Presence of an endogenous superoxide dismutase activity in three rodent malaria species

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was investigated in three species of rodent malaria (Plasmodium berghei, P. yoelii and P. vinckei). The isoelectric points (pI) of isozymes found in purified parasites were identical. SOD activities detected by isoelectrofocusing at pl 5.0, 5.6, and 6.4 were cyanide-sensitive and could be considered as having been adopted by the parasites from the host red blood cell. The three rodent malaria parasites also contained a cyanide-resistant, hydrogen peroxide-sensitive SOD activity not found in the host red blood cell. It is therefore concluded that the three rodent malaria parasites possess an endogenous SOD. Two bands of endogenous SOD were found at pl 6.2 and 6.8 for the three species, and one additional band was detected at pl 5.7 for P. berghei and P. vinckei. This first report in rodent Plasmodium of a cyanide-resistant, hydrogen peroxide-sensitive SOD suggests that these parasites may be capable of at least partly resisting activated oxygen species using an endogenous SOD.