[Molecular recognition between GlcNAc and Plasmodium falciparum merozoites].

In this study p-aminophenyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside was bound covalently to bovine serum albumin (BSA) to form neoglycoprotein (GlcNAc-BSA). The antigenicity of BSA and the pyranose structure of the sugar was preserved. By using the neoglycoprotein antibody against BSA and staphylococcal protein A-gold (SPA-gold), Plasmodium falciparum FCC-1/HN merozoites were immunolabeled. The labelled sample was observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The TEM pictures showed that colloidal gold pellets were distributed all over the merozoite surface. This is the first report on the direct experimental evidence of molecular recognition between GlcNAc-BSA (or GlcNAc) and Plasmodium falciparum merozoites. But free GlcNAc or even GlcN can inhibit the immunolabeleation. The results support the hypothesis that, besides N-acetylneuraminic acid, GlcNAc is involved as another recognized site on GPA for Plasmodium falciparum. Thus we further confirmed that N-acetyl of GlcNAc is not necessary for the recognition.