Enhanced transbilayer mobility of phospholipids in malaria-infected monkey erythrocytes: a spin-label study.

Using a recently described technique of electron spin resonance spectroscopy, we determined the rate of transbilayer mobility (flip) of the four major simian-erythrocyte phospholipids in the erythrocyte membrane after infection by Plasmodium knowlesi. The development of the malarial parasite induces a very large increase in the flip rate of these phospholipids (mainly during the ring stage and at the beginning of trophozoite maturation). The half flip time fell from 2 and 3 hr in the case of choline phospholipids in healthy erythrocytes to less than 15 min in erythrocytes infected with the last stage of the parasite.