydes produced by polyamine oxidation were toxic to the malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, cultured in human erythrocytes. There was a profound effect on young ring forms, and, during maturation, parasites became more sensitive to the aldehydes. Oxidation of the aldehydes abolished the lethal effect. The plasmodia within glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient erythrocytes were more sensitive to mono- and di-aldehydes than were parasites in normal erythrocytes. G6PD-deficient erythrocytes were also more sensitive to pretreatment with the dialdehyde produced by the oxidation of spermine. Pretreatment prevented further invasion by the parasites.

scholarly journals Involvement of spectrin and ATP in infection of resealed erythrocyte ghosts by the human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.

1982 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 757-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Olson ◽  
A Kilejian
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Parasite Infection ◽  
Malarial Parasite ◽  
Erythrocyte Ghosts ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Resealed Ghosts

Resealed erythrocyte ghosts were prepared under different experimental conditions and were tested in vitro for susceptibility to infection with the human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Resealed ghosts, prepared by dialyzing erythrocytes in narrow membrane tubing against low ionic strength buffer that was supplemented with magnesium ATP, were as susceptible to parasite infection as were normal erythrocytes. There was a direct correlation between intraerythrocytic ATP content and susceptibility to parasite infection. Neither MgCl2 nor sodium ATP could be substituted for magnesium ATP in maintaining high intraerythrocytic ATP concentration. When resealed ghosts were loaded with antispectrin IgG, malaria merozoite invasion was inhibited. At an average intracellular antispectrin IgG concentration of 3.5 micrograms/10(8) cells, there was a 35% inhibition of parasite invasion. This inhibition was due to spectrin crosslinking within the resealed ghosts, since the monovalent, Fab' fragments of antispectrin IgG had no inhibitory effect on invasion. These results indicate that the cytoskeleton plays a role in the complex process of merozoite entry into the host erythrocyte.

Effects of lysosomotropic detergents on the human malarial parasite plasmodium falciparum in in vitro culture

1989 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1271-1277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z.I. Cabantchik ◽  
J. Silfen ◽  
R.A. Firestone ◽  
M. Krugliak ◽  
E. Nissani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
In Vitro Culture ◽  
Malarial Parasite ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum

scholarly journals Inhibitory effects of erythrocyte membrane proteins on the in vitro invasion of the human malarial parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) into its host cell.

1981 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 563-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Perkins
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Malarial Parasite ◽  
Glycophorin A ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Erythrocyte Surface ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum

The intracellular development of the erythrocytic stage of the malarial parasite (merozoite) is initiated by the attachment of the parasite to the erythrocyte surface. This paper describes an assay system to investigate Plasmodium falciparum merozoite entry into the host cell and reports on three observations regarding this interaction. (a) Merozoites do not invade human erythrocytes treated with either trypsin or neuraminidase, and both enzymes partially cleave glycophorin A, the major erythrocyte surface sialoglycoprotein. (b) A membrane protein fraction containing glycophorin A will, at low concentrations, inhibit the invasion of isolated merozoites into erythrocytes; no other fractions of membrane proteins have appreciable effects on the reinvasion. (c) Merozoites do not reinvade erythrocytes preincubated with F ab' fragments of antibody prepared against glycophorin A. Together, these three observations imply a role for glycophorin A in the attachment of the malarial parasite to the erythrocyte surface.

scholarly journals Maintenance of the human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, in scid mice and transmission of gametocytes to mosquitoes.

1995 ◽  
Vol 181 (6) ◽  
pp. 2265-2270 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Moore ◽  
N Kumar ◽  
L D Shultz ◽  
T V Rajan
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Peripheral Circulation ◽  
Scid Mice ◽  
Malarial Parasite ◽  
Human Red Blood Cells ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum

The study of human malaria has been hampered by the lack of small animal models for the human-infecting malarial parasites. To approach this problem, the erythrocytic stages of the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum were adapted to in vitro growth in the presence of ascites fluid from mice homozygous for the severe-combined immunodeficiency (scid) mutation. Human red blood cells (hRBCs) infected with these adapted parasites were then injected i.p. into nonobese diabetic scid/scid (NOD/LtSz-scid) mice. With daily supplemental intraperitoneal boosts of uninfected hRBCs, parasites were detected in the peripheral circulation of these mice for an average of 7 d after injection. Splenectomy of NOD/LtSz-scid mice increased both the level and duration of parasitemia in the periphery, and it also promoted the circulation of mature sexual stage parasites (gametocytes). When Anopheline mosquitoes were allowed to feed on the splenectomized mice, the gametocytes were ingested by the mosquitoes and developed into oocysts in the mosquito midguts. To our knowledge, these results are the first demonstration of human malarial parasite propagation in mice and transmission of these parasites to the invertebrate vector.

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