Parasitology Research

, Volume 99, Issue 6, pp 631–637 | Cite as

Analysis of P-glycoprotein expression in purified parasite plasma membrane and food vacuole from Plasmodium falciparum

  • Laurence M. Elandaloussi
  • Meinrad Lindt
  • Malcolm Collins
  • Peter J. Smith
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

A P-glycoprotein homologue (Pgh1) is believed to play a role in modulating levels of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. To study the role of Pgh1 in the mechanism of chloroquine (CQ) resistance, antisera were raised against this protein. There was no direct association between the level of Pgh1 expression and chloroquine sensitivity. We also failed to detect phosphorylation of Pgh1 in the food vacuole (FV), suggesting that other mechanisms regulate the chloroquine-resistant (CQR) phenotype. Therefore, high levels of expression of Pgh1 or phosphorylation of this protein in the FV could not account for CQ sensitivity. In addition, the lack of inhibition of CQ accumulation by anti-Pgh1 antibodies suggests that Pgh1 is not involved as a CQ transporter in the plasma membrane of P. falciparum. Furthermore, resistance reversers do not appear to act at the plasma membrane level.

Keywords

Chloroquine Trifluoperazine ATPase Inhibitor Food Vacuole Approximate Molecular Weight 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the South African Medical Research Council. The experiments described comply with the current laws of South Africa.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  • Laurence M. Elandaloussi
    • 1
    • 2
  • Meinrad Lindt
    • 1
  • Malcolm Collins
    • 1
  • Peter J. Smith
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of PharmacologyUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
  2. 2.Centre d’aqüiculturaIRTASant Carles de la RapitaSpain

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