A protein on Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes functions as a transferrin receptor

Several observations suggest that iron is essential for the development of malaria parasites but there is evidence that the parasites in erythrocytes do not obtain iron from haemoglobin. The total haemin level in parasitized erythrocytes does not vary during parasite development, indicating that the iron-containing moiety of haemoglobin is not detectably metabolized. Although parasite proteases can degrade the protein part of haemoglobin in red cells, no parasite enzymes that degrade haemin have been identified. In mammalian cells, haemin is degraded to carbon monoxide and bilirubin by the enzyme haeme oxygenase. This enzyme has not been found in malaria parasites. In fact haemin has been found to be toxic to parasite carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, iron apparently cannot be liberated from haemin and instead is sequestered in infected red cells as haemozoin, the characteristic pigment associated with malarial infection. If iron bound to transferrin is the source of ferric ions for malaria parasites within mature erythrocytes, then the parasite must synthesize its own transferrin receptor and localize it on the surface of the infected cell, because the receptors for transferrin are lost during erythrocyte maturation. Our results here suggest that Plasmodium falciparum synthesizes its own transferrin receptors enabling it to take up iron from transferrin by receptor-mediated endocytosis.     

Sodium-dependent uptake of inorganic phosphate by the intracellular malaria parasite

As the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, grows within its host erythrocyte it induces an increase in the permeability of the erythrocyte membrane to a range of low-molecular-mass solutes, including Na+ and K+ (ref. 1). This results in a progressive increase in the concentration of Na+ in the erythrocyte cytosol. The parasite cytosol has a relatively low Na+ concentration and there is therefore a large inward Na+ gradient across the parasite plasma membrane. Here we show that the parasite exploits the Na+ electrochemical gradient to energize the uptake of inorganic phosphate (P(i)), an essential nutrient. P(i) was taken up into the intracellular parasite by a Na+-dependent transporter, with a stoichiometry of 2Na+:1P(i) and with an apparent preference for the monovalent over the divalent form of P(i). A P(i) transporter (PfPiT) belonging to the PiT family was cloned from the parasite and localized to the parasite surface. Expression of PfPiT in Xenopus oocytes resulted in Na+-dependent P(i) uptake with characteristics similar to those observed for P(i) uptake in the parasite. This study provides new insight into the significance of the malaria-parasite-induced alteration of the ionic composition of its host cell.     

超氧阴离子自由基(O_2~-)导致红细胞膜蛋白交联作用的机理探讨

用邻苯三酚在碱性条件下自氧化产生的超氧阴离子自由基(O_2~-处理人红细胞膜导致膜蛋白交联形成高分子聚合物(HMP).用一定量的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)预处理红细胞膜,HMP明显减少.用巯基抑制剂N-乙基马来酰胺(NEM)预处理红细胞膜,则HMP几乎消失.用特异性标记巯基的荧光探针N-(3-芘)马来酰胺(N-[3-P]NEM)来研究经不同浓度邻苯三酚处理的红细胞膜的荧光强度.结果表明,随着邻苯三酚浓度增高,荧光强度相应降低.上述结果提示,O_2~-可能主要是通过氧化巯基导致膜蛋白交联并形成HMP.     

Transient cross-reactive immune responses can orchestrate antigenic variation in malaria

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has evolved to prolong its duration of infection by antigenic variation of a major immune target on the surface of the infected red blood cell. This immune evasion strategy depends on the sequential, rather than simultaneous, appearance of immunologically distinct variants. Although the molecular mechanisms by which a single organism switches between variants are known in part, it remains unclear how an entire population of parasites within the host can synchronize expression to avoid rapidly exhausting the variant repertoire. Here we show that short-lived, partially cross-reactive immune responses to parasite-infected erythrocyte surface antigens can produce a cascade of sequentially dominant antigenic variants, each of which is the most immunologically distinct from its preceding types. This model reconciles several previously unexplained and apparently conflicting epidemiological observations by demonstrating that individuals with stronger cross-reactive immune responses can, paradoxically, be more likely to sustain chronic infections. Antigenic variation has always been seen as an adaptation of the parasite to evade host defence: we show that the coordination necessary for the success of this strategy might be provided by the host.     

超氧阴离子自由基(O_2~-)导致红细胞膜蛋白交联作用的机理探讨

用邻苯三酚在碱性条件下自氧化产生的超氧阴离子自由基(O_2_~-)处理人红细胞膜导致膜蛋白交联形成高分子聚合物(HMP)。用一定量的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)预处理红细胞膜,HMP明显减少。用巯基抑制剂N-乙基马来酰胺(NEM)预处理红细胞膜,则HMP几乎消失。用特异性标记巯基的荧光探针N-(3-芘)马来酰胺(N-[3-P]NEM)来研究经不同浓度邻苯三酚处理的红细胞膜的荧光强度。结果表明,随着邻苯三酚浓度增高,荧光强度相应降低。上述结果提示,O_2~-可能主要是通过氧化巯基导致膜蛋白交联并形成HMP。     

Basigin is a receptor essential for erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum

Erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum is central to the pathogenesis of malaria. Invasion requires a series of extracellular recognition events between erythrocyte receptors and ligands on the merozoite, the invasive form of the parasite. None of the few known receptor-ligand interactions involved are required in all parasite strains, indicating that the parasite is able to access multiple redundant invasion pathways. Here, we show that we have identified a receptor-ligand pair that is essential for erythrocyte invasion in all tested P. falciparum strains. By systematically screening a library of erythrocyte proteins, we have found that the Ok blood group antigen, basigin, is a receptor for PfRh5, a parasite ligand that is essential for blood stage growth. Erythrocyte invasion was potently inhibited by soluble basigin or by basigin knockdown, and invasion could be completely blocked using low concentrations of anti-basigin antibodies; importantly, these effects were observed across all laboratory-adapted and field strains tested. Furthermore, Ok(a-) erythrocytes, which express a basigin variant that has a weaker binding affinity for PfRh5, had reduced invasion efficiencies. Our discovery of a cross-strain dependency on a single extracellular receptor-ligand pair for erythrocyte invasion by P. falciparum provides a focus for new anti-malarial therapies.     

Frequent ectopic recombination of virulence factor genes in telomeric chromosome clusters of P. falciparum

Persistent and recurrent infections by Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites result from the ability of the parasite to undergo antigenic variation and evade host immune attack. P. falciparum parasites generate high levels of variability in gene families that comprise virulence determinants of cytoadherence and antigenic variation, such as the var genes. These genes encode the major variable parasite protein (PfEMP-1), and are expressed in a mutually exclusive manner at the surface of the erythrocyte infected by P. falciparum. Here we identify a mechanism by which var gene sequences undergo recombination at frequencies much higher than those expected from homologous crossover events alone. These recombination events occur between subtelomeric regions of heterologous chromosomes, which associate in clusters near the nuclear periphery in asexual blood-stage parasites or in bouquet-like configurations near one pole of the elongated nuclei in sexual parasite forms. We propose that the alignment of var genes in heterologous chromosomes facilitates gene conversion and promotes the diversity of antigenic and adhesive phenotypes. The association of virulence factors with a specific nuclear subcompartment may also have implications for variation during mitotic recombination in asexual blood stages.     

Major surface antigen gene of a human malaria parasite cloned and expressed in bacteria

The late blood stages of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, carry a major surface antigen, p190, of molecular weight (Mr) 190,000. This antigenically variable protein is actively processed, first as the parasite matures and again when it is released into the blood stream and invades a new erythrocyte to initiate a cycle of growth. It elicits a strong immune response in man; all tested adult sera from endemic areas have antibodies against this protein. Our evidence indicates that purified p190 can alter the course of parasitaemia in monkeys with falciparum malaria. We have also succeeded in cloning part of the gene for p190 and expressing it in Escherichia coli. To this end we have developed a new technique, antibody select, which greatly simplifies final identification of expressing clones.     

Clathrin self-assembly is mediated by a tandemly repeated superhelix.

Clathrin is a triskelion-shaped cytoplasmic protein that polymerizes into a polyhedral lattice on intracellular membranes to form protein-coated membrane vesicles. Lattice formation induces the sorting of membrane proteins during endocytosis and organelle biogenesis by interacting with membrane-associated adaptor molecules. The clathrin triskelion is a trimer of heavy-chain subunits (1,675 residues), each binding a single light-chain subunit, in the hub domain (residues 1,074-1,675). Light chains negatively modulate polymerization so that intracellular clathrin assembly is adaptor-dependent. Here we report the atomic structure, to 2.6 A resolution, of hub residues 1,210-1,516 involved in mediating spontaneous clathrin heavy-chain polymerization and light-chain association. The hub fragment folds into an elongated coil of alpha-helices, and alignment analyses reveal a 145-residue motif that is repeated seven times along the filamentous leg and appears in other proteins involved in vacuolar protein sorting. The resulting model provides a three-dimensional framework for understanding clathrin heavy-chain self-assembly, light-chain binding and trimerization.     

Trans-complex formation by proteolipid channels in the terminal phase of membrane fusion

SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) and Rab-GTPases, together with their cofactors, mediate the attachment step in the membrane fusion of vesicles. But how bilayer mixing--the subsequent core process of fusion--is catalysed remains unclear. Ca2+/calmodulin controls this terminal process in many intracellular fusion events. Here we identify V0, the membrane-integral sector of the vacuolar H+-ATPase, as a target of calmodulin on yeast vacuoles. Between docking and bilayer fusion, V0 sectors from opposing membranes form complexes. V0 trans-complex formation occurs downstream from trans-SNARE pairing, and depends on both the Rab-GTPase Ypt7 and calmodulin. The maintenance of existing complexes and completion of fusion are independent of trans-SNARE pairs. Reconstituted proteolipids form sealed channels, which can expand to form aqueous pores in a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent fashion. V0 trans-complexes may therefore form a continuous, proteolipid-lined channel at the fusion site. We propose that radial expansion of such a protein pore may be a mechanism for intracellular membrane fusion.     

大豆磷脂对小鼠红细胞膜和脑组织中脂肪酸含量的影响

采用高效液相色谱法研究了小鼠灌胃大豆磷脂乳液(剂量为w(大豆磷脂/体质量)=2.5、5.0、10.0 g/kg)30 d对小鼠红细胞膜和脑组织中脂肪酸含量的影响.结果表明:(1)w(大豆磷脂/体质量)=10.0 g/kg剂量组小鼠红细胞膜和脑组织中亚油酸、亚麻酸的含量及多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)占总脂肪酸(TFA)的比例显著增加(P＜0.05),红细胞膜中油酸的含量显著下降(P＜0.05);(2)w(大豆磷脂/体质量)=5.0 g/kg剂量组小鼠红细胞膜中亚油酸、亚麻酸的含量和w(PUFA/TFA),以及脑组织中亚油酸的含量显著提高(P＜0.05);(3)w(大豆磷脂/体质量)=2.5 g/kg剂量组小鼠红细胞膜和脑组织中各所测脂肪酸的含量无显著差异.说明大豆磷脂可增加小鼠红细胞膜和脑组织中亚油酸、亚麻酸等的含量,改善两者的脂肪酸组成,但两者的变化存在差异.     

Immune sera recognize on erythrocytes Plasmodium falciparum antigen composed of repeated amino acid sequences

Protective immune responses against the asexual stages of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, are most probably directed against exposed antigenic determinants on the surface of the free merozoite or the infected red blood cell, and therefore antigens in these locations are candidates for testing as components of a defined molecular vaccine. To facilitate the search for such antigens, we recently developed a method for the expression of P. falciparum proteins in Escherichia coli as fused polypeptides. Many clones producing antigens were detected by screening with immune human sera. We show here that antibodies against the fused polypeptide expressed by one such clone react with a P. falciparum protein that is synthesized late in schizogony and is later present on the surface of the ring-infected erythrocyte. The protein is composed of repeating subunits of 8, 4 and 3 amino acids and is present in all isolates of P. falciparum examined.     

Coated pits, coated vesicles, and receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Proteins and peptides can enter cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis, a coupled process by which selected extracellular proteins or peptides are first bound to specific cell surface receptors and then rapidly internalised by the cell. Internalisation follows clustering of the receptors in specialised regions of the cell surface called coated pits that invaginate to form intracellular coated vesicles. It is now recognised that receptor-mediated endocytosis has a fundamental role in the growth, nutrition and differentiation of animal cells.     

Efficient adsorption of As(V) on poly(acrylo-amidino ethylene amine) nanofiber membranes

Poly(acrylo-amidino ethylene amine) (PAEA) nanofiber membranes have been synthesized by combining the electrospinning technique and subsequent chemical modification. The membranes were used to remove As(V) from aqueous solution. The adsorption kinetics, equilibrium isotherms, and pH effect were investigated in batch experiments. The Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second-order kinetic models agree well with the experimental data. The PAEA nanofibers are effective for As(V) adsorption at pH 3. Experimental results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of the PAEA nanofibers with As(V) is 76.92 mg g-1 , which is much higher than that of the PAEA microfibers (27.62 mg g-1 ). The adsorption rate of PAEA nanofibers is faster than that of PAEA microfibers due to its higher specific surface area. The PAEA nanofibers can be used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of As(V) in aqueous solution due to high adsorption capacity and short adsorption time to achieve equilibrium.     

A chromosomal rearrangement in a P. falciparum histidine-rich protein gene is associated with the knobless phenotype

The significant morbidity and mortality associated with Plasmodium falciparum malaria results, in part, from the sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes in postcapillary venules, which may protect the parasite from splenic clearance and contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. This sequestration has been linked to the expression of parasite-induced knob structures on the surface of the infected erythrocyte which mediate the cytoadherence phenomenon. While knobs are necessary for cytoadherence, they are not sufficient, requiring both parasite- and host-encoded proteins. Spontaneous mutants of P. falciparum have been isolated from in vitro cultures which lack the ability to express knobs and fail to cytoadhere. A histidine-rich protein has been described which is associated with the knobby phenotype and may be a constituent of the knob. We now report the isolation of complementary DNA clones for a knob-associated histidine-rich protein (KAHRP) and demonstrate that in knobless mutants the gene for this protein has undergone a rearrangement, resulting in a deletion in the 3' coding sequence. Moreover, the chromosome to which the KAHRP gene maps is rearranged in these mutants, producing a telomeric location of the truncated gene. These observations explain the loss of expression of the messenger RNA and protein in such mutants and may explain the loss of the knob itself. The implications for the generation of spontaneous mutations in the parasite by this novel mechanism are discussed.     

唾液酸单体对兔红细胞钙调蛋白和脂质过氧化的影响

唾液酸是自然界存在量最大的带负电的碳水化合物，母体结构为9个碳原子组成的内环氨基糖，为研究唾液酸单体与在生物大分子中的唾液酸的相关性，寻找唾液酸的新生物途径，作者使用纯唾液酸单体5－乙酰神经氨酸，5－羟乙酰神经氨酸和唾液酸酶研究红细胞钙调蛋白和脂质过氧化作用，结果表明这二个唾液酸单体能抑制兔红细胞中的钙调蛋白和促进兔红细胞的脂质过氧化，二个唾液酸单体生物活性呈现浓度效应相关性，在等摩尔浓度下，5－羟 酰神经氨酸的作用较5－乙酰神经氨酸强2－4倍，相应地，用唾液酸酶降解兔红细胞膜上的唾液酸大分子到单体也使抑制钙调蛋白活性，因此，作者认为唾液酸单体在机体中也有生物活性，它们从生物大分子中游离下来能改变生物活性，唾液酸5（N（）位置可能与其生物活性相关。     

Endosomes from kidney collecting tubule cells contain the vasopressin-sensitive water channel

The mechanism by which vasopressin rapidly and dramatically increases the water permeability of target epithelial cell membranes is thought to involve a cycle of exo- and endocytosis during which vesicles carrying 'water channels' are successively inserted into, and removed from the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells. Clusters of intramembranous particles, visible by freeze-fracture electron microscopy and presumed to represent water channels, appear on apical membranes in parallel with increased transepithelial water flow. In the collecting duct, these clusters are located in clathrin-coated pits which are subsequently internalized. There has been no direct evidence, however, that subcellular membranes in vasopressin-sensitive epithelia contain functional water channels. In this report, we have used fluorophores that are sensitive to volume and do not pass through membranes to label and to measure directly the osmotic water permeability of endocytosed vesicles isolated from renal papilla. We present direct evidence that vasopressin induces the appearance of a population of endocytic vesicles whose limiting membranes contain water channels.     

Immunization of Aotus monkeys with recombinant proteins of an erythrocyte surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum

Recent studies have identified and characterized a ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum with a relative molecular mass (Mr) of approximately 155,000 (refs 1-7). RESA is localized in the micronemes of merozoites and also the membrane of red cells infected with ring-stage parasites. It is thought to be released through the apical pore from the rhoptry at the time of merozoite invasion. Because antibodies directed against this antigen strongly inhibit parasite growth in vitro, RESA may be useful in developing a vaccine against this parasite Here we describe an immunization trial using Aotus monkeys and Escherichia coli-derived fused polypeptides corresponding to various regions of the RESA molecule. Some monkeys in all test groups, but not in the control group, were protected against overwhelming infection. Strikingly, protection correlated with antibody responses to either of two different repetitive sequences in RESA.     

Primary LAMP-2 deficiency causes X-linked vacuolar cardiomyopathy and myopathy (Danon disease)

"Lysosomal glycogen storage disease with normal acid maltase" which was originally described by Danon et al., is characterized clinically by cardiomyopathy, myopathy and variable mental retardation. The pathological hallmark of the disease is intracytoplasmic vacuoles containing autophagic material and glycogen in skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. Sarcolemmal proteins and basal lamina are associated with the vacuolar membranes. Here we report ten unrelated patients, including one of the patients from the original case report, who have primary deficiencies of LAMP-2, a principal lysosomal membrane protein. From these results and the finding that LAMP-2-deficient mice manifest a similar vacuolar cardioskeletal myopathy, we conclude that primary LAMP-2 deficiency is the cause of Danon disease. To our knowledge this is the first example of human cardiopathy-myopathy that is caused by mutations in a lysosomal structural protein rather than an enzymatic protein.     

Effect on membrane transport in the erythrocytes by band 3 cross-linking

Band 3 and glucose transport protein (GluT1) are two kinds of important proteins in the human erythrocyte membranes. Bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate (BS³), an impermeable cross-linker of band 3, inhibited NO₂ ⁻ transport, showing that anion exchange is affected by the association state of band 3 in the intact erythrocyte membranes. At the same time, the rates of glucose transport of both exit and entry declined. The amount of monomers of band 3 was decreased after treatment of the erythrocytes with BS³, but there was no change in GluT1 according to the SDS-PAGE patterns. This demonstrates that band 3 and GluT1 would be linkaged together in the erythrocyte membranes for the requirement of rapid and cooperative performance of physiological functions of the membrane proteins.