Abstract: | Cytosolic low molecular weight phosphotyrosine-phosphatase shows dephosphorylating activity of the band 3 protein. Increased phosphorylation of this protein increases membrane rigidity and resistance to invasion of red blood cells by malarial parasites. This observation may explain the negative association previously reported by our group between the high activity *C allele of cytosolic low molecular weight phosphotyrosine-phosphatase and past malarial morbidity. Am J Phys Anthropol 108:241–244, 1999. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |