title: Effect of intra-erythrocytic magnesium ions on invasion by Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: Exclusion of magnesium ions from resealed ghosts or their extraction from intact human red cells by means of an ionophore results in a reversible drop in susceptibility to invasion by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites in vitro. Resealed ghosts, containing magnesium-ATP and diluted cytosol, are invaded with high efficiency only when the original hypotonic lysis is carried out in the presence of magnesium ions. This effect is not related to the loss of membrane-associated constituents when magnesium ions are absent. Ghosts containing calcium ions, together with the protective agent, flunarizine, were essentially resistant to invasion; this effect is again at least partially reversible. A possible explanation of these phenomena is that entry of the merozoite may be inhibited by breakdown of the host cell phospholipid asymmetry, with the appearance of aminophospholipids at the outer cell surface.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Muscle and Cell Motility Unit, King's College, London.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rangachari
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Dluzewski
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Gratzer
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D008274:Magnesium