Paraflagellar rod is vital for trypanosome motility

Bastin, Philippe; Sherwin, Trevor; Gull, Keith

doi:10.1038/35300

Cited by 179 publications

(204 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Trypanosome cell lines carrying YFP::HMG transgenes were further modified to express a YFP::PFR1 transgene, so that they constitutively expressed YFP fused to the paraflagellar rod (PFR) component, PFR1 (31). These cell lines were used to visualize flagella in cells expressing YFP::HMGs, which confirmed that epimastigotes expressing YFP::HMGs have two flagella as well as two kinetoplasts ( Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Identification of the meiotic life cycle stage of Trypanosoma brucei in the tsetse fly

Peacock

Ferris

Sharma

et al. 2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

127

156

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Elucidating the mechanism of genetic exchange is fundamental for understanding how genes for such traits as virulence, disease phenotype, and drug resistance are transferred between pathogen strains. Genetic exchange occurs in the parasitic protists Trypanosoma brucei , T. cruzi , and Leishmania major , but the precise cellular mechanisms are unknown, because the process has not been observed directly. Here we exploit the identification of homologs of meiotic genes in the T. brucei genome and demonstrate that three functionally distinct, meiosis-specific proteins are expressed in the nucleus of a single specific cell type, defining a previously undescribed developmental stage occurring within the tsetse fly salivary gland. Expression occurs in clonal and mixed infections, indicating that the meiotic program is an intrinsic but hitherto cryptic part of the developmental cycle of trypanosomes. In experimental crosses, expression of meiosis-specific proteins usually occurred before cell fusion. This is evidence of conventional meiotic division in an excavate protist, and the functional conservation of the meiotic machinery in these divergent organisms underlines the ubiquity and basal evolution of meiosis in eukaryotes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Identification of the meiotic life cycle stage of Trypanosoma brucei in the tsetse fly

Peacock

Ferris

Sharma

et al. 2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

127

156

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“…Likewise, none of the other suggested sources of FC motility are necessary; the FC is motile in cells depleted of key intraflagellar transport system constituents, such as IFT88 (12), with the cells showing both a deficient intraflagellar transport in the old flagellum (41) and the absence of the new axoneme extension (12). A defective flagellar beating did not cause morphological phenotypes expected for an immotile FC, e.g., formation of flagellar loops (42). Possibly, several of these processes contribute to the FC function with individual processes having a more prominent role when the others fail.…”

Section: The Fc Is a Membrane Junction Attached By Two Types Of Kinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protein diversity in discrete structures at the distal tip of the trypanosome flagellum

Varga

Moreira-Leite

Portman

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The distal end of the eukaryotic flagellum/cilium is important for axonemal growth and signaling and has distinct biomechanical properties. Specific flagellum tip structures exist, yet their composition, dynamics, and functions are largely unknown. We used biochemical approaches to identify seven constituents of the flagella connector at the tip of an assembling trypanosome flagellum and three constituents of the axonemal capping structure at the tips of both assembling and mature flagella. Both tip structures contain evolutionarily conserved as well as kinetoplastid-specific proteins, and component assembly into the structures occurs very early during flagellum extension. Localization and functional studies reveal that the flagella connector membrane junction is attached to the tips of extending microtubules of the assembling flagellum by a kinesin-15 family member. On the opposite side, a kinetoplastid-specific kinesin facilitates attachment of the junction to the microtubules in the mature flagellum. Functional studies also suggest roles of several other components and the definition of subdomains in the tip structures.

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“…Unlike the axoneme, which is broadly conserved among eukaryotes, the PFR is restricted to kinetoplastids, euglenoids and dinoflagellates. The PFR was first described 45 years ago (Vickerman, 1962b) and is required for normal motility (Bastin et al, 1998). However, its precise function is unknown and aside from its main structural components, PFR1 and PFR2 (Schlaeppi et al, 1989;Deflorin et al, 1994), and a few recently identified proteins (see below), its molecular composition remains to be determined.…”

Section: Paraflagellar Rodmentioning

confidence: 99%

The flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei: New tricks from an old dog

Ralston

Hill

2008

International Journal for Parasitology

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African trypanosomes, i.e. Trypanosoma brucei and related sub-species, are devastating human and animal pathogens that cause significant human mortality and limit sustained economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. Trypanosoma brucei is a highly motile protozoan parasite and coordinated motility is central to both disease pathogenesis in the mammalian host and parasite development in the tsetse fly vector. Since motility is critical for parasite development and pathogenesis, understanding unique aspects of the T. brucei flagellum may uncover novel targets for therapeutic intervention in African sleeping sickness. Moreover, studies of conserved features of the T. brucei flagellum are directly relevant to understanding fundamental aspects of flagellum and cilium function in other eukaryotes, making T. brucei an important model system. The T. brucei flagellum contains a canonical 9 + 2 axoneme, together with additional features that are unique to kinetoplastids and a few closely-related organisms. Until recently, much of our knowledge of the structure and function of the trypanosome flagellum was based on analogy and inference from other organisms. There has been an explosion in functional studies in T. brucei in recent years, revealing conserved as well as novel and unexpected structural and functional features of the flagellum. Most notably, the flagellum has been found to be an essential organelle, with critical roles in parasite motility, morphogenesis, cell division and immune evasion. This review highlights recent discoveries on the T. brucei flagellum.

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Paraflagellar rod is vital for trypanosome motility

Cited by 179 publications

References 5 publications

Identification of the meiotic life cycle stage of Trypanosoma brucei in the tsetse fly

Identification of the meiotic life cycle stage of Trypanosoma brucei in the tsetse fly

Protein diversity in discrete structures at the distal tip of the trypanosome flagellum

The flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei: New tricks from an old dog

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