Eur. J. Biochem.
268, 6221–6228 (2001) q FEBS 2001
Inhibition of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol biosynthesis in Plasmodium
falciparum by C-2 substituted mannose analogues
Cristiana Santos de Macedo, Peter Gerold, Nicole Jung, Nahid Azzouz, Jürgen Kimmel and Ralph T. Schwarz
Med. Zentrum für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
Mannose analogues (2-deoxy-D -glucose, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-
D -glucose and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D -mannose) have been
used to study glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPtdIns)
biosynthesis and GPtdIns protein anchoring in protozoal
and mammalian systems. The effects of these analogues on
GPtdIns biosynthesis and GPtdIns-protein anchoring of the
human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum were
evaluated in this study. At lower concentrations of
2-deoxy-D -glucose and 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D glucose (0.2
and 0.1 mM , respectively), GPtdIns biosynthesis is inhibited
without significant effects on total protein biosynthesis. At
higher concentrations of 2-deoxy-D -glucose and 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose (1.5 and 0.8 mM , respectively), the
incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into glycolipids was
inhibited by 90%, and the attachment of GPtdIns anchor to
merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) was prevented.
However, at these concentrations, both sugar analogues
inhibit MSP-1 synthesis and total protein biosynthesis. In
contrast to 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose and 2-amino-
2-deoxy-D -mannose (mannosamine), the formation of new
Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPtdIns) represent a class
of glycolipids responsible for the anchoring of proteins
on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane (reviewed in
[1–6]). GPtdIns from parasitic protozoa have been related to
the pathology of many parasitic diseases [5]. The human
malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has been shown
to synthesize a spectrum of GPtdIns molecules [7], which
represent a class of malarial toxins [6]. These toxins are
involved in activation of host cell macrophages, induction of
NO release and up-regulation of endothelial cell markers
[8–10]. Major surface proteins of P. falciparum merozoites
Correspondence to R. T. Schwarz, Med. Zentrum für Hygiene und
Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg,
Robert-Koch-Strasse 17, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
Fax: 1 49 6421 2868 976, Tel.: 1 49 6421 2865149,
E-mail: schwarz@mailer.uni-marburg.de
Abbreviations: GPtdIns, glycosylphosphatidylinositol; PtdIns,
phosphatidylinositol; Man, mannose; ManN, mannosamine; GlcN,
glucosamine; EtN, ethanolamine, 2dGlc, 2-deoxy-D -glucose, Dol-
P-Man, dolichol-phosphate-mannose; HPAEC, high pH anion exchange
chromatography; GPtdIns-PLC, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-
phospholipase C; GPtdIns-PLD, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-
phospholipase D; MSP-1, merozoite surface protein-1; MDCK,
Madin–Darby canine kidney; TLC, thin-layer chromatography.
(Received 22 June 2001, revised 26 September 2001, accepted
3 October 2001)
glycolipids was observed only in the presence of tritiated or
nonradiolabelled 2-deoxy-D -glucose. Mannosamine inhibits
GPtdIns biosynthesis at a concentration of 5 mM , but neither
an accumulation of aberrant intermediates nor significant
inhibition of total protein biosynthesis was observed in
the presence of this analogue. Furthermore, the [3H]manno-
samine-labelled glycolipid spectrum resembled the one
described for [3H]glucosamine labelling. Total hydrolysis of
mannosamine labelled glycolipids showed that half of the
tritiated mannosamine incorporated into glycolipids was
converted to glucosamine. This high rate of conversion led
us to suggest that no actual inhibition from GPtdIns
biosynthesis is achieved with the treatment with manno-
samine, which is different to what has been observed for
mammalian cells and other parasitic protozoa.
Keywords: glycosylphosphatidylinositol; Plasmodium
falciparum; D -mannosamine; 2-deoxy-D -glucose; 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose.
[for example, merozoite surface protein (MSP)-1 and -2] are
GPtdIns-anchored [11]. Biosynthesis of GPtdIns in Plas-
modium has been established by characterizing the
structures of putative biosynthesis intermediates synthesized
by parasite cultures [7,12]. More detailed understanding of
the biosynthesis pathway and function of GPtdIns came
from the use of specific inhibitors of the GPtdIns
biosynthesis. A recently established fungi metabolite
(YW3548) was shown to inhibit GPtdIns-biosynthesis in
yeast and mammalian cells but not in parasitic protozoa
[13]. Structural analogues of GPtdIns having modified
hydroxylgroups at the inositol were shown to inhibit
selectively GPtdIns-biosynthesis in cell-free systems pre-
pared from Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania mexicana
but not from HeLa cells [14,15]. Therefore, C-2 substituted
mannose analogues are the only inhibitors known to
affect GPtdIns-synthesis and GPtdIns-anchoring of surface
molecules in mammalian cells and protozoa (reviewed in
[16]). 2-Amino-2-deoxy-D -mannose (mannosamine) has
been used to study GPtdIns biosynthesis in a variety of
cell-types and organisms. In all systems investigated so far,
mannosamine was able to inhibit GPtdIns biosynthesis. In
T. brucei, mannosamine inhibits the incorporation of
ethanolamine into GPtdIns protein by being incorporated
into GPtdIns-biosynthesis intermediates [17]. This leads to
the accumulation of a ManN-Man-GlcN-PtdIns inter-
mediate, which could not be mannosylated at the C-2
position [18]. In mammalian cells there are discrepant data

6222 C. Santos de Macedo et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 268)
on the incorporation of mannosamine into GPtdIns
precursors [19,20]. Using Madin –Darby canine kidney
(MDCK) cells, mannosamine was shown to be incorporated
into GPtdIns biosynthesis intermediates [19] whereas no
incorporation of mannosamine into GPtdIns was observed
using HeLa or lymphoma cells [20], despite of the inhibition
of GPtdIns biosynthesis with the accumulation of
Man2-GPtdIns. These data suggested a direct inhibition
of the enzyme a1,2-mannosyltransferase by mannosamine.
Nonetheless, mannosamine inhibits the labelling of
GPtdIns-anchored proteins by tritiated ethanolamine and
mannose, and the polarized distribution of GPtdIns-
anchored proteins in polarized epithelial cells [17]. In
L. mexicana, synthesis of glycosylated inositol phospholi-
pids was inhibited by incorporation of mannosamine,
whereas the formation of lipophosphoglycans was inhibited
without mannosamine incorporation [21].
Mannose analogues such as 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose
and 2-deoxy-D -glucose have been shown to inhibit GPtdIns
biosynthesis (reviewed in [16,22,23]), as both of them
inhibit the formation of dolichol-phosphate-mannose
[24,25], the donor for the mannose residues in GPtdIns
biosynthesis [26]. Incubation of mammalian cells with
2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose led to an inhibition of GPtdIns-
anchoring of alkaline phosphatase and accumulation of a
precursor protein having an uncleaved GPtdIns-attachment
peptide [27]. 2-Deoxy-D -glucose has not been described to
inhibit GPtdIns biosynthesis until now.
Inhibition of malaria parasite P. falciparum multipli-
cation in culture has been described for mannose analogues
[28–31]. However, it remains unclear if these effects were
due to an inhibition of GPtdIns synthesis and/or protein
biosynthesis, the inhibition of glucosamine uptake or other
effects of mannose analogues on the parasite. It is known
that light microscopy is a very sensitive method to obtain
information about the viability of malaria parasites, and is
used routinely to check multiplication and development of
P. falciparum cultures.
For a more detailed understanding and to establish
mannose analogues as potential specific inhibitors of the
biosynthesis of GPtdIns, we tested the in vivo effects of the
C-2 substituted mannose analogues mannosamine, 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose and 2-deoxy-D -glucose on the biosyn-
thesis of free and protein-bound GPtdIns in Plasmodium
falciparum in comparison to total protein biosynthesis.
M AT E R I A L S A N D M E T H O D S
Materials
3
D -[2- H]mannose, 2-deoxy- D -[1-3 H]glucose, GDP-
[2- H]mannose and [35S]methionine were purchased from
3
Amersham (Germany). D -[6-3H]Glucosamine hydrochlo-
ride was obtained from Hartmann (Germany).
3
D -[6 – H]Mannosamine was from ARC-Biotrend
(Germany). Mannosamine was obtained from Sigma
(Germany). 2-Deoxy-D -glucose was from Serva (Germany)
and 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose was from Calbiochem. All
solvents used were of analytical or high-performance liquid
chromatography grade and were obtained from Riedel-de-
Haen (Germany). Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plates
were from Merck (Germany).
14321033, 2001, 23, Downloaded from https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.0014-2956.2001.02571.x by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [26/05/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
q FEBS 2001
Parasites
P. falciparum strain FCBR was obtained from B. Enders,
Behring Co. (Marburg, Germany). It was maintained as
previously described [32]. Development and multiplication
of plasmodial cultures was followed by microscopic
evaluation of Giemsa-stained smears. Parasite cultures
were routinely checked for Mycoplasma contamination.
Inhibition of parasite multiplication was assessed as
described [29].
Metabolic labelling of parasites
To test for the effects of mannose analogues on the
incorporation of radioactive precursors, parasite cultures
were preincubated with inhibitors for 2 h prior to the start of
labelling. Metabolic labelling of parasite cultures using
tritiated glucosamine, mannose, mannosamine, 2-deoxy-
35
D -glucose or [ S]methionine was performed as described
previously [7,11]. Incubations were performed for 3 h
(glycolipids) or 8 h (glycoproteins) at 37 8C.
Viability of parasites
After 10 h of incubation, the viability of parasites was
assessed by light microscopy of Giemsa-stained smears and
measured by [35S]methionine incorporation into total
proteins by liquid scintillation counting, after trichloroacetic
acid precipitation of proteins on filter membranes [29].
Extraction and purification of lipids
Glycolipids were extracted with chloroform/methanol/water
(10 : 10 : 3, v/v/v) as described [32]. The chloroform/
methanol/water-extracted glycolipids were dried in a Speed-
vac concentrator (Savant Inc.), subjected to repeated ‘Folch’
washings, and finally, partitioned between water and water-
saturated n-butanol. Washed glycolipid extracts were
analysed on silica gel 60 TLC plates using chloroform/
methanol/water (4 : 4 : 1, v/v/v) as the solvent system.
After chromatography, the plates were dried and scanned for
radioactivity using a Berthold LB 2842 automatic TLC
scanner or analysed by a BAS-1000 Bio-Imaging Analyser
(Fuji Film).
Total hydrolysis of glycolipid extracts
Glycolipid extracts labelled with tritiated glucosamine or
mannosamine were hydrolysed with 4 M HCl for 4 h at
100 8C. After treatment samples were washed with
methanol, resuspended in water, and filtered through a
0.2-mm filter. Monosaccharides were analysed by high pH
anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) on a Dionex
Basic Chromatography System (Dionex Corp.) using a
CarboPac PA-1 column (4 mm  250 cm, Bio-LC, Dionex
Co., Sunnyvale, CA, USA), and isocratic conditions (10 mM
NaOH). Fractions of 0.3 mL were collected and subjected to
liquid scintillation. Elution positions of nonradioactive
coinjected mannosamine and glucosamine standards were
detected using a pulsed amperometric detector.

q FEBS 2001 P. falciparum GPtdIns glycosylation inhibition (Eur. J. Biochem. 268) 6223
Analysis of parasite proteins
Incorporation of radioactivity into total parasite
proteins was estimated by liquid scintillation counting
after trichloroacetic acid precipitation of proteins on
filter membranes [29]. Incorporation of radioactivity
into the MSP-1 was investigated after immunopurification
of the protein using the monoclonal antibody 111.4,
specifically raised against MSP-1 (kindly provided by
A. A. Holder, Division of Parasitology, National
Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, UK)
[11,33].
Preparation of GDP-[3H]Man Standards
Washed parasites (30–40 h post-invasion) were harvested
by saponin lysis [7]. Parasite lysates were prepared
essentially as previously described [34]. Briefly, about
5  109 parasites were hypotonically lysed and homogen-
ized by 20 strokes of a Dounce homogenizer. An equal
volume of double isotonic strength buffer was added. This
preparation was designated parasite lysate. All experiments
involving parasite lysates were performed with freshly
prepared lysates. For cell-free labelling about 5  108
parasite-equivalents, processed as parasite lysates or
membrane preparations, were supplemented with 5 mM
MnCl2, 1 mM Coenzyme A (CoA), 1 mM ATP and 2 mCi
GDP-[2-3H]mannose. Incubations were performed for
45 – 90 min at 37 8C. Glycolipids were processed as
described above.
R E S U LT S
Mannose analogues effect GPtdIns biosynthesis in
P. falciparum
To test the effects of mannose analogues on the GPtdIns
synthesis in Plasmodium, parasite cultures containing late
trophozoites (34–42 h post-infection) were pretreated with
various concentrations of the mannose analogues manno-
samine, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose and 2-deoxy-D -glucose
followed by metabolic labelling using tritiated glucosamine
in the presence of sugar analogues. Glycolipids were
extracted by organic solvents and the radioactivity
present was determined by scintillation counting. The
stage of the parasites developmental cycle used for
these experiments incorporates almost exclusively tritiated
glucosamine into GPtdIns [7,32]. Therefore, radioactivity
found in glycolipid extracts of glucosamine labelled
parasites is indicative of GPtdIns synthesis. The addition
of increasing amounts of 2-deoxy-D -glucose led to a
decrease in the incorporation of tritiated glucosamine
into GPtdIns (Fig. 1A). The presence of 0.2 mM of
2-deoxy- D -glucose was sufficient to reduce the
radioactivity found in GPtdIns by 71% whereas 94%
inhibition was achieved by 1.5 mM of 2-deoxy-D -glucose
(Table 1). Having present 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose or
mannosamine gave similar results (Table 1). The incorpor-
ation of glucosamine into GPtdIns was inhibited by 61%
using about 0.1 mM 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose (Fig. 1B
and Table 1) or mannosamine (Fig. 1C and Table 1).
Complete inhibition (. 90%) of GPtdIns biosynthesis
using these two inhibitors was achieved using 0.8 mM and
14321033, 2001, 23, Downloaded from https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.0014-2956.2001.02571.x by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [26/05/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Fig. 1. TLC analyses of P. falciparum glycolipids synthesized in the
presence of mannnose analogues. Parasites were treated in vivo with
different concentrations (mM) of 2-deoxy-D -glucose (A), 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose (B) and mannosamine (C), then labelled with
tritiated glucosamine and extracted with chloroform/methanol/water
(10 : 10 : 3, v/v/v). The chloroform/methanol/water extracts were
subjected to repeated ‘Folch’ partitions, dried and partitioned between
water and water-saturated n-butanol. Glycolipids recovered in the
butanol phase were analysed on silica TLC plates using a chloroform/
methanol/water solvent system (4 : 4 : 1, v/v/v). Plates were then
exposed on an imaging plate, which was analysed by a BAS-1000 Bio-
Imaging Analyser (Fuji Film Co.). O, origin; F, front. The structure of
previously characterized glycolipids are indicated in (A). Uncharacter-
ized glycolipids are indicated with (*). E, ethanolamine; M, mannose;
G, glucosamine; aPtdIns, acyl-phosphatidylinositol.
5 mM , respectively (Table 1). These data suggest an
effective inhibition of malarial GPtdIns synthesis using
concentrations of the inhibitors that have been described in
other systems [16].
The incorporation of tritiated glucosamine into manno-
sylated and nonmannosylated GPtdIns was inhibited using
the three mannose analogues (Fig. 1A–C). The presence of
2-deoxy-D -glucose led to the formation of new glycolipids,
despite the presence of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose or
mannosamine. However, in the presence of 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose, it was observed that the formation of
late mannosylated intermediates (Man4-GlcN-PtdIns and
Man3-GlcN-PtdIns) was specifically blocked. In the case of
mannosamine, neither aberrant GPtdIns biosynthetic inter-
mediates nor inhibition of the synthesis of any specific
intermediate were observed, in contrast to the findings of
Naik et al. [31]. We found a dose-dependent inhibition of all
species of GPtdIns, and neither mannosylated nor
nonmannosylated intermediates accumulated in the pre-
sence of mannosamine. The absence of new mannosamine-
containing GPtdIns and the inhibition of incorporation of
tritiated glucosamine into GPtdIns may point to an
inhibition of GPtdIns biosynthesis by a mechanism
which is different from the ones observed in other
systems, that is, the incorporation of mannosamine into
the GPtdIns trimannosyl-core glycan and further accumu-
lation of aberrant intermediates, or inhibition of
mannosyltransferases.
 14321033, 2001, 23, Downloaded from https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.0014-2956.2001.02571.x by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [26/05/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
6224 C. Santos de Macedo et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 268) q FEBS 2001

Table 1. Effects of mannose analogues on protein-bound GPtdIns and total protein biosynthesis. P. falciparum proteins and protein-bound
anchors were labelled in vivo in the presence of the inhibitors with [35S]methionine and [3H]glucosamine, respectively. Incorporation of radioactivity
into proteins and protein-bound anchors were measured by scintillation counting after trichloroacetic acid precipitation of proteins on filter
membranes. [35S]Methionine incorporation into total proteins was also used to assess parasite viability.

[3H]GlcN-labelled [35S]Methionine-labelled
Inhibitor used mM protein-bound GPtdIns (%) total protein (%)

2-deoxy-D -glucose 0 100 100

0.2 28.8 92.7
1.5 6.0 3.8
2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose 0 100 100
0.1 38.9 102.8
0.8 11.7 8.1
Mannosamine 0 100 100
0.5 26.7 109.8
5 6.0 95.4

Labelling of GPtdIns by tritiated mannose analogues

To check for the incorporation of mannose analogues into

malarial GPtdIns, parasite cultures were labelled with
equivalent amounts of tritiated mannosamine, 2-deoxy-
D -glucose or mannose (as a control). Glycolipids were
extracted by organic solvents and analysed on TLC (Fig. 2),
with GDP-[3H]Man labelled glycolipids as standards. The
labelling efficiency differs between the radioactive pre-
cursors used. Only 16% (^ 5%) and 34% (^ 7%) of the
radioactivity from tritiated 2-deoxy-D -glucose and manno-
samine (respectively) was incorporated into malarial
glycolipids, relative to the incorporation of tritiated
mannose. Because of the lower labelling efficiency of
mannosamine and 2-deoxy-D -glucose, minor amounts
(about 1/10th of the applied quantity of 2-deoxy-D -glucose
and mannosamine) of mannose and glucosamine-labelled
glycolipids were used for comparison on the TLC analysis.
Labelling with tritiated 2-deoxy-D -glucose showed that this
precursor is incorporated into three glycolipids (Fig. 2).
These newly formed glycolipids were identified as GPtdIns
by their sensitivity towards GPtdIns-specific nitrous acid
deamination, GPtdIns-PLC and GPtdIns-PLD (not shown).
The spectrum of glycolipids labelled with tritiated
mannosamine resembles the one obtained for glucosamine
labelled parasites. These glycolipids are GPtdIns as they
were sensitive towards GPtdIns-specific nitrous acid
deamination, GPtdIns-PLC and GPtdIns-PLD (data not
shown). Besides the mannosylated GPtdIns, tritiated Fig. 2. TLC analyses of P. falciparum glycolipids synthesized in the
mannosamine also labelled the nonmannosylated GPtdIns presence of tritiated mannose analogues. Parasites were labelled in
glucosamine-phosphatidylinositol (GlcN –PtdIns) and glu- vivo for 3 h with the tritiated precursor indicated, in the presence or
cosamine-acylphosphatidylinositol (GlcN-acyl – PtdIns) absence of mannose analogues. Glycolipids were extracted and
(Fig. 2). These data imply that mannosamine was processed as described in Fig. 1. The TLC plate was then exposed on
incorporated into GPtdIns instead of glucosamine and/or an imaging plate, which was analysed by a BAS-1000 Bio-Imaging
that it was converted to glucosamine prior to incorporation. Analyser (Fuji Film Co.). Control labellings with [3H]glucosamine and
In order to determine the nature of the labelled sugar present [3H]mannose were performed in parallel, and P. falciparum GDP-
in GPtdIns, total glycolipids of parasites labelled with [3H]Man in vitro labelled glycolipids were run in the same plate. The
tritiated mannosamine were subjected to total hydrolysis, structure of previously characterized glycolipids are indicated. O,
and monosaccharide composition was analysed by HPAEC. origin, F, front. 2dGlc, 2-deoxy-D -glucose; ManN, mannosamine; E,
Radioactive profiles are shown in Fig. 3. It was observed ethanolamine; M, mannose; G, glucosamine; aPtdIns, acyl-phospha-
that mannosamine-labelled glycolipids contained approxi- tidylinositol; Dol-P-Man, dolichol-phosphate-mannose. Glycolipids
mately half of the incorporated mannosamine converted to synthesized in the presence of 2-deoxy-D -glucose are indicated with (*).
 14321033, 2001, 23, Downloaded from https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.0014-2956.2001.02571.x by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [26/05/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
q FEBS 2001 P. falciparum GPtdIns glycosylation inhibition (Eur. J. Biochem. 268) 6225

Fig. 3. Dionex-HPAEC analysis of monosaccharides generated

from P. falciparum glycolipids labelled with [3H]mannosamine
and [3H]glucosamine. Parasites were labelled in vivo for 3 h with
[3H]mannosamine and [3H]glucosamine. Glycolipids were extracted
with chloroform/methanol/water (10 : 10 : 3, v/v/v). The chloroform/
methanol/water extracts were subjected to repeated ‘Folch’ partitions,
dried and partitioned between water and water-saturated n-butanol.
Glycolipids recovered in the butanol phase were submitted to total
hydrolysis (4 M HCl at 100 8C for 4 h), desalted with methanol,
resuspended in water and filtered through a 0.2-mm filter. Mono-
saccharides were analysed by Dionex-HPAEC at 10 mM NaOH. (A)
mixture of mannosamine and glucosamine radioactive standards; (B)
[3H]mannosamine labelled glycolipids; (C) [3H]glucosamine labelled
glycolipids. The elution positions of coinjected nonradiolabelled
mannosamine and glucosamine standards are indicated on the top of A,
B and C. Fig. 4. Effects of mannose analogues on GPtdIns anchored protein
MSP-1 biosynthesis and anchoring. Parasite proteins and GPtdIns
glucosamine, whereas parallel controls with glucosamine- anchors were labelled with [35S]methionine and [3H]glucosamine,
labelled total glycolipids showed a single peak correspond- respectively [11]. Incorporation of radioactivity into MSP-1 and MSP-1
ing to a nonradioactive coinjected glucosamine standard. anchor were measured after immunoprecipitation of the protein with the
monoclonal antibody 111.4. (A) 2-deoxy-D -glucose, (B) 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose and (C) mannosamine treated parasites.
The effect of mannose analogues on GPtdIns-anchor and
protein synthesis
analogues, addition of GPtdIns to proteins and protein
Inhibition of GPtdIns-anchor precursor synthesis will affect synthesis rates were investigated by labelling parasites
GPtdIns-attachment to parasite proteins. To investigate with [3H]glucosamine or [35S]methionine in the presence
specific inhibition of GPtdIns-anchor synthesis by mannose of different concentrations of inhibitors. Proteins were

6226 C. Santos de Macedo et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 268)
Fig. 5. Light microscopy of parasites after 10 h of treatment with
mannose analogues. After 10 h of incubation in the presence of
mannose analogues, parasites were visualized by light microscopy in
Giemsa-stained thin smears. The concentration of analogues is shown at
the top-right corner of each panel.
precipitated by trichloroacetic acid and washed with ethanol
prior to determine the incorporation of radioactive
precursors into proteins. Addition of 0.2 mM 2-deoxy-
D -glucose, 0.1 mM 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose or 0.5 mM
mannosamine led to a decrease of the synthesis of protein-
bound GPtdIns anchors (determined by [3H]glucosamine
incorporation) by 71.2, 61.1 or 73.3%, respectively
(Table 1). Whole protein biosynthesis (determined by
[35S]methionine incorporation) was reduced by 7.3% using
2-deoxy-D -glucose whereas 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose
and mannosamine did not affect protein synthesis at these
concentrations (Table 1). Higher concentrations of the
inhibitors led to more pronounced inhibitory effects on
GPtdIns-anchoring (Table 1). However, bulk protein syn-
thesis was significantly affected and reduced to less than
10% in the presence of 1.5 mM 2-deoxy-D -glucose or
0.8 mM 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose (Table 1). Therefore,
higher concentrations of 2-deoxy-D -glucose and 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose did not only affect the synthesis of
GPtdIns-anchors bound to proteins but also nonspecifically
decreased bulk parasite protein synthesis measured by
[35S]methionine incorporation. In contrast, even the
presence of 5 mM mannosamine led only to a marginal
reduction in the incorporation of [35S]methionine into
whole parasite proteins by 4.6% whereas the synthesis of
GPtdIns-anchors bound to proteins was reduced by 94%
(Table 1).
14321033, 2001, 23, Downloaded from https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.0014-2956.2001.02571.x by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [26/05/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
q FEBS 2001
To understand more specifically the effects of mannose
analogues on the synthesis of GPtdIns-anchored parasite
proteins, their effects on the synthesis of a major GPtdIns
anchored parasite protein (MSP-1) have been investigated.
Parasite cultures were labelled with [3H]glucosamine or
[35S]methionine in the presence or absence of different
concentrations of mannose analogues. In the presence of low
concentrations of 2-deoxy-D -glucose (0.2 mM ), 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose (0.1 mM ) or mannosamine (0.5 mM ), the
synthesis of GPtdIns-anchored MSP-1 determined by
incorporation of [3H]glucosamine decreased by 80%, 82%
or 81%, respectively (Fig. 4). Using higher concentrations
of 2-deoxy-D -glucose (1.5 mM ), 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glu-
cose (0.8 mM ) or mannosamine (5 mM ) lead to an even
more pronounced inhibition of glucosamine incorporation
by 97, 98 or 98%, respectively. The synthesis of the MSP-1
determined by incorporation of [35S]methionine into
immunoprecipitated protein was reduced by 57 and 88%
using 2-deoxy-D -glucose, 72 and 92% using 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose, and 27 and 32% using mannosamine.
These data indicate that concentrations of 2-deoxy-D -glu-
cose and 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose necessary to block the
attachment of a GPtdIns-anchor onto parasite proteins
effectively also inhibit protein synthesis. In contrast, high
concentrations of mannosamine leading to an almost
complete block of the GPtdIns-anchor attachment onto the
MSP-1 only partly inhibit protein synthesis.
Viability of parasites after treatment with mannose
analogues
In order to check the viability of parasites after treatment
with mannose analogues, incorporation of [35S]methionine
into total parasite proteins as well as light microscopy,
which is a very sensitive method to evaluate the
development of P. falciparum cultures. When parasites
were pretreated for 2 h with 0.2 mM 2-deoxy-D -glucose and
0.1 mM 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose and labelled for 8 h
with [35S]methionine, no decreasing on the incorporation of
this precursor into total proteins (in comparison with
controls) was observed (Table 1). This indicates that cells
were still viable after 10 h [comprising both previous
treatment (2 h) and labelling (8 h) periods]. Light
microscopy of Giemsa-stained smears of parasites treated
with 0.2 mM 2-deoxy-D -glucose and 0.1 mM 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose (Fig. 5) showed no significant morpho-
logical changes between treated and nontreated parasites
after 10 h of exposition to the analogues. At higher
concentrations of 2-deoxy- D -glucose (1.5 mM ) and
2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose (0.8 mM ), parasites showed a
very low incorporation (less than 10%) of [35S]methionine
into total proteins (Table 1), which clearly indicates the
nonviability of the parasites after treatment and consequent
cell death, also observed by optical evaluation of parasites
(Fig. 5), confirming the data presented on Table 1.
In the case of mannosamine, parasites showed no
significant decrease on total protein biosynthesis after the
treatment, either at lower (0.5 mM ) or higher (5 mM )
concentrations of the analogue (Table 1). In accordance
with this data, no significant morphological differences were
observed with light microscopy either, in comparison to
control parasites (Fig. 5).

q FEBS 2001 P. falciparum GPtdIns glycosylation inhibition (Eur. J. Biochem. 268) 6227
DISCUSSION
GPtdIns biosynthesis has shown to be essential for growth
and development of yeast and parasite cells whereas
mammalian cells survive even if their GPtdIns-synthesis is
deficient (reviewed in [1 –6]). Differences in the biosyn-
thesis of GPtdIns in mammalian cells and some well-studied
parasitic protozoa are described in the literature [13–15].
Therefore, interfering with the GPtdIns-biosynthesis of
parasitic protozoa provides a potential drug target [13–15].
Potential inhibitors described to block dolichol-phosphate
dependent mannosylation are mannose analogues such as
mannosamine [17 – 21], 2-deoxy-D -glucose [24] and
2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose [25] (reviewed in [22,23]).
The biosynthesis of GPtdIns in T. brucei has been shown
to be sensitive towards mannose analogues such as 2-deoxy-
D -glucose and mannosamine (reviewed in [16]), as the
formation of dolichol-phosphate linked intermediates of
these sugars lead to their incorporation into the growing
GPtdIns-core glycan. As the C-2 hydroxylgroup of these
mannose analogues is modified, GPtdIns core glycan chain
elongation is blocked at this position. For the human
malaria parasite P. falciparum, 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose
and 2-deoxy-D -glucose have been described to kill
parasites in the culture with the IC50 of 0.65 mM and
5.0 mM , respectively, ([28,29] and C. Santos de Macedo and
P. Goold, unpublished observations).
The labelling with 2-deoxy-D -glucose leads to the
formation of Dol-P-2dGlc [22], which inhibits the formation
of Dol-P-Man. Probably 2-deoxy-D -glucose is incorporated
into the GPtdIns instead of mannose. This leads to the
synthesis of three major 2-deoxy-D -glucose containing
GPtdIns. These glycolipids are slightly more hydrophobic
than GPtdIns precursors EtN-Man4-GlcN-acyl-PtdIns, EtN-
Man3-GlcN-acyl-PI and Man2-GlcN-acyl-PI, respectively.
The more hydrophobic character of 2-deoxy-D -glucose
would explain the hydrophobic TLC mobility of these
glycolipids. When parasites are treated with 2-deoxy-
D -glucose and labelled with glucosamine, it is observed that
increasing concentrations of 2-deoxy-D -glucose do not lead
to a further accumulation in these three 2-deoxy-D -glucose
containing GPtdIns but resulted in the down-regulation of
the synthesis of all GPtdIns (including the mannosylated and
the nonmannosylated ones). These data imply that higher
concentrations of 2-deoxy-D -glucose affect not only
GPtdIns mannosylation but also lead to more general
effects on parasite glycosylation. Low concentrations of
2-deoxy-D -glucose were able to inhibit the synthesis of
GPtdIns-anchors attached to proteins significantly without
affecting bulk protein synthesis, thus without affecting
parasite viability, as shown by light microscopy. In contrast,
the formation of the GPtdIns-anchored MSP-1 was inhibited
significantly, probably because the inhibition of GPtdIns
synthesis would increase the number of non-GPtdIns
anchored MSP-1, which might not be stable and would be
readily degraded.
Concerning the treatment with 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glu-
cose, a similar set of results was found for the inhibition of
GPtdIns synthesis in P. falciparum. Although 2-deoxy-
2-fluoro-D -glucose was not incorporated into GPtdIns, it
inhibited the formation of GPtdIns probably because of
the synthesis of GDP-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose and
consequent reduction of endogenous Dol-P-Man levels
14321033, 2001, 23, Downloaded from https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.0014-2956.2001.02571.x by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [26/05/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
[22]. The inhibition of GPtdIns-anchor synthesis by 0.1 mM
2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose without affecting bulk protein
synthesis showed that the inhibitory effect is specific for
GPtdIns biosynthesis. This is in agreement with the finding
that the synthesis of the GPtdIns-anchored MSP-1 is
inhibited, as this inhibition is probably due to lack of
GPtdIns-anchor attachment, resulting in a reduced stability
of this parasite protein. In contrast, the presence of higher
concentrations of this inhibitor during labelling led to a
reduction of bulk protein and MSP-1 synthesis by more
than 90%, and leading to parasite death, confirmed by
light microscopy. These data point to an unspecific
inhibition of parasite metabolism in the presence of higher
concentrations of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose. Therefore,
2-deoxy-D -glucose and 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D -glucose showed
a specific effect on GPtdIns biosynthesis at low concen-
trations. At higher concentrations, these inhibitors were seen
to to strongly affect total protein biosynthesis, leading to cell
death, as seen under light microscopy.
Our results did not suggest that mannosamine would
block GPtdIns biosynthesis by being incorporated into the
GPtdIns trimmanosyl-core glycan and acting as chain
terminator. This is different from the findings in T. brucei
[18] and in mammalian cells [19], where the formation of
ManN-Man-GlcN-PI was observed. They are also different
from the recent findings of Naik et al. [31], where it was
suggested that mannosamine inhibits P. falciparum GPtdIns
biosynthesis, preventing the attachment of the first mannose
to GlcN-PtdIns, leading to the accumulation of the latter.
Our data showed that the spectrum of mannosamine-labelled
glycolipids resembled very much the spectrum of
glucosamine-labelled glycolipids, without the accumulation
of any GPtdIns intermediate. Total hydrolysis of manno-
samine-labelled glycolipids showed that in P. falciparum
mannosamine is converted to glucosamine (as already
described for T. brucei and L. mexicana [18,21]), which
would explain the same spectrum of glycolipids. Further-
more, this finding explains the absence of detectable levels
of glucosamine-labelled glycolipids in the presence of high
levels of nonradioactive mannosamine, as well as the lack of
inhibition of protein biosynthesis and of parasite multipli-
cation (C. Santos de Macedo, unpublished observations).
Light microscopy showed no morphological difference
between mannosamine treated and nontreated parasites.
Therefore, in contrast to the findings in other systems,
mannosamine seems to have no effect on P. falciparum
GPtdIns biosynthesis.
These findings lead us to suggest that P. falciparum
synthesizes a large excess of GPtdIns. It seems that this
parasite possesses different mechanisms for GPtdIns
biosynthesis than mammalian and other parasitic systems,
which would indicate P. falciparum GPtdIns biosynthetic
pathway as a potential target for new therapies.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft,
Hessisches Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft, Stiftung
P.E. Kempkes, the Human Frontier Science Program and Fonds der
Chemischen Industrie. C. S. de M. receives a fellowship from Conselho
Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientı́fico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brası́lia,
Brazil. The authors thank Prof. Dr Volker Kretschmer, the Blood Bank
of University of Marburg for providing human erythrocytes.

6228 C. Santos de Macedo et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 268)
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