title: Synthesis of a somatostatin-like peptide by Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: The intracellular parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, was found to synthesize a peptide similar to mammalian somatostatin. High performance liquid chromatography of acetic acid extracts of Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes revealed a metabolically labeled peptide that co-eluted with rat somatostatin and that was reactive with antibody against rat somatostatin. Bioassay of partially purified Plasmodium peptide demonstrated somatostatin activity. Acetic acid extracts from non-synchronized infected cultures were shown by radioimmunoassay to contain the equivalent of 150 molecules of somatostatin per parasite. Somatostatin was not detectable in erythrocytes of non-infected cultures.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007118:Immunoassay; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D013004:Somatostatin