Biosynthesis of Amino Acids from 14C-U Glucose, Pyruvate, and Acetate by Erythrocytic Forms of P. knowlesi, in Vitro

Abstract

SummaryErythrocytic forms of P. knowlesi were grown for one or part of one schizogonic cycle in a medium containing 14C-U glucose, pyruvate, or acetate. Radioactive measurement of the amino acids of digested parasitic protein revealed 14C in aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and alanine. Both plasmodia and leukocytes were found to synthesize the three amino acids from the used precursors. No radioactivity was found in threonine, serine, glycine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, lysine, and arginine.