PLASMODIUM-BERGHEI - MODIFICATION OF SIALIC-ACID ON RED-CELLS FROM INFECTED-MOUSE BLOOD

Abstract

The surface membrane glycoproteins of normal mouse erythrocytes can be labeled by oxidation with either periodate or galactose oxidase in the presence of neuraminidase, followed by reduction with NaB3H4. Without neuraminidase there is little galactose oxidase-catalyzed labeling of protein. Analysis of labeled proteins by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that both methods labeled the same set of glycoproteins. Plasmodium berghei infection dramatically reduced the sialoglycoprotein labeling of red blood cells from infected blood using the periodate/NaB3H4 method. Provided neuraminidase was present, labeling by the galactose oxidase method gave identical results to normal erythrocy..