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Characterization of permeation pathways in the plasma membrane of human erythrocytes infected with early stages of Plasmodium falciparum : Association with parasite development
Author(s) -
Kutner S.,
Breuer W. V.,
Ginsbururg H.,
Aley S. B.,
Cabantchik Z. I.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1041250323
Subject(s) - parasite hosting , plasmodium falciparum , biology , differential centrifugation , microbiology and biotechnology , permeability (electromagnetism) , red blood cell , centrifugation , membrane permeability , membrane , biochemistry , malaria , immunology , world wide web , computer science
Human intraerythrocytic malarial parasites ( Plasmodium falciparum ) induce permeability changes in the membrane of their host cells. The differential permeability of infected erythrocytes at various stages of parastie growth, in combination with density gradient centrifugation, was used to fractionate parasitized cells according to their developmental stage. By this method it was possible to obtain cell fractions consisting essentially of erythrocytes infected with the youngest parasite stage (i.e., rings). These preparations were used for the measurement of transport of various solutes. It is shown that permeabilization of host erythrocyte membrane appers as early as 6 h after parasite invasion of the erythrocyte and increases gradually with parasite maturation. Since the selectivity for several different solutes and the enthalpy of activation of transport remain unaltered with maturation‐related increase of permeability, it is concluded that the number of transport agencies in the host cell membrane increases with parasite maturation. Evidence is presented to indicate the need for parasite protein synthesis as an essential factor for the generation of the new permeability pathways.