spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Tetley, L.
Right arrow Articles by Vickerman, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Tetley, L.
Right arrow Articles by Vickerman, K.

Journal of Cell Science, Vol 87, Issue 2 363-372, Copyright © 1987 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Onset of expression of the variant surface glycoproteins of Trypanosoma brucei in the tsetse fly studied using immunoelectron microscopy

L Tetley, CM Turner, JD Barry, JS Crowe and K Vickerman
Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, UK.

The acquisition of the variant surface glycoprotein (variable antigen) coat by metacyclic stage Trypanosoma brucei in the salivary glands of the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans, has been studied in situ by transmission and scanning electron microscopy using monoclonal antibodies raised against metacyclic variable antigen types and complexed with horseradish peroxidase or colloidal gold. The coat is acquired after binary fission has ceased but while the parasite is still attached to the gland epithelium, i.e. before the mature metacyclic is released into the gland lumen. The variable antigen type heterogeneity previously observed in discharged mature metacyclics is here demonstrated in the nascent (attached) metacyclic population. The variant surface glycoprotein genes are thus not expressed in a fixed sequence since different metacyclic variable antigen types are present ab initio. The distribution of immunogold-marked nascent metacyclics of a particular variable antigen type, as shown by quadrat analysis of a scanning electron micrograph montage of the infected salivary gland epithelium, conforms to a Poisson series. This provides evidence that individual variant surface glycoprotein genes are stochastically activated and suggests that selective activation occurs after trypanosome division has ceased.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eukaryot CellHome page
M. L. Ginger, P. A. Blundell, A. M. Lewis, A. Browitt, A. Gunzl, and J. D. Barry
Ex Vivo and In Vitro Identification of a Consensus Promoter for VSG Genes Expressed by Metacyclic-Stage Trypanosomes in the Tsetse Fly
Eukaryot. Cell, December 1, 2002; 1(6): 1000 - 1009.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
M. Pedram and J. E. Donelson
The Anatomy and Transcription of a Monocistronic Expression Site for a Metacyclic Variant Surface Glycoprotein Gene in Trypanosoma brucei
J. Biol. Chem., June 11, 1999; 274(24): 16876 - 16883.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
C. M. Alarcon, M. Pedram, and J. E. Donelson
Leaky Transcription of Variant Surface Glycoprotein Gene Expression Sites in Bloodstream African Trypanosomes
J. Biol. Chem., June 11, 1999; 274(24): 16884 - 16893.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol. Cell. Biol.Home page
S. V. Graham, B. Wymer, and J. D. Barry
Activity of a Trypanosome Metacyclic Variant Surface Glycoprotein Gene Promoter Is Dependent upon Life Cycle Stage and Chromosomal Context
Mol. Cell. Biol., March 1, 1998; 18(3): 1137 - 1146.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1987