title: On the mechanism of hemozoin production in malaria parasites: activated erythrocyte membranes promote beta-hematin synthesis.
abstract: The ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) molecules released by intraerythrocytic malaria parasites during hemoglobin digestion are converted to beta-hematin and are stored in the parasites' food vacuoles. It has been demonstrated in cell-free medium that the incorporation of FP into beta-hematin under physiological conditions requires a catalyst from parasite lysates or pre-formed beta-hematin. In the present studies, lysates of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes were suspended in 1 M NaOH and were washed with phosphate buffer, pH 7.6. When the cell extracts were incubated with hematin in 0.5 M sodium acetate buffer, pH 5, for 20 hr at 37 degrees C, a large quantity of beta-hematin was formed. To determine whether parasite components were necessary for the beta-hematin formation, normal erythrocyte ghosts were similarly treated with 1 M NaOH and then incubated with hematin. In repeated experiments it was found that, on the average, 70% of the hematin was converted to beta-hematin. Membranes treated with HCl or CH(3)COOH also promoted the formation of beta-hematin, while untreated membranes were ineffective. The possibility that metabolic activities in the food vacuoles of malaria parasites may activate membrane fragments, from hemoglobin vesicles, to promote beta-hematin formation is discussed in this paper.
authors.affiliation: MLS Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Salaibikhat 90805, Kuwait. aorjih@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Orjih
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006427:Hemin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006420:Hemeproteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020753:hemozoin; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D006427:Hemin