Patch-clamp analysis of the "new permeability pathways" in malaria-infected erythrocytes.
The intraerythrocytic amplification of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum induces new pathways of solute permeability in the host cell's membrane. These pathways play a pivotal role in parasite development by supplying the parasite with nutrients, disposing of the parasite's metabolic waste and organic osmolytes, and adapting the host's electrolyte composition to the parasite's needs. The "new permeability pathways" allow the fast electrogenic diffusion of ions and thus can be analyzed by patch-clamp single-channel or whole-cell recording. By employing these techniques, several ion-channel types with different electrophysiological profiles have been identified in P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes; they have also been identified in noninfected cells. This review discusses a possible contribution of these channels to the new permeability pathways on the one hand and their supposed functions in noninfected erythrocytes on the other.
Huber
Stephan M
SM
Department of Physiology, Eberhard-Karls-University, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Duranton
Christophe
C
Lang
Florian
F
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D016923:Cell Death; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D048429:Cell Size; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
D007473:Ion Channels; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D012964:Sodium; D011494:Protein Kinases; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium