[68Ga]Ga-DFO-c(RGDyK): Synthesis and Evaluation of Its Potential for Tumor Imaging in Mice.

Angiogenesis has a pivotal role in tumor growth and the metastatic process. Molecular imaging was shown to be useful for imaging of tumor-induced angiogenesis. A great variety of radiolabeled peptides have been developed to target αvß3 integrin, a target structure involved in the tumor-induced angiogenic process. The presented study aimed to synthesize deferoxamine (DFO)-based c(RGD) peptide conjugate for radiolabeling with gallium-68 and perform its basic preclinical characterization including testing of its tumor-imaging potential. DFO-c(RGDyK) was labeled with gallium-68 with high radiochemical purity. In vitro characterization including stability, partition coefficient, protein binding determination, tumor cell uptake assays, and ex vivo biodistribution as well as PET/CT imaging was performed. [68Ga]Ga-DFO-c(RGDyK) showed hydrophilic properties, high stability in PBS and human serum, and specific uptake in U-87 MG and M21 tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo. We have shown here that [68Ga]Ga-DFO-c(RGDyK) can be used for αvß3 integrin targeting, allowing imaging of tumor-induced angiogenesis by positron emission tomography.

Desferrioxamine-caffeine shows improved efficacy in chelating iron and depleting cancer stem cells.

Iron chelation has already been proposed to be a feasible strategy for cancer therapeutics in that reinforced iron demand is demonstrated in cancer cells, and quite a few iron chelators have been developed for this purpose. Desferrioxamine (DFO), an iron chelator approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been extensively examined to remove extra iron. However, DFO has been found to harbor limited efficacies in combating cancer cells due to poor cellular permeability. In the current study, we synthesized the DFO derivative, named as desferrioxamine-caffeine dimer (DFCAF) by linking DFO to caffeine with high purity and excellent stability. Our data showed that DFCAF displayed greater cellular permeability to chelate intracellular iron in 4T1 breast cancer cells than DFO, posing more inhibition on cell growth and cellular motility/invasion. Importantly, DFCAF was uncovered to remarkably deplete cancer stem cells (CSCs), as characterized by the remarkable decrease of the CD44+/high/CD24-/low and ALDH+/high subpopulation. In parallel, DFCAF was also found to greatly reverse epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), suggesting the potential application to restrain tumor progression and metastasis. Collectively, these data unveiled the improved efficacy to target cancer cells and to deplete CSCs, thus opening a new path for better cancer therapeutics through iron chelation.

Dissecting the Mechanism of Oligomerization and Macrocyclization Reactions of NRPS-Independent Siderophore Synthetases.

Macrocyclic and linear hydroxamate siderophores produced by NRPS-independent siderophore (NIS; NRPS=nonribosomal peptide synthetase) synthetases are important in the bacterial competition for iron, as virulence factors, and as drugs for medical use in humans. Despite their importance, the mechanistic details of NIS synthetases have so far remained obscure. Using synthetic substrate analogues as tools allowed for an interrogation of the mechanism of the two closely related NIS synthetases AvbD and DesD. While AvbD produces macrocyclic homo- and heterodimers as native products, DesD is responsible for the synthesis of trimeric desferrioxamines. These enzymes comprise two adjacent binding sites with different substrate selectivities, which direct oligomerization and macrocyclization steps. Exploiting this difference, synthetic substrates were used to invert the native affinities for the sites resulting in switching from trimerization to dimerization reactions for DesD. Based on this work, a comprehensive model explaining the mechanistic details of the reactions and the differences between trimerizing and dimerizing enzymes was developed. Finally, a DesD mutant demonstrated the tuneability of the enzyme's substrate selectivity by only minor changes in the protein sequence. This finding confirms the affinity-directed mechanism responsible for the iterativity of oligomerization and macrocyclization steps.

Radiochemistry and Preclinical PET Imaging of 68Ga-Desferrioxamine Radiotracers Targeting Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen.

Radiotracers incorporating the urea-based Glu-NH-C(O)-NH-Lys group have gained prominence due to their role in targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-a clinical biomarker of prostate cancer. Here, the synthesis, radiolabeling, and in vitro and in vivo characterization of two 68Ga-radiolabeled Glu-NH-C(O)-NH-Lys radiotracers conjugated to the desferrioxamine B (DFO) chelate were evaluated. Two linker groups based on amide bond and thiourea coupling chemistries were employed to develop 68Ga-DFO-Nsucc-PSMA (68Ga-4) and 68Ga-DFO- pNCS-Bn-PSMA (68Ga-7), respectively. Radiosynthesis proceeded quantitatively at room temperature with high radiochemical yields, chemical/radiochemical purities, and specific activities. Pharmacokinetic profiles of 68Ga-4 and 68Ga-7 were assessed using positron-emission tomography (PET) in mice bearing subcutaneous LNCaP tumors. Data were compared to the current clinical benchmark radiotracer 68Ga-HBED-CC-PSMA (68Ga-1) (HBED = N,N'-Bis(2-hydroxy-5-(ethylene-beta-carboxy)benzyl)ethylenediamine N,N'-diacetic acid). Results indicated that the target binding affinity, protein association, blood pool and background organ clearance properties, and uptake in PSMA-positive lesions are strongly dependent on the nature of the chelate, the linker, and the spacer groups. Protein dissociation constants ( Kd values) were found to be predictive of pharmacokinetics in vivo. Compared to 68Ga-1, 68Ga-4 and 68Ga-7 resulted in decreased tumor uptake but enhanced blood pool clearance and reduced residence time in the kidney. The study highlights the importance of maximizing protein binding affinity during radiotracer optimization.

Synthesis and evaluation of oxidation-responsive alginate-deferoxamine conjugates with increased stability and low toxicity.

Deferoxamine is commonly used for iron-overload related diseases, its drawbacks such as instability and toxicity, however, significantly limited its utility in clinic. To address these issues, oxidation-responsive alginate-deferoxamine (Alg-DFO) conjugates were synthesized and their structure was characterized. The metabolism studies shown the conjugation of alginate significantly increased the stability of the DFO, with half-life more than 10 times longer than that of the free DFO. Moreover, the conjugates could not only quickly respond to oxidative stimuli and degradation, suggesting their potential to be cleared from the body by responding to iron-overload associated oxidative environment to avoid its accumulation and safety concern, but also protect iron binding capacity of the attached DFO from oxidation. The degradation mechanism for oxidative-response was proposed. In addition, the conjugates shown lower cytotoxicity compared to the free DFO. Taken together, the Alg-DFO conjugates synthesized in this work has promise for treating iron-overload related conditions.

Pretargeted Immuno-PET of Pancreatic Cancer: Overcoming Circulating Antigen and Internalized Antibody to Reduce Radiation Doses.

UNLABELLED: 5B1 is a fully human, monoclonal antibody that has shown promise for the PET imaging of cancers expressing carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA19.9)--a carbohydrate prevalent in cells with aberrant glycosylation and an established effector of metastasis. The long physiologic half-life of the antibody and interference from circulating CA19.9 may increase the time required to generate quality images as well as the risk of radiation exposure to healthy tissues during repeated PET imaging. Pretargeting methodologies are an effective approach to expeditiously acquire PET images, but in this case, the pretargeting approach is complicated by the internalization of 5B1 by CA19.9-expressing cells. We sought to adapt and optimize a pretargeting strategy that exploits the bioorthogonal reaction between transcyclooctene (TCO) and tetrazine (Tz) to overcome these complications. METHODS: 5B1 was modified with TCO, and a novel NOTA-PEG7-Tz radioligand was synthesized with the goal of improving on a previously reported analog. BxPC3 and Capan-2 cells were evaluated for their ability to internalize anti-CA19.9 antibodies using a fluorometric assay, and xenografts of the same lines were used for in vivo studies. The pretargeting approach was optimized, and the 2 radioligands were compared using biodistribution and PET imaging in murine models of pancreatic cancer. RESULTS: BxPC3 and Capan-2 cells were shown to rapidly internalize anti-CA19.9 monoclonal antibodies, including 5B1. (64)Cu-NOTA-PEG7-Tz showed improved in vivo pharmacokinetics relative to (64)Cu-NOTA-Tz using 5B1-TCO as the targeting vector. PET imaging and biodistribution studies showed that injecting the radioligand 72 h after the administration of 5B1-TCO resulted in the best uptake (8.2 ± 1.7 percentage injected dose per gram at 20 h after injection) and tumor-to-background activity concentration ratios. Dosimetry calculations revealed that the pretargeting system produced a greater than 25-fold reduction in total body radiation exposure relative to (89)Zr-desferrioxamine-5B1. PET/CT imaging in an orthotopic Capan-2 xenograft model--which secretes large amounts of CA19.9 and more rapidly internalizes anti-CA19.9 antibodies--showed that this approach is viable even in the difficult circumstances presented by a circulating antigen and internalized targeting vector. CONCLUSION: The 5B1-TCO and (64)Cu-NOTA-PEG7-Tz system evaluated in these studies can delineate CA19.9-positive xenografts in murine models of pancreatic cancer despite the challenges posed by the combination of circulating antigen and internalization of the 5B1-TCO.

Coordinate-bond-dependent solid-phase organic synthesis of biotinylated desferrioxamine B: a new route for metal-specific probes.

Desferrioxamine B (DFOB) was biotinylated at the pendant amine using solid-phase organic synthesis (SPOS) on a matrix used conventionally for metal affinity chromatography. The strength of the DFOB-matrix coordinate bonds was functionally equivalent to a covalent bond which underpinned the veracity of the SPOS format. After washing excess reagents, biotin-DFOB was eluted from the matrix with water at pH 6.

Solid-phase synthesis of biologically interesting compounds containing hydroxamic acid moiety.

Chemical strategies developed for the solid-phase synthesis of hydroxamates are divided into four groups: (i) the traditional synthesis of hydroxamates via cleavage of resin-bound esters by hydroxylamine and its derivatives, (ii) introduction of hydroxamic acid moiety on the resin-bound precursor, (iii) transformation of polymer-supported hydroxylamine, attached to a solid supported linker either by oxygen (O-linking strategy) or by nitrogen (N-linking strategy), and (iv) synthesis of N-alkyl hydroxamates. The scope and limitation of individual approaches are discussed.

Ferrioxamine B analogues: targeting the FoxA uptake system in the pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica.

A series of ferrioxamine B analogues that target the bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica were prepared. These iron carriers are composed of three hydroxamate-containing monomeric units. Two identical monomers consist of N-hydroxy-3-aminopropionic acid coupled with beta-alanine, and a third unit at the amino terminal is composed of N-hydroxy-3-aminopropionic acid and one of the following amino acids: beta-alanine (1a), phenylalanine (1b), cyclohexylalanine (1c), or glycine (1d). Thermodynamic results for representatives of the analogues have shown a strong destabilization (3-4 orders of magnitude) of the ferric complexes with respect to ferrioxamine B, probably due to shorter spacers and a more strained structure around the metal center. No significant effect of the variations at the N-terminal has been observed on the stability of the ferric complexes. By contrast, using in vivo radioactive uptake experiments, we have found that these modifications have a substantial effect on the mechanism of iron(III) uptake in the pathogenic bacteria Yersinia enterocolitica. Analogues 1a and 1d were utilized by the ferrioxamine B uptake system (FoxA), while 1b and 1c either used different uptake systems or were transported to the microbial cell nonspecifically by diffusion via the cell membrane. Transport via the FoxA system was also confirmed by uptake experiments with the FoxA deficient strain of Yersinia enterocolitica. A fluorescent marker, attached to 1a in a way that did not interfere with its biological activity, provided additional means to monitor the uptake mechanism by fluorescence techniques. Of particular interest is the observation that 1a was utilized by the uptake system of ferrioxamine B in Yersinia enterocolitica (FoxA) but failed to use the ferrioxamine uptake route in Pseudomonas putida. Here, we present a case in which biomimetic siderophore analogues deliberately designed for a particular bacterium can distinguish between related uptake systems of different microorganisms.

Preparation of 66Ga- and 68Ga-labeled Ga(III)-deferoxamine-folate as potential folate-receptor-targeted PET radiopharmaceuticals.

A folate-receptor-targeting radiopharmaceutical, Ga(III)-deferoxamine-folate (Ga-DF-Folate), was radiolabeled with two positron-emitting isotopes of gallium, cyclotron-produced (66)Ga (9.5 hour half-life) and generator-produced (68)Ga (68 minute half-life). The [(66)Ga]Ga-DF-Folate was administered to athymic mice with folate-receptor-positive human KB cell tumor xenografts to demonstrate that microPET mouse tumor imaging is feasible with (66)Ga, despite the relatively high positron energy of this radionuclide. Using the athymic mouse KB tumor xenograft model, dual-isotope autoradiography was also performed following i.v. co-administration of [(18)F]-FDG, a marker of regional metabolic activity, and folate-receptor-targeted [(111)In]In-DTPA-Folate. The autoradiographic images of 1 mm tumor sections demonstrate the gross heterogeneity of the KB cell tumor xenograft, as well as subtle disparity in the regional accumulation of the two radiotracers.

Synthesis and solution properties of deferoxamine amides.

The poor membrane permeability and oral bioavailability of the iron chelating agent deferoxamine (DFO) mesylate result from the low octanol/water partition coefficient and high aqueous solubility. With the ultimate aim to improve biomembrane permeability while retaining the iron-binding ability of DFO, a series of more lipophilic amides were prepared by reacting the terminal primary amino group with fatty and aromatic acid chlorides or anhydrides. Octanol/water partition coefficients and equilibrium solubilities of these analogs in solvents, chosen to delineate physicochemical interactions, were determined as a function of temperature. Solid-state properties were evaluated by calorimetry. All DFO amide derivatives had higher melting points, indicating that derivatives formed strong intermolecular interactions in the solid phase. Formamidation of the primary amine of deferoxamine resulted in a 200-fold increase in the octanol/water partition coefficient and reduced aqueous solubility at least 2000-fold compared with the parent molecule. The partition coefficient increased and aqueous solubility decreased 2-fold with the addition of each methylene group in the homologous series of aliphatic amides. Solubilities of the derivatives in water-saturated octanol and hexane showed irregular profiles as a function of increasing aliphatic chain length that were attributed to intermolecular packing in the solid state. The temperature dependence of the partition coefficients was interpreted to indicate that interfacial transfer of the deferoxamine amides was, in part, affected by an apparent diminished ability to form energetically favorable interactions in the water-saturated organic phase.

Chemical Determinants of antimalarial activity of reversed siderophores.

Reversed siderophores (RSFs) are artificial hydroxamate-based iron chelators designed after the natural siderophore ferrichrome. The modular molecular design of RSF derivatives allowed the synthesis of various congeners with controlled iron-binding capacities and partition coefficients. These two physicochemical properties were assessed by a novel fluorescent method and were found to be the major determinants of RSF permeation across erythrocyte membranes and scavenging of compartmentalized iron. The partition coefficient apparently conferred upon RSFs two major features: (i) the ability to rapidly access iron pools of in vitro-grown Plasmodium falciparum at all developmental stages and to mobilize intracellular iron and transfer it to the medium and (ii) the ability to suppress parasite growth at all developmental stages. These features of RSFs were assessed by quantitative determination of the structure-activity relationships of the biological activities and partition coefficients spanning a wide range of values. The most effective RSF containing the aromatic group of phenylalanine (RSFm2phe) showed 50% inhibitory concentration of 0.60 +/- 0.03 nmol/ml in a 48-h test and a 2-h onset of inhibition of ring development at 5 nmol/ml. The lipophilic compound RSFm2phe and the lipophilic and esterase-cleavable compound RSFm2pee inhibited parasite growth at all developmental stages whether inhibition was assessed in a continuous mode or after discontinuing drug administration. The antimalarial effects of RSFm2phe and cleavable RSFm2pee were potentiated in the presence of desferrioxamine (DFO) at concentrations at which DFO alone had no effect on parasite growth. These studies provide experimental evidence indicating that the effective and persistent antimalarial actions of RSFs are associated with drug access to infected cells and scavenging of iron from intracellular parasites. Moreover, the optimal antimalarial actions of RSFs are apparently also determined by improved accessibility to critical iron pools or by specific interactions with critical parasite targets.

A facile method for the labeling of proteins with zirconium isotopes.

To label proteins with positron emitters with a half-life in the order of days, a method has been developed to label proteins with zirconium (Zr)-isotopes. Therefore, the bifunctional chelating agent desferal (Df) was coupled to albumins via a thioether bond. Labeling of the premodified proteins was easily performed by addition of these proteins to freeze-dried Zr-oxalate. This labeling was efficient (> 90%) and accomplished in several minutes. The conjugates showed a high in vitro stability. Biodistribution studies were performed with 88Zr-citrate, 88Zr-Df, and 88Zr-labeled mouse serum albumin (88Zr-Df-MSA), modified with different amounts of chelating groups. Whereas Zr-citrate was found to accumulate in bone, Zr-Df was cleared very fast by glomerular filtration. The 88Zr-Df-MSA showed similar blood clearance as did 123I-labeled MSA. The biodistribution pattern of 88Zr-Df-MSA differed only from 123I-MSA in that a higher accumulation of Zr in liver, kidney, and spleen was found. The absence of large amounts of 88Zr in bone indicated that in vivo the conjugates are also reasonably stable.

Synthesis, purification, and tumor cell uptake of 67Ga-deferoxamine--folate, a potential radiopharmaceutical for tumor imaging.

The vitamin folic acid was covalently linked to the chelating agent deferoxamine (DF) via an amide bond using a simple carbodiimide coupling reaction. A mixture of two isomers, DF--folate(alpha) and DF--folate(gamma), was produced involving the alpha- and gamma-carboxyl group of folic acid, respectively. These two isomers were separated by anion-exchange chromatography using a NH4HCO3 gradient. Competitive binding studies revealed that only the DF-folate(gamma) is recognized by the folate receptor on KB cells, interacting with an affinity comparable to unconjugated folic acid. The DF--folate conjugates were radiolabeled with the gamma-emitting radionuclide 67Ga3+ and tested for uptake by cultured KB cells overexpressing the folate receptor. The cellular accumulation of 67Ga-DF-folate(gamma) tracer exhibited rapid uptake kinetics in cell culture with a t1/2 of approximately 3 min. The KB cell association of 67Ga-DF--folate(gamma) was competitively blocked by free folic acid, indicating that uptake of the 67Ga-DF--folate(gamma) was specifically mediated by the folate receptor. Since the folate receptor is overexpressed on the surfaces of many neoplastic cells, these results suggest that 67Ga-DF--folate(gamma) complex might be useful as a diagnostic agent for noninvasive imaging of folate receptor-positing tumors.

Synthesis, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution of 67GA deferoxamineacetyl-cysteinylbiotin.

The exceptionally high affinity of streptavidin for biotin may be exploited for two-step in vivo approaches for delivering radiolabelled biotin derivatives to lesion-bound streptavidin-conjugated monoclonal antibodies. A radiolabeled biotin derivative was prepared, and its characterization, stability, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution studies are presented. This derivative contains deferoxamine, a chelating moiety with high affinity for trivalent metals suitable for imaging and therapy. Deferoxamineacetyl-cysteinylbiotin (DACB) was synthesized in three steps: nucleophilic reaction of deferoxamine with N-hydroxysuccinimide iodoacetate, aminolysis of N-hydroxysuccinimide biotin by L-cysteine, followed by coupling of cysteinylbiotin with N-iodoacetyldeferoxamine. DACB was characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS. Radiolabeling of DACB with 67Ga led to a labeling efficiency of > 95%. Pharmacokinetics of 67Ga DACB exhibited rapid blood clearance, with < 10% circulating at 30 min and < 1% at 6 hr. Plasma samples collected at various time intervals showed > 95% binding with streptavidin, indicating in vivo stability of 67Ga DACB. Urinalysis showed > 80% of the administered dose excreted at 6 hr. Biodistribution data at 6 hr showed < 1% radioactivity remaining per organ.

Duplex and triplex directed DNA cleavage by oligonucleotide-Cu(II)/Co(III) metallodesferal conjugates.

Cu(II) desferal conjugated to d(T)10 at 5'-end is shown to direct the cleavage of single stranded 19-mer target DNA d(TA1GCCCGGCG), with a base preference G > C >> A. In contrast, the corresponding Co(II)-desferal conjugate directed the cleavage specific to only G sites (G12, G16, G17 and G19). Triplex targetting on the duplex 5'-TCCTGATAAAGGAGGAGATGAAGAAAAAATGA-3': 3'-AGGACTATTTCCTCCTCTACTTCTTTTTTACT-5', using Cu(II) desferal conjugated to 5'-end of 3'-TTTCCTCCTCT-5' directed the cleavage at G5.

DNA cleavage by Cu(II)-desferal: identification of C1'-hydroxylation as the initial event for DNA damage.

Desferal, a siderophore of microbial origin is the only drug currently used for clinical treatment of a genetic disorder, thalassemia. By using a combination of HPLC and 31P-NMR, it is demonstrated that the Cu complex of desferal cleaves DNA, the primary site of hydroxyl radical attack being the sugar C1' in the minor groove, which leads to production of 5-methylene furanone. While no C5'-oxidation was observed, a minor process involving C4'-attack accompanies the above cleavage path. The oxidative cleavage of DNA observed with CuDFO may have implications in the emerging applications of desferal as a drug delivery agent and an antimalarial.

Gallium-67/gallium-68-[DFO]-octreotide--a potential radiopharmaceutical for PET imaging of somatostatin receptor-positive tumors: synthesis and radiolabeling in vitro and preliminary in vivo studies.

UNLABELLED: When labeled with gamma-emitting radionuclides, somatostatin analogs have the potential to localize somatostatin receptor-positive tumors using gamma camera scintigraphy. We present a somatostatin analog, [DFO]-octreotide (SDZ 216-927), that comprises desferrioxamine B coupled to octreotide via a succinyl linker. This conjugate can be labeled with either 67Ga for gamma scintigraphy or 68Ga for PET imaging. The 67Ga-labeled conjugate is stable in vitro to autoradiolysis over a 24-hr period. METHODS: Rats bearing a somatostatin receptor-positive pancreatic islet cell tumor were injected with 20 MBq of 67Ga[DFO]-octreotide (33 GBq 67Ga/mumole). RESULTS: After 1 hr, the accumulation of 67Ga[DFO]-octreotide was 0.38 +/- 0.08 %ID/g and the tumor-to-nontumor ratios for blood, muscle, liver and intestine were 2.5, 7.4, 1.9 and 1.6, respectively. PET studies with 68Ga[DFO]-octreotide recorded a very rapid accumulation at the tumor and a subsequent residence half-life of about 6 hr. CONCLUSION: Gallium-68-[DFO]-octreotide can be used in PET studies to diagnose receptor-positive tumors such as gastroenteropancreatic, small-cell lung and breast tumors.

Synthesis of the metabolite N-hydroxy-desferrioxamine B.

N-Hydroxy-desferrioxamine B (5), a postulated metabolite of the microbial product desferrioxamine B (1), has been prepared by reduction of the intermediate oxime 6 with sodium cyanoborohydride. The oxime was obtained by selective oxidation of desferrioxamine B with hydrogen peroxide and a catalytic amount of sodium tungstate dihydrate. The iron complex derived from 5 enabled definite proof of the structure of one of four metabolites of desferrioxamine B found in urine samples of patients treated with this drug.

The antimalarial action of desferal involves a direct access route to erythrocytic (Plasmodium falciparum) parasites.

We designed the N-methylanthranilic-desferrioxamine (MA-DFO) as a fluorescent iron (III) chelator with improved membrane permeation properties. Upon binding of iron (III), MA-DFO fluorescence is quenched, thus allowing traceability of drug-iron (III) interactions. MA-DFO is well tolerated by mammalian cells in culture. Its antimalarial activity is pronounced: IC50 values on in vitro (24-h) growth of Plasmodium falciparum were 3 +/- 1 microM for MA-DFO compared with 30 +/- 8 for DFO. The onset of growth inhibition of rings or trophozoites occurs 2-4 h after exposure to 13 microM MA-DFO. This effect is commensurate with MA-DFO permeation into infected cells. In a 24-h exposure to MA-DFO or DFO, trophozoites take up either compound to approximately 10% of the external concentration, rings to 5%, and noninfected cells to < 1%. Red cells encapsulated with millimolar concentrations of DFO or MA-DFO fully support parasite invasion and growth. We conclude that extracellular MA-DFO and DFO gain selective access into parasites by bypassing the host. The rate-limiting step is permeation through the parasite membrane, which MA-DFO accomplishes faster than DFO, in accordance with its higher hydrophobicity. These views are consistent with the proposed duct, which apparently provides parasitized cells with a window to the external medium.