13C NMR studies of glycolysis in intra- and extra-erythrocytic Babesia microti

Abstract

Metabolism in the erythrocytes of normal mice and mice infected with Babesia microti has been monitored non-invasively by high resolution 13C NMR spectroscopy. The conversion of [U- 13C]glucose to lactate in both normal and infected cells together with the effect of the trypanocidal drug, 4,4′-diamidinodiazoaminobenzene diaceturate, on glycolytic rates were monitored. These studies show that erythrocytes utilize [U- 13C]glucose at a rate of 3 × 10 −12 μmol cell −1 min −1 at 35°C while parasitized cells consume 2.9 × 10 −11 μmol cell −1 min −1 and produce lactate as the sole end-product. This rate decreases to 9 × 10 −12 μmol cell −1 min −1 on the addition of 0.75 mM drug.