Actin expression in trypanosomatids (Euglenozoa:
Kinetoplastea) |
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Authors: | Ligia Cristina Kalb Souza Rosana Elisa Gon?alves Gon?alves Pinho Carla Vanessa de Paula Lima Stênio Perdig?o Fragoso Maurilio José Soares |
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Institution: | Instituto Carlos Chagas-Fiocruz, Curitiba, PR, Brasil |
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Abstract: | Heteroxenic and monoxenic trypanosomatids were screened for the
presence of actin using a mouse polyclonal antibody produced against the entire
sequence of the Trypanosoma cruzi actin gene, encoding a 41.9
kDa protein. Western blot analysis showed that this antibody reacted with a
polypeptide of approximately 42 kDa in the whole-cell lysates of parasites
targeting mammals (T. cruzi, Trypanosoma
brucei and Leishmania major), insects
(Angomonas deanei, Crithidia fasciculata,
Herpetomonas samuelpessoai and Strigomonas
culicis) and plants (Phytomonas serpens). A single
polypeptide of approximately 42 kDa was detected in the whole-cell lysates of
T. cruzi cultured epimastigotes, metacyclic trypomastigotes
and amastigotes at similar protein expression levels. Confocal microscopy showed
that actin was expressed throughout the cytoplasm of all the tested
trypanosomatids. These data demonstrate that actin expression is widespread in
trypanosomatids. |
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Keywords: | actin confocal microscopy trypanosomatids Trypanosoma cruzi |
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