Inhibition assay of beta-hematin formation initiated by lecithin for screening new antimalarial drugs.
Measurement of heme crystallization provides a tool for screening new antimalarial drugs. Current assays for heme crystallization have employed initiators such as thermo, histidine-rich proteins, and lipids extracted from parasites and infected plasma. These initiators are unnatural or require laborious steps to prepare. In this study, we used a commercially available lipid, lecithin, a kind of phospholipid containing about 50% unsaturated fatty acids, as an initiator for heme crystal (beta-hematin) formation. We demonstrated that the inhibition of lecithin-based beta-hematin formation by antimalarial drugs is highly correlated with the preformed beta-hematin-based method. In addition, the lecithin-based assay is sensitive and convenient for large-scale screening of new novel antimalarials. We also indicated that dimethyl sulfoxide is an ideal solvent for preparation of heme stock solution, which is stable and can be used for 1 month.
Trang
Dai Thi Xuan
DT
Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
Huy
Nguyen Tien
NT
Uyen
Dinh Thanh
DT
Sasai
Motohiro
M
Shiono
Takeshi
T
Harada
Shigeharu
S
Kamei
Kaeko
K
D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006418:Heme / Q000737:chemistry; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000962:Antimalarials; D006420:Hemeproteins; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; C020753:hemozoin; D006418:Heme