ABSTRACT
The capacity of normal and malaria-infected mouse red cells to undergo fusion was investigated by phase contrast microscopy. The fusion of mouse red cells induced by 50% w/w poly(ethylene glycol)-6000 in the presence of Ca+2 is enhanced by P. berghei infection. Cells carrying parasites in the ring form stage and early trophozoite stage show slightly higher fusion induced by dimethyl sulphoxide and Ca+2 than those carrying parasites in trophozoite and schizont stages.
Subject(s)
Erythrocytes/pathology , Malaria/blood , Animals , Calcium/blood , Cell Fusion/drug effects , Dimethyl Sulfoxide/pharmacology , Erythrocyte Membrane/metabolism , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Erythrocytes/parasitology , In Vitro Techniques , Mice , Plasmodium berghei , Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacologyABSTRACT
1. The membrane fraction, prepared by hypotonic lysis, of mouse red cells infected with Plasmodium berghei, P. yoelii YM, P. yoelii 17 X, P. yoelii 33 X, P. vinckei or P. chabaudi shows significant alterations from normal in protein composition as observed by dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2. There is a reduction in intensity of various protein bands, notably bands I and II (spectrin), of membranes prepared from infected red cells. 3. New bands are observed as a result of infection, the intensity and location of which depend on the parasite species and strain. A new band of apparent molecular weight 150,000 appears with a strong intensity in P. yoelii YM infection, with a moderate intensity in P. berghei infection, and with a weak intensity in P. vinckei and P. chabaudi infection. In P. yoelii 17X and 33X infection, multiple weak bands are seen in the molecular weight range 120,000-210,000.
