title: Effects of mitochondrial protein synthesis inhibitors on the incorporation of isoleucine into Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum was grown in human erythrocytes in vitro and the effect of chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and tetracycline on growth and maturation of the parasites and on their ability to incorporate [3H]isoleucine into protein was observed. Exposure of rings to high concentrations of chloramphenicol had little effect on subsequent maturation of the rings whereas brief (4 h) exposure of trophozoites caused a dose-dependent inhibition of subsequent ring formation. Incorporation of [3H]isoleucine into protein was not affected during at least 6 h of exposure to high concentration of the three drugs examined, but appreciable inhibition was observed after 21 h, with chloramphenicol being the least effective inhibitor. These results suggest that there is a stage-specific effect of inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis on subsequent development and that the mitochondria are essential for growth and development even though they lack a functional Krebs cycle.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007532:Isoleucine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007532:Isoleucine; D004917:Erythromycin; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D013752:Tetracycline