Brief communication: Association between cytosolic low molecular weight phosphotyrosine-phosphatase and malaria - A possible mechanism

Cytosolic low molecular weight phosphotyrosine-phosphatase shows dephosphor ylating activity of the band 3 protein. Increased phosphorylation of this p rotein increases membrane rigidity and resistance to invasion of red blood cells by malarial parasites. This observation may explain the negative asso ciation previously reported by our group between the high activity *C allel e of cytosolic low molecular weight phosphotyrosine-phosphatase and past ma larial morbidity. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.