Band 3 Modifications in Plasmodium Falciparum-Infected AA and CC Erythrocytes Assayed by Autocorrelation Analysis Using Quantum Dots

Published

March 1, 2005

Author(s)

F Tokumasu, R M. Fairhurst, G R. Ostera, N J. Brittain, Jeeseong C. Hwang, T E. Wellems, J A. Dvorak

Abstract

The molecular stability of hemoglobin is critical for normal erythrocyte functions, including oxygen transport. Hemoglobin C (HbC) is a mutant hemoglobin that has increased oxidative susceptibility due to an amino acid substitution ( 6: Glu to Lys). The growth of Plasmodium falciparum is abnormal in homozygous CC erythrocytes in vitro and CC individuals show innate protection against severe P. falciparum malaria. We investigated one possible mechanism of innate protection using a quantum dots technique to compare the distribution of host membrane band 3 molecules in genotypically normal (AA) to CC erythrocytes. The high photostability of quantum dots facilitated the construction of three-dimensional cell images and quantification of fluorescent signal. Power spectra and one-dimensional autocorrelation analyses showed band 3 clustering in infected erythrocytes. In addition, the degree of band 3 clustering (500 nm) in uninfected CC erythrocytes was essentially indistinguishable from infected AA erythrocytes and became larger (1 m) in infected CC erythrocytes. This increased band 3 cluster size may enhance recognition sites for autoantibodies, which may contribute to the malaria protective effect of hemoglobin C.

Citation

Journal of Cell Science

Volume

118

Issue

No 5

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

autocorrelation, band 3, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, malaria, membrane, Plasmodium falciparum, quantum dots

Citation

Tokumasu, F. , Fairhurst, R. , Ostera, G. , Brittain, N. , Hwang, J. , Wellems, T. and Dvorak, J. (2005), Band 3 Modifications in Plasmodium Falciparum-Infected AA and CC Erythrocytes Assayed by Autocorrelation Analysis Using Quantum Dots, Journal of Cell Science (Accessed April 25, 2024)