A novel C-terminal kinesin is essential for maintaining functional acidocalcisomes in Trypanosoma brucei.

Kinesins are cytoskeletal motor proteins that play roles in a variety of fundamental cellular processes including cell division and the anterograde transport of vesicles and organelles. We purified, cloned, and functionally characterized in Trypanosoma brucei a new member of the C-terminal kinesin family, TbKIFC1. Kinetic constants of the recombinant motor domain of TbKIFC1 were estimated at 0.56 microm for the microtubule dissociation constant (K(d)) with a k(cat) of 0.2 s(-1). Immunolocalization analysis showed an association of TbKIFC1 with punctate structures. Because they were rapidly transported to the negative pole of the microtubule after NH(4)Cl treatment, these structures were considered to be associated with acidic vesicles. To determine the role of the kinesin in vivo, we produced an inducible kinesin-deficient strain by double-stranded RNA interference methodology. Mutant cells were loaded with the fluorescent reagent fura2/acetoxymethylester to measure intracellular free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)). The resting [Ca(2+)](i) was unchanged in mutant cells; however, alkalinization of acidic vesicles induced by NH(4)Cl or nigericin was not followed by release of Ca(2+). These data and the relative importance of the ionomycin-releasable and the ionomycin-plus-NH(4)Cl-releasable Ca(2+) pools suggest a lower Ca(2+) content in acidocalcisomes and dysfunctional Ca(2+) release.

Molecular characterisation of mitochondrial and cytosolic trypanothione-dependent tryparedoxin peroxidases in Trypanosoma brucei.

In trypanosomatids, removal of hydrogen peroxide and other aryl and alkyl peroxides is achieved by the NADPH-dependent trypanothione peroxidase system, whose components are trypanothione reductase (TRYR), trypanothione, tryparedoxin (TRYX) and tryparedoxin peroxidase (TRYP). Here, we report the cloning of a multi-copy tryparedoxin peroxidase gene (TRYP1) from Trypanosoma brucei brucei encoding a protein with two catalytic VCP motifs similar to the cytosolic TRYP from Crithidia fasciculata. In addition, we characterise a novel single copy gene encoding a second tryparedoxin peroxidase (TRYP2). TRYP2 shows 51% similarity to TRYP1, possesses a putative mitochondrial import sequence at its N-terminus and has a variant IPC motif replacing the second VCP motif implicated in catalysis in other 2-Cys peroxiredoxins. TRYP1 and TRYP2 were expressed in Escherichia coli, and the purified recombinant proteins shown to utilise hydrogen peroxide in the presence of NADPH, trypanothione, TRYR and TRYX from T. brucei, similar to the C. fasciculata cytoplasmic system. Western blots showed that TRYX, TRYP1 and TRYP2 are expressed in both bloodstream and procyclic forms of the life cycle. To determine the precise localisation of TRYX, TRYP1 and TRYP2 in the parasite, polyclonal antibodies to purified recombinant TRYX and TRYP1 and monoclonal antibody to TRYP2 were generated in mice. In-situ immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy revealed a colocalisation of TRYX and TRYP1 in the cytosol, whereas TRYP2 was principally localised in the mitochondrion.

Characterization and disruption of a new Trypanosoma brucei repetitive flagellum protein, using double-stranded RNA inhibition.

In Trypanosoma brucei, we have cloned a gene approximately 5 kb downstream of the glucose transporter gene cluster, containing a variable number of 102 bp repeats. This gene encodes a protein with no homologues in the data bases. Antibodies raised against the 34 amino acids repeated motif recognized proteins ranging from 145 to 270 kDa, depending on strains, in both bloodstream and procyclic forms of T. brucei. A correlation was established between the apparent molecular mass of the detected proteins and the number of 34 amino acid repeats which varies from 3 to 40. We have called this protein the flagellum transition zone component (FTZC) due to its localization to the proximal region of the axoneme, within the transition zone. FTZC is the only reported example of a trypanosomal protein present in the transition zone. To determine the role of FTZC we developed a new strategy of gene inactivation based on conditional expression of double-stranded RNA. In the presence of tetracycline, expression of the double-stranded RNA, we observed a complete disappearance of FTZC in the EATRO 1125 and EATRO 427 strains of T. hrucei. Molecular ablation of FTZC does not generate any obvious phenotype such as, lethality, modification of growth rate or cellular shape, in the growth conditions used.

Endocrine disruption comes into regulatory focus.

Endocrine disruption has come under regulatory scrutiny since the passage of 1996 federal laws. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) convened the Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Advisory Committee (EDSTAC) to develop recommendations for a screening and testing program to assess chemicals potential to disrupt hormone function. The committee's September 1998 consensus report is important because it signals that endocrine disruption is a threat which a responsible society has an obligation to address. Furthermore, the program will generate significant new toxicological data. However, shortcomings in the EPA program will include: inadequate low dose testing; lack of a screening assay that examines early developmental exposure; and mechanisms that substitute "functionally equivalent" information. Implementation will face serious hurdles: insufficient funding; realistic validation yardsticks; resolution of crucial scientific questions, and political will. A wide diversity of constituencies appeared before the EDSTAC during public meetings, and the public will stay engaged by commenting on EPA s proposed program and by nominating chemicals for inclusion in the program. A meaningful response to endocrine disruption exposes a fundamental flaw in traditional risk assessment. If there is no "safe" exposure, there is also no regulatory threshold to identify.

Conserved organization of genes in trypanosomatids.

Trypanosomatids are unicellular protozoan parasites which constitute some of the most primitive eukaryotes. Leishmania spp, Trypanosoma cruzi and members of the Trypanosoma brucei group, which cause human diseases, are the most studied representatives of this large family. Here we report a comparative analysis of a large genomic region containing glucose transporter genes in three Salivarian trypanosomes (T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax), T. cruzi and Leishmania donovani. In T. brucei, the 8 kb (upstream) and 14 kb (downstream) regions flanking the glucose transporter genes cluster contain two and six new genes, respectively, six of them encoding proteins homologous to known eukaryotic proteins (phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, ribosomal protein S12, DNAJ and three small G-proteins--Rab1, YPT6 and ARL3). This gene organization is identical in T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax suggesting that Salivarian trypanosomes have a high level of conservation in gene organization. In T. cruzi and Leishmania, the overall organization of this cluster is conserved, with insertion of additional genes when compared with T. brucei. Phylogenetic reconstitution based on glucose transporters is in accord with the monophyly of the genus Trypanosoma and the early separation of T. vivax within Salivarian trypanosomes. On the basis of gene organization, biochemical characteristics of isoforms and phylogeny, we discuss the genesis of the glucose transporter multigene family in Salivarian trypanosomes.

Functional and molecular characterization of a glycosomal PPi-dependent enzyme in trypanosomatids: pyruvate, phosphate dikinase.

Trypanosomatids are parasitic protists that have an ATP-dependent glycolysis with no indication of PPi-dependent metabolism. Most of the glycolysis takes place in peroxisome-like organelles, the glycosomes. We characterized in Trypanosoma brucei a single-copy gene encoding a PPi-dependent enzyme, pyruvate, phosphate dikinase (PPDK), which was expressed functionally in Escherichia coli. Specific antibodies detected a 100-kDa protein in procyclic forms but not in mammalian forms of T. brucei, indicating a differential expression. Glycosomal localization of PPDK was determined by immunofluorescence analysis and was confirmed by Western blot analysis on glycosomal fractions by using anti-PPDK antibodies. Expression and localization of recombinant PPDKs in procyclic forms of T. brucei showed that the AKL motif at the C-terminal extremity of PPDK is necessary for glycosomal targeting. PPDK was detected in every trypanosomatid tested-Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma cruzi, Phytomonas, Crithidia and Leishmania-with a good correlation between amount of protein and enzymatic activity. The precise role of PPDK in trypanosomatid carbohydrate metabolism remains to be clarified.

Purification, immunological and biochemical characterization of Ap4A binding protein from Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) binding protein specifically binds Ap4A. The protein has been purified from Xenopus laevis oocytes and presents an estimated molecular weight of 100,000 by gel filtration. In the first stages of the purification, the Ap4A binding activity is found associated to DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase, forming heterogeneous high molecular weight complexes. A monoclonal antibody has been prepared against the purified Ap4A binding protein. The antibody partially neutralizes the Ap4A binding activity. Using the immunoblot technique, it has been shown that the antibody is able to recognize either native or SDS-denatured Ap4A binding protein. The monoclonal antibody immunoreacted with a polypeptide of 90,000 which coincides with the molecular weight obtained by gel chromatography and indicates that the native Ap4A binding protein from Xenopus oocytes is probably a monomeric protein.

Stable expression of two variable surface glycoproteins by cloned Trypanosoma equiperdum.

African trypanosomes are thought to evade the host immune system by periodically changing their variable surface glycoprotein (VSG). VSG genes are activated by a complex process involving the duplicative transposition of silent basic copy genes to one of several expression sites. These expression-linked copies (ELCs) of the VSG genes are also subject to regulation within expression sites by as yet unknown mechanisms. It is generally assumed that trypanosomes can express only one VSG gene at a time. Nevertheless, the finding that they contain multiple VSG gene expression sites suggests that multiple expression is possible. We show here that Trypanosoma equiperdum can stably express two VSG genes in a simple axenic culture system and that both antigens are present on the cell surface. The two antigens do not co-cap or form heterodimers. Their corresponding genes show no cross-hybridization and are situated in different telomere-linked expression sites. Northern blot analysis reveals that both genes are active in the double expressors.

Cultivation in a semi-defined medium of animal infective forms of Trypanosoma brucei, T. equiperdum, T. evansi, T. rhodesiense and T. gambiense.

A semi-defined medium for the cultivation of bloodstream forms of the African trypanosome brucei subgroup was developed. Out of 14 different strains tested, 10 could be cultured including Trypanosoma brucei, T. equiperdum, T. evansi, T. rhodesiense and T. gambiense. The presence of a reducing agent (2-mercaptoethanol or thioglycerol) was found to be essential for growth. The standard medium consisted of Hepes buffered minimum essential medium with Earle's salts supplemented with 0.2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, 2 mM pyruvate and 10% inactivated serum either from rabbit (T. brucei, T. equiperdum, T. evansi and T. rhodesiense) or human (T. gambiense). Although a general medium could be defined for the long-term maintenance of trypanosome cultures, the initiation to culture nevertheless required particular conditions for the different strains. The cultured trypanosomes had all the characteristics of the in vivo bloodstream forms including: morphology, infectivity, antigenic variation and glucose metabolism.

Stability of expression-linked surface antigen gene in Trypanosoma equiperdum.

African trypanosomes evade clearance in immune-competent hosts by periodically replacing their major surface glycoprotein with an antigenically different glycoprotein. Expression of many of these variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) is associated with the duplication and transposition of silent basic copy genes (BCs) into unlinked genomic expression sites. The new expression-linked VSG gene copies (ELCs) are oriented with their 3' ends proximal to chromosome telomeres. Other VSG genes are activated without the production of an ELC. The 3' ends of these VSG genes are near chromosome telomeres both when they are active and when they are inactive. Recently, we have shown that activation of the VSG-1 gene in the BoTaR (Bordeaux trypanozoon antigen repertoire) serodeme of Trypanosoma equiperdum involves the duplication and transposition of a telomeric BC gene into one of at least three unlinked telomeric sites. Here we show that the VSG-1 ELC is inactivated but not eliminated in some antigenic variants derived from a VSG-1 expressor. In addition, a subsequent variant that again expresses VSG-1 has not reactivated the residual VSG-1 ELC (R-ELC), but instead contains a new, active VSG-1 ELC in an unlinked telomeric site. These results show that the simple presence of an ELC in a potential expression site is not sufficient for its expression.

The variant surface glycoproteins of Trypanosoma equiperdum. Identification of a phosphorylated glycopeptide as the cross-reacting antigenic determinant.

The cross-reacting antigenic determinant in the variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) of Trypanosoma equiperdum was studied by testing the ability of VSG glycopeptides to bind heterologous anti-VSG sera. VSG glycopeptide purification revealed the presence of 3 oligosaccharide sidechains on the mature VSG. These consist of two sidechains containing only mannose and glucosamine and a third containing galactose and mannose (in a 5:1 ratio) as well as phosphorous and ethanolamine. This phosphorylated fragment completely blocked the binding of VSG to heterologous anti-VSG and therefore contained the cross-reacting determinants.

Probing eukaryotic RNA polymerases B with monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against RNA polymerase B of the fungus Podospora comata were selected on the basis of different subunits recognition and inhibitory effect on enzyme activity. A library of 10 antibodies biased toward B180, B145, B39, B23,5 and B11 subunits was constructed. Most of these antibodies also recognize yeast, wheat germ and calf thymus RNA polymerase B. Subunits bearing antigenic determinants are not always homologous in Podospora and yeast enzyme. As some of these antibodies strongly inhibit enzyme activity they constitute potent probes for functional studies of corresponding subunits.

DNA rearrangements and antigenic variation in Trypanosoma equiperdum: expression-independent DNA rearrangements in the basic copy of a variant surface glycoprotein gene.

Antigenic variation in Trypanosoma equiperdum is associated with the sequential expression of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes in a process which involves gene duplication and transposition events. In this paper we present evidence that the genomic environment of the VSG-1 basic copy gene, the template for duplicated, expression-linked VSG-1 genes, differs in every trypanosome clone examined. This variation is thus independent of the expression of the VSG-1 gene, and it also appears to be restricted to the 3' genomic environment. It is also demonstrated that the DNA located 3' to the VSG-1 basic copy gene is moderately sensitive to digestion when the nuclei of either expressor or non-expressor trypanosomes are treated with DNase I.

DNA rearrangements and antigenic variation in Trypanosoma equiperdum: multiple expression-linked sites in independent isolates of trypanosomes expressing the same antigen.

African trypanosomes resist the immune response of their mammalian hosts by varying the surface glycoprotein which constitutes their antigenic identity. The molecular mechanism of this antigenic variation involves the successive activation of a series of genes which code for different variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs). We have studied the expression of two VSG genes (those of VSG-1 and VSG-28) in Trypanosoma equiperdum, and we report the following findings. (i) The expression of both VSG genes is associated with the duplication and transposition of corresponding basic copy genes. (ii) The duplicated transposed copy appears to be the expressed copy. (iii) Although there are multiple genes which cross-hybridize with the VSG-1 cDNA probe, only one of these appears to be used as a template for the expression-linked copy in four independent BoTat-1 clones. (iv) Analysis of the genomic environments of the expressed VSG-1 genes from each of four independently derived BoTat-1 trypanosome clones revealed that there are at least three different sites into which the expression-linked copy can be inserted.

The variable surface glycoproteins of Trypanosoma equiperdum are phosphorylated.

The phosphoproteins from three Trypanosoma equiperdum variants were studied by labelling the parasites in vivo with 32P. Phosphoprotein analysis reveals the presence of a 58 000 mol. wt. phosphoprotein ( pp58 ) which is absent when live trypanosomes are pre-treated with proteinase K under conditions where only the surface coat containing the variable surface glycoprotein (VSG) is removed. Immunological and fingerprint analysis on labelled pp58 , purified from these variants by affinity chromatography on Concanavalin A-Sepharose, clearly identify this component as the VSG. Furthermore, the VSGs seem to be phosphorylated to the extent of 1 mol phosphate per mol glycoprotein. The phosphorylated region is located in the extreme C-terminal region representing approximately 10% of the total molecule. The phosphorylated residue is not an aliphatic or aromatic ester of serine, threonine, or tyrosine, nor an acyl phosphate involving an aspartyl or glutamyl residue, nor phosphohistidine. The evidence that VSGs are phosphorylated could have considerable implications for the transfer and function of these structures.

Immune depression and macroglobulinemia in experimental subchronic trypanosomiasis.

The effects of subchronic trypanosomiasis upon immune responses were examined in Trypanosoma gambiense infection and in subcurative treatment of T. brucei- and T- equiperdum-infected mice. About 60% of the mice infected with T. gambiense developed a subchronic infection similar to human trypanosomiasis, characterized by the absence of circulating trypanosomes. The animals died between 1 and 12 months after infection with elevated serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels (16 times the normal level). After 1 month of infection, the mice showed a normal primary antibody response against sheep erythrocytes, as tested by hemagglutination, despite their high serum IgM levels. After more than 1 month of infection, about 20% of the mice showed depressed hemagglutination titers (25% of control), whereas all relapsed mice that contained circulating parasites showed a pronounced suppression. Elimination of the blood parasites with Berenil treatment restored immune competence, which persisted until the relapse of the animals. Identical results were obtained in T. brucei-infected mice. Berenil treatment abolished the immune depression against sheep erythrocytes, but did not cure the animals, which relapsed with the development of a new state of immune depression. T. gambiense and T. brucei infections were always followed by a marked increase of serum IgM levels. Hypergammaglobulinemia was also induced in relapsing T. equiperdum-infected mice treated with Berenil. No immune depression against sheep erythrocytes could be detected. It appeared that immune depression was not the result of clonal exhaustion (measured by the serum IgM level) but seemed to be closely associated with the presence of living trypanosomes.

[Seroepidemiological survey on toxoplasmosis in Guadeloupe and Martinique (author's transl)]. / Etude séroépidémiologique de la toxoplasmose à la Guadeloupe et à la Martinique.

The examination of 9,950 serums in Guadeloupe and Martinique has revealed the importance and the precocity of infestation by Toxoplasma: 56,9% of the population has complement fixing antibodies, 65,6% haemagglutinating antibodies and from the very first age groups onwards, nearly half the population is found to be infested. Although the consumption of insufficiently cooked meat is most frequently invoked, it would seem that this manner of contamination should not be incriminated in Guadeloupe and Martinique where the population traditionally lives on fish and well-cooked meat. Moreover, the great variability in the rates of infestation observed in the different localities studied leads one to envisage the invtervention of climatic factors favoring the survival of the oocysts born of the sexed multipilication of the parasite in the external environment.