Paper chromatographic separation of phosphate esters, tricarboxylic cycle acids and amino acids in extracts from malaria parasites.

A paper chromatographic method for the separation and identification of complex mixtures of phosphate esters, tricarboxylic cycle acids and amino acids in biological extracts is described. The method has been applied to the investigation of carbohydrate metabolism pathways in the intraerythrocytic, simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi; on treatment of parasitized erythrocytes with [U-C14]glucose, a perchloric acid extract was prepared and separated by chromatography on Whatman 31 ET filter-paper. A simple procedure for the measurement of the specific activities of radioactive compounds without prior elution from the chromatographic support is also described.