The Open Biology Journal

2011, 04 : 03-09
Published online 2011 January 31. DOI: 10.2174/1874196701104010003
Publisher ID: TOBIOJ-4-3

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 The Outward Rectifying Anions and Organic Osmolytes Conductance in Malaria-Infected Erythocytes: Myth or Reality?

Christophe Duranton, *,1 , Tanneur Valerie2 and Tauc Michel1
1 TIANP, CNRS-UMR 6097, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, Faculté des Sciences, 06108 NICE, France
2 Laboratoire de Génétique des Tumeurs Solides Faculté de Médecine, 28 Avenue de Valombrose, 06107 Nice, France

* Address correspondence to this author at the Aspects normaux et pathologiques, CNRS-UMR 6097, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, Bâtiment des Sciences Naturelles, Parc Valrose, 06108 NICE Cedex 2, France; Tel: 00334 92 07 68 94; Fax: 00334 92 07 68 50; E-mail: duranton@unice.fr

ABSTRACT

Malaria-infected erythrocytes acquired New Permeability Pathways (NPPs) to meet the needs in nutrients and disposal of waste products of the intraerythocytic parasite development. The NPPs have been intensively studied for their putative interest as therapeutic targets for malaria treatment. Over the past 10 years, many electrophysiological studies have identified novel ion conductances (reflecting a part of the NPPs activities) in the host plasma membrane of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. In this article, we review the electrophysiological/biophysical properties of the malaria-induced outwardly rectifying anion conductance and compare this conductance to the other anion conductances and permeabilities already described in the literature.

Keywords:

Patch-clamp, red blood cells, membrane permeability, plasmodium, malaria parasite.