Characterising the role of actin and PI (3) kinases in endocytosis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

By contrast to mammalian cells, very little is known about endocytosis in the malaria parasite. However, endocytosis via the cytostome is required by the parasite to ingest haemoglobin from its host cytosol which it transports within double membrane vesicles to the digestive vacuole, where digestion occurs and metabolites are used mostly for nutritional purposes. To gain a deeper understanding of the molecular basis and mechanisms of this vital process, a panel of inhibitors was used to inhibit the actin cytoskeleton and PI (3) kinases in the parasite. In this study Cytochalasin D and Latrunculin A, which depolymerise and prevent actin fimalment formation, Jasplakinolide, which stabilises actin filaments, and Wormannin and LY294002, which inhibit PI 93) kinase, were used to study actin disrupting and PI (3) kinase inhibiting drug effects on haemoglobin endocytosis and transport vesicle trafficking within the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Division of Clinical Pharmacology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Smythe, Wynand Anton

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hoppe, Heinrich C

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3301

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/3301