Resonance Raman spectroscopy can detect structural changes in haemozoin (malaria pigment) following incubation with chloroquine in infected erythrocytes

FEBS Lett. 2008 Apr 2;582(7):1087-92. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2008.02.062. Epub 2008 Mar 4.

Abstract

Resonance Raman spectroscopy was applied to monitor the effects of chloroquine (CQ) treatment on cultures of Plasmodium falciparum trophozoites. A number of bands assigned to A(1g) and B(1g) modes characteristic of the haemozoin aggregate are reduced in intensity in the CQ-treated cells, however, no bands from the CQ are observed. The intensity changes are attributed to intermolecular drug binding of the CQ in a sandwich type complex between ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FePPIX) dimer units. It is postulated that the CQ binds via pi-pi interactions between adjacent and orientated porphyrins thereby disrupting the haemozoin aggregate and reducing excitonic interactions between adjacent haems. The results show the potential of Raman microscopy as a screening tool for FePPIX:drug interactions in live cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Chloroquine / chemistry
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology*
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology*
  • Hemeproteins / chemistry*
  • Hemin / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Trophozoites / drug effects

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Hemeproteins
  • hemozoin
  • Hemin
  • Chloroquine