Identification of surface proteins on viable Plasmodium knowlesi merozoites

Viable merozoites of Plasmodium knowlesi were isolated and the proteins that were labeled on intact merozoites by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed radioiodination were identified. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of Triton soluble extracts of labeled merozoites demonstrated eight major bands ranging in apparent molecular weight from 150,000 D to 22,000 D. Exposure of intact merozoites to trypsin (10 microgram/ml) for 10 min resulted in the loss of the two highest molecular weight proteins (150,000 D and 105,000 D) and the appearance of two new bands at 70,000 D and 62,000 D. Trypsin treatment under these conditions also removed the receptor(s) for merozoite attachment to erythrocytes. Therefore, these high molecular weight proteins are candidates for the merozoite component that attaches to erythrocytes. There was no evidence that the labeled membrane components were serum or erythrocyte membrane components, two potential contaminants in the preparation. Anti-rhesus erythrocyte antibody did not precipitate labeled merozoite proteins. Furthermore, the immunoprecipitation of labeled merozoite proteins by rhesus anti-merozoite serum was not inhibited by erythrocyte ghosts.