scholarly journals Expression of a variant surface glycoprotein of Trypanosoma gambiense in procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei shows that the cell type dictates the nature of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol membrane anchor attached to the glycoprotein

1997 ◽  
Vol 324 (3) ◽  
pp. 885-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Françoise PATURIAUX-HANOCQ ◽  
Nicole ZITZMANN ◽  
Jacqueline HANOCQ-QUERTIER ◽  
Luc VANHAMME ◽  
Sylvie ROLIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Variant Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Membrane Anchor ◽  
Gpi Anchor ◽  
Intact Membrane ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Trypanosoma Gambiense

Procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei have been genetically modified to express the major metacyclic variant surface glycoprotein (VSG variant AnTat 11.17) of Trypanosoma gambiense. The VSG is expressed in an intact membrane-bound form that can be detected over the entire plasma membrane, together with procyclin, and as a series of lower-molecular-mass fragments that are mostly soluble degradation products. The presence of degraded VSG in the cells and the culture medium suggests that VSG is not efficiently processed and/or efficiently folded when expressed in procyclic cells. The level of procyclin expressed on the surface of these cells is slightly reduced, although there is no difference in procyclin mRNA levels. The intact membrane-bound form of the VSG is N-glycosylated with oligomannose structures and contains a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchor that can be biosynthetically labelled with [3H]ethanolamine. The anchor is sensitive to mammalian GPI-specific phospholipase D but, like the anchor of procyclin, it is resistant to the action of bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. This pattern of phospholipase sensitivity suggests that the GPI anchor acquired by VSG when expressed in procyclics is acylated on the inositol ring and therefore resembles a procyclic procyclin-type anchor rather than a trypomastigote VSG-type anchor with respect to the lipid structure. The VSG expressed in procyclics was sensitive to the action of a mixture of sialidase, β-galactosidase and β-hexosaminidase, suggesting that the VSG GPI anchor also contains a sialylated polylactosamine side-chain modification similar to that described for procyclin. These results indicate that the nature of the protein expressed has little influence on the post-translational modifications performed in the secretory pathway of procyclic trypanosomes.

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol membrane anchor of Trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein

1988 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL A. J. FERGUSON ◽  
STEVEN W. HOMANS ◽  
RAYMOND A. DWEK ◽  
THOMAS W. RADEMACHER
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Variant Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Membrane Anchor

scholarly journals A new method for the rapid purification of both the membrane-bound and released forms of the variant surface glycoprotein from Trypanosoma brucei

1985 ◽  
Vol 230 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
D G Jackson ◽  
M J Owen ◽  
H P Voorheis
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Aqueous Salt Solution ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Variant Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Rapid Purification

A simple new technique was developed for the rapid purification of either the membrane-bound or the released forms of the variant surface glycoprotein of Trypanosoma brucei in high yield. Whole cells were used as the source of the membrane-bound form, and the supernatant of benzyl alcohol-treated cells was used as the source of the released form. The technique was based on extraction of the acid-treated protein into chloroform/methanol, followed by selective re-partition into aqueous salt solution. The yield of purified protein was found to be dependent critically on a low pH during the extraction/re-partition stages. This finding and the ability to cycle the protein repeatedly through organic and aqueous phases in a strictly pH-dependent manner suggested that the protein could undergo fully reversible denaturation/renaturation only while in an extensively protonated form. The yield was independent of the polarity of the organic phase and the protein concentration over a wide range. After purification, both forms retain their ability to react with specific antibody raised against the authentic native protein purified by conventional means. The amino acid composition and the identity of the N-terminal amino acid was the same for both forms of the protein. In addition, both forms had blocked C-terminal residues. There were determined to be 1.13 × 10(7) copies of the variant surface glycoprotein per cell.

scholarly journals Life Stage-Specific Cargo Receptors Facilitate Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Surface Coat Protein Transport in Trypanosoma brucei

mSphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia K. Kruzel ◽  
George P. Zimmett ◽  
James D. Bangs
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Secretory Pathway ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Variant Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Gpi Anchor ◽  
African Trypanosomes ◽  
Membrane Bound

ABSTRACT African trypanosomes are protozoan parasites that cause African sleeping sickness. Critical to the success of the parasite is the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), which covers the parasite cell surface and which is essential for evasion of the host immune system. VSG is membrane bound by a glycolipid (GPI) anchor that is attached in the earliest compartment of the secretory pathway, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We have previously shown that the anchor acts as a positive forward trafficking signal for ER exit, implying a cognate receptor mechanism for GPI recognition and loading in coated cargo vesicles leaving the ER. Here, we characterize a family of small transmembrane proteins that act at adaptors for this process. This work adds to our understanding of general GPI function in eukaryotic cells and specifically in the synthesis and transport of the critical virulence factor of pathogenic African trypanosomes. The critical virulence factor of bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei is the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit of VSG is GPI dependent and relies on a discrete subset of COPII machinery (TbSec23.2/TbSec24.1). In other systems, p24 transmembrane adaptor proteins selectively recruit GPI-anchored cargo into nascent COPII vesicles. Trypanosomes have eight putative p24s (TbERP1 to TbERP8) that are constitutively expressed at the mRNA level. However, only four TbERP proteins (TbERP1, -2, -3, and -8) are detectable in bloodstream-form parasites. All four colocalize to ER exit sites, are required for efficient GPI-dependent ER exit, and are interdependent for steady-state stability. These results suggest shared function as an oligomeric ER GPI-cargo receptor. This cohort also mediates rapid forward trafficking of the soluble lysosomal hydrolase TbCatL. Procyclic insect-stage trypanosomes have a distinct surface protein, procyclin, bearing a different GPI anchor structure. A separate cohort of TbERP proteins (TbERP1, -2, -4, and -8) are expressed in procyclic parasites and also function in GPI-dependent ER exit. Collectively, these results suggest developmentally regulated TbERP cohorts, likely in obligate assemblies, that may recognize stage-specific GPI anchors to facilitate GPI-cargo trafficking throughout the parasite life cycle. IMPORTANCE African trypanosomes are protozoan parasites that cause African sleeping sickness. Critical to the success of the parasite is the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), which covers the parasite cell surface and which is essential for evasion of the host immune system. VSG is membrane bound by a glycolipid (GPI) anchor that is attached in the earliest compartment of the secretory pathway, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We have previously shown that the anchor acts as a positive forward trafficking signal for ER exit, implying a cognate receptor mechanism for GPI recognition and loading in coated cargo vesicles leaving the ER. Here, we characterize a family of small transmembrane proteins that act at adaptors for this process. This work adds to our understanding of general GPI function in eukaryotic cells and specifically in the synthesis and transport of the critical virulence factor of pathogenic African trypanosomes.

Solution structure of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol membrane anchor glycan of Trypanosoma brucei variant surface glycoprotein

Biochemistry ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 2881-2887 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. Homans ◽  
C. J. Edge ◽  
M. A. J. Ferguson ◽  
R. A. Dwek ◽  
T. W. Rademacher
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Solution Structure ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Variant Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Membrane Anchor

A glycolipid from Trypanosoma brucei related to the variant surface glycoprotein membrane anchor

1989 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Krakow ◽  
Tamara L. Doering ◽  
Wayne J. Masterson ◽  
Gerald W. Hart ◽  
Paul T. Englund
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Variant Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Membrane Anchor
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document