To clarify the cause of the predilection of Babesia gibsoni for reticulocytes and canine HK erythrocytes (containing high concentrations of potassium) with inherited high concentrations of some amino acids, including glutamate, 4 enzymes in B. gibsoni parasites were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The enzymes, i.e., hexokinase, glucose phosphate isomerase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), were found to be associated with B. gibsoni parasites. The parasite-specific enzymes were shown to have different mobility patterns in PAGE from those found in normal canine erythrocytes. GDH, which is able to oxidize glutamate to α-ketoglutarate, an intermediate in the citric acid cycle in mitochondria, was detected only in the parasites. Electron microscopy of the parasites revealed double-membraned organelles similar to mitochondria in their cytoplasm. The parasites in in vitro culture contained many more mitochondrialike organelles than those in the peripheral blood of infected dogs. In addition, the size of parasites cultured in vitro was significantly larger than that of parasites in the peripheral blood. Based on these results, it is suggested that B. gibsoni may use glucose as an energy source in its own glycolytic pathway. Moreover, the parasite may also be capable of oxidizing glutamate via GDH in the citric acid cycle, which may operate in the mitochondrialike organelles within the parasite. This may explain the predilection of B. gibsoni for canine reticulocytes and HK erythrocytes with a high concentration of glutamate.
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December 2003
Research Article|
December 01 2003
BABESIA GIBSONI–SPECIFIC ISOENZYMES RELATED TO ENERGY METABOLISM OF THE PARASITE IN INFECTED ERYTHROCYTES
Masahiro Yamasaki;
Masahiro Yamasaki
Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. maede@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
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Mohammad Alamgir Hossain;
Mohammad Alamgir Hossain
Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. maede@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
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Ja-Ryong Jeong;
Ja-Ryong Jeong
Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. maede@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
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Hye-Sook Chang;
Hye-Sook Chang
Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. maede@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
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Hiroyuki Satoh;
Hiroyuki Satoh
Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. maede@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
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Osamu Yamato;
Osamu Yamato
Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. maede@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
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Yoshimitsu Maede
Yoshimitsu Maede
Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan. maede@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
* To whom correspondence should be addressed
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J Parasitol (2003) 89 (6): 1142–1146.
Citation
Masahiro Yamasaki, Mohammad Alamgir Hossain, Ja-Ryong Jeong, Hye-Sook Chang, Hiroyuki Satoh, Osamu Yamato, Yoshimitsu Maede; BABESIA GIBSONI–SPECIFIC ISOENZYMES RELATED TO ENERGY METABOLISM OF THE PARASITE IN INFECTED ERYTHROCYTES. J Parasitol 1 December 2003; 89 (6): 1142–1146. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-86R
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