Galactofuranose-containing glycoconjugates of epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi

Relevant glycoconjugates on the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi

“…A serum elicited in rabbits against LPPG has shown, by immunoelectronmicroscopy, a homogeneous distribution on the surface of epimastigotes allowing to determine the existence of 1-1.5 x 10 7 molecules of LPPG on the epimastigote surface (Golgher et al 1993), a measurement which is in accordance with estimates made by other methods (Lederkremer et al 1991). An average of 10 6 molecules was found in trypomastigotes but labeling was heterogeneous and only 15% of the trypomastigote forms were found labeled.…”

“…An average of 10 6 molecules was found in trypomastigotes but labeling was heterogeneous and only 15% of the trypomastigote forms were found labeled. There was an intense labeling of vesicles in the cytoplasm from both parasite stages (Golgher et al 1993). It has been found that sera from chronic chagasic patients contain antibodies to LPPG mainly directed against galactofuranose (Golgher et al 1993) but they did not protect against a parasite challenge .…”

“…One should not forget that this molecule also exists in cell cultured trypomastigotes, although 10-fold less represented (Golgher et al 1993). In Leishmania, LPG is important in parasite adhesion to the insect intestinal cells during parasite differentiation (Pimenta et al 1994, Butcher et al 1996.…”

Phospholipid and glycolipid composition of acidocalcisomes of Trypanosoma cruzi

“…Energy loss spectra measurements gave P:O and N:O ratios compatible with the presence of a sugar rather than of a protein in the matrix of acidocalcisomes [4]. Moreover, reactivity of epimastigotes of T. cruzi with an antibody against LPPG (lipopeptidephosphoglycan, the major glycoconjugate of epimastigotes) [17] and with MEST (an antibody against a glycoinositolphosphoceramide present in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis; ref. [18], labeled intracellular acidic vesicles in addition to the plasma membrane.…”

“…After each detection, blots were incubated for 30 min at 50 °C in stripping buffer (100 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 2% SDS, 62.5 mM Tris-HCl, pH 6.7) to remove the antibodies. The membranes were reprobed with a 1:10,000 dilution of polyclonal mouse antibody against TcPPase [23], or a 1:10,000 dilution of polyclonal rabbit antiserum against LPPG [17] in Tween-PBS containing 2.5% fish gelatin, washed, and incubated with anti-mouse or anti-rabbit secondary antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase, respectively, as described above. Immunoblots were visualized on radiographic film using the ECL enhanced chemoluminescence detection kit and according to the instructions of the manufacturer (GE Health Sciences).…”