Photoaffinity labelling of Plasmodium falciparum proteins involved in phospholipid transport

Erythrocytes infected with mature-stage malaria parasites accumulate phospholipids from exogenous sources. We show that the transport of N-(7-nitrobenzy-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-1,2- dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (N-NBD-DPPE), from the erythrocyte membrane to the intracellular malaria parasite, is dependent upon metabolic energy. A photoreactive phospholipid analogue, N-[125I]iodo-4-azidosalicylamidyl-1, 2-dilauryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (N-125I-ASA-DLPE), has been synthesised and used in an attempt to identify proteins involved in phospholipid trafficking in malaria-infected erythrocytes. This photoreactive probe was found to preferentially label a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 22 kDa. Photolabelling of the 22-kDa protein was enhanced upon ATP depletion of malaria-infected erythrocytes.