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Plasmodium falciparum: Association with Erythrocytic Superoxide Dismutase 1
Author(s) -
ARIAS ARIEL E.,
WALTER ROLF D.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1988.tb04104.x
Subject(s) - superoxide dismutase , plasmodium falciparum , enzyme , biology , superoxide , microbiology and biotechnology , parasite hosting , oxidative stress , biochemistry , chemistry , immunology , malaria , world wide web , computer science
Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and its properties in Plasmodium falciparum ‐infected erythrocytes, isolated parasites, and noninfected erythrocytes were studied. A higher specific activity was found in P. falciparum ‐infected erythrocytes compared to noninfected erythrocytes, resulting from the lower protein content of infected cells and not enzyme synthesis by the parasite, as the superoxide dismutase activity expressed per number of cells was decreased. Superoxide dismutase from noninfected erythrocytes and isolated P. falciparum parasites showed similar sensitivities to various inhibitors and had identical molecular weights and electrophoretic mobilities. These results support the hypothesis of uptake and use of the erythrocytic SOD enzyme by the parasite as a possible mechanism of defense against oxidative stress.