[Isolation and quantitation of chloroquine-binding proteins in Plasmodium berghei].

AIM

To isolate and quantitate chloroquine (CQ)-binding proteins in both CQ-sensitive (CS) AND CQ-resistant (CR) Plasmodium berghei.

METHODS

P. berghei infected mice were each given i.g. CQ 400 mg/kg, respectively, 3 h later, the proteins of the parasites collected were separated using Ultrogel AcA34 gel column, followed by CQ extraction, the CQ concentration was determined by HPLC (extra standard).

RESULTS

There were 58 protein peaks in the CS, all of which were bound with CQ, fraction Nos. 64-86 (peak 9) being the predominant, accounting for 16.4% of the total amount of CQ-binding protein. In the CR there were 40 protein peaks, among which 32 were bound with CQ, the predominant fraction Nos. 60-83 (peaks 6, 7), had a higher CQ-binding ability than CS.

CONCLUSION

The distribution and amount of each CQ-binding protein peak in both CS and CR strains of P. berghei were demonstrated, exhibiting differences in the ability of CQ-binding not only between CS and CR strains but also within the same strain.