Characterization of epitopes on the 25 kD protein of the macrogametes/zygotes of Plasmodium falciparum

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Abstract
Summary A sexual stage–specific protein of Plasmodium falciparum with a Mr of 25 000 is one of the target antigens of transmission–blocking antibodies. The contributions of tertiary structure and post–translational modifications (glycosy–lation and acylation) to the structure of the epitopes on this protein were the subject of detailed investigations. After modification of the three–dimensional structure and modification or cleavage of carbohydrate groups and linked fatty acids, the immunological reactivity was investigated by three different techniques: (i) immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled proteins, (ii) enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and (iii) Western blotting. The results of the experiments indicate that the immunological reactivity of the major epitopes on the 25 kD protein, including the epitope involved in transmission–blocking immunity, are dependent on the tertiary structure of the protein and on the presence of linked fatty acids, but not on the presence or absence of carbohydrate groups.