Plasma membrane of Leishmania donovani

Plasma membrane of Leishmania donovani promastigotes was isolated by disrupting the cells in Dounce homogenizer and found to be having two fractions M1 and M2. Chemical analysis of the two membrane fractions revealed that M1 had less RNA content and high sterol-phospholipid molar ratio than M2. M1 was also rich in membrane marker enzymes, e.g., 5' nucleotidase and acid phosphatase. Glucose-6-phosphatase, the marker enzyme of endoplasmic reticulum was higher in M2 fraction. The electron micrograph also revealed the presence of plasma membrane vesicles in M1 fraction.