Stage-dependent toxicity of N-acetyl-glucosamine to Plasmodium falciparum.
The effects of N-acetyl-glucosamine on growth of synchronized cultures of Plasmodium falciparum were assessed by morphological observations and by measurement of parasite incorporation of 3H-hypoxanthine. Inhibition of 3H-hypoxanthine incorporation was more marked during the later stages of the erythrocytic cycle. At concentrations of the sugar below 20 mM, however, the deleterious effects were mainly a result of failure of released merozoites to invade erythrocytes, rather than a failure of schizonts to mature or release merozoites. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that a lectin-like substance on the merozoite interacts with a surface glycoprotein on the red cell and that sugar residues on this glycoprotein may be involved in this recognition.
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D019271:Hypoxanthine; D007042:Hypoxanthines / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D007042:Hypoxanthines; D019271:Hypoxanthine; D005944:Glucosamine; D000117:Acetylglucosamine