Metabolic labelling of P. knowlesi-specific glycoproteins in membranes of parasitized rhesus monkey erythrocytes.

Rhesus monkey erythrocytes infected with P. knowlesi at high degrees of synchrony were metabolically labeled in vitro during the early schizont stage, using 14C-amino acids and 14C-glucosamine as precursors. Parasite-specific proteins in purified schizonts and host-cell membranes were characterized by their isoelectric points and molecular masses, using isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide and dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. Both 14C-amino acids and 14C-glucosamine caused labelling of 60,000-90,000D proteins/glycoproteins, focusing between pH 4.5 and pH 5.2. The plasmodial parasites synthesized gangliosides and/or other glycolipids, leading to their appearance in the host cell membrane.