Polylactosamines are not obligate receptors for invasion of Plasmodium falciparum malaria as shown in HEMPAS variant II-gal- erythrocytes.

Abstract

A HEMPAS (hereditary erythroblastic multinuclearity with positive acidified serum test) erythrocyte, atypical Variant II (referred to herein as Variant II-gal-), lacking long-chain polylactosamine on both glycoproteins (Band 3 and 4.5) and glycosphingolipids, was characterized by the carbohydrate profile of the erythrocyte membrane according to Fukuda et al. (Blood, 73, 1331-1339, 1989). Two laboratories previously reported that polylactosamine isolated from the erythrocyte protein Band 3 inhibited invasion of red blood cells by Plasmodium falciparum in malarial culture, suggesting a role for this carbohydrate in adhesion of the parasite. Therefore, HEMPAS erythrocyte Variant II-gal- presented a unique opportunity to further examine this premise. Freshly drawn blood samples (normal and HEMPAS Variant II-gal-) were separately incubated with P. falciparum from mannitol-synchronized cultures. The parasite was found to invade HEMPAS Variant II-gal- erythrocytes at a 30% lower rate through two life cycles, as shown by microscopic evaluation of invasion and by [3H]hypoxanthine incorporation into parasite. This observation, along with the published fact that glycophorin-deficient MkMk cells are also infectable, but at a lower rate, indicates that neither sialoglycoproteins nor polylactosamines are an obligate adhesive ligand for P. falciparum, although the possibility remains that either may still contribute to adhesive events during infection.

• Authors: S T Dhume, C R Adams-Burton, K H Shumak, R A Laine
• Journal: Glycobiology (Glycobiology) Vol. 4 Issue 6 Pg. 903-8 (Dec 1994) ISSN: 0959-6658 [Print] England
• PMID: 7734852 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Amino Sugars
• Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte
• Blood Proteins
• Ligands
• Polysaccharides
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• polylactosamine
• Galactose

Topics

• Amino Sugars (blood)
• Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital (blood, genetics)
• Animals
• Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte (chemistry, genetics)
• Blood Proteins (chemistry, genetics)
• Cell Adhesion (physiology)
• Erythrocytes (metabolism, parasitology)
• Galactose (chemistry)
• Genetic Variation
• Glycosylation
• Humans
• In Vitro Techniques
• Ligands
• Malaria, Falciparum (blood, parasitology)
• Plasmodium falciparum (growth & development, pathogenicity, physiology)
• Polysaccharides (blood)
• Receptors, Cell Surface (metabolism)