Recycling,clustering, and endocytosis jointly maintain PIN auxin carrier polarity at the plasma membrane

Cell polarity reflected by asymmetric distribution of proteins at the plasma membrane is a fundamental feature of unicellular and multicellular organisms. It remains conceptually unclear how cell polarity is kept in cell wall‐encapsulated plant cells. We have used super‐resolution and semi‐quantitative live‐cell imaging in combination with pharmacological, genetic, and computational approaches to reveal insights into the mechanism of cell polarity maintenance in Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that polar‐competent PIN transporters for the phytohormone auxin are delivered to the center of polar domains by super‐polar recycling. Within the plasma membrane, PINs are recruited into non‐mobile membrane clusters and their lateral diffusion is dramatically reduced, which ensures longer polar retention. At the circumventing edges of the polar domain, spatially defined internalization of escaped cargos occurs by clathrin‐dependent endocytosis. Computer simulations confirm that the combination of these processes provides a robust mechanism for polarity maintenance in plant cells. Moreover, our study suggests that the regulation of lateral diffusion and spatially defined endocytosis, but not super‐polar exocytosis have primary importance for PIN polarity maintenance.     

The role of endocytosis on the uptake kinetics of luciferin-conjugated cell-penetrating peptides

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short cationic/amphipathic peptides that can be used to deliver a variety of cargos into cells. However, it is still debated which routes CPPs employ to gain access to intracellular compartments. To assess this, most previously conducted studies have relied on information which is gained by using fluorescently labeled CPPs. More relevant information whether the internalized conjugates are biologically available has been gathered using end-point assays with biological readouts. Uptake kinetic studies have shed even more light on the matter because the arbitrary choice of end-point might have profound effect how the results could be interpreted. To elucidate uptake mechanisms of CPPs, here we have used a bioluminescence based assay to measure cytosolic delivery kinetics of luciferin-CPP conjugates in the presence of endocytosis inhibitors. The results suggest that these conjugates are delivered into cytosol mainly via macropinocytosis; clathrin-mediated endocytosis and caveolae/lipid raft dependent endocytosis are involved in a smaller extent. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the involved endocytic routes and internalization kinetic profiles can depend on conjugate concentration in case of certain peptides, but not in case of others. The employed internalization route, however, likely dictates the intracellular fate and subsequent trafficking of internalized ligands, therefore emphasizing the importance of our novel findings for delivery vector development.     

Uptake of Lucifer Yellow CH into plant-cell protoplasts: a quantitative assessment of fluid-phase endocytosis

The highly fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow CH (LYCH), now in common use in microinjection studies, has been shown to enter the vacuole of a range of plant-cell protoplasts from the external medium. Uptake was quantified by lysing the protoplasts following incubation and determining the amount of LYCH incorporated by spectrofluorimetry. Uptake was biphasic with respect to both time and substrate concentration, enhanced at low pH and inhibited by low temperature and metabolic inhibitors. The kinetics of uptake showed several similarities with those reported for the fluid-phase endocytosis of LYCH in animal cells and yeast cells. A calculated membrane permeability coefficient for LYCH, based on the observed rates of uptake, was too high to be consistent with simple diffusion of the undissociated form of the molecule and inconsistent with the membrane-impermeant properties of the dye. The data are discussed in the light of the possibility of fluid-phase endocytosis versus active transmembrane transport.Abbreviations CCCP carbonyl cyanide M-chlorophenyl hydrazone - LYCH Lucifer Yellow CH     

Basic cell penetrating peptides induce plasma membrane positive curvature,lipid domain separation and protein redistribution

Basic cell penetrating peptides are tools for molecular cellular internalization of nonmembrane permeable molecules. Their uptake mechanisms involve energy-dependent and energy-independent pathways such as endocytosis, direct translocation or physical endocytosis. These mechanisms are ruled by both, the peptides physicochemical properties and structure and by the membrane lipids characteristics and organization. Herein we used plasma membrane spheres and membrane models to study the membrane perturbations induced by three arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides. Nona-arginine (R9) and the amphipathic peptide RWRRWWRRW (RW9) induced positive membrane curvature in the form of buds and membrane tubes. Membranous tubes underwent rolling resulting in formation of multilamellar membrane particles at the surface of the plasma membrane spheres. The amphipathic peptides RW9 and RRWRRWWRRWWRRWRR (RW16) provoked lipid and membrane associated protein domain separation as well as changes in membrane fluidity and cholesterol redistribution. These data suggest that membrane domains separation and the formation of multilamellar membranous particles would be involved in arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides internalization.     

How to evaluate the cellular uptake of CPPs with fluorescence techniques: Dissecting methodological pitfalls associated to tryptophan-rich peptides

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) are broadly recognized as efficient non-viral vectors for the internalization of compounds such as peptides, oligonucleotides or proteins. Characterizing these carriers requires reliable methods to quantify their intracellular uptake. Flow cytometry on living cells is a method of choice but is not always applicable (e.g. big or polarized cells), so we decided to compare it to fluorescence spectroscopy on cell lysates. Surprisingly, for the internalization of a series of TAMRA-labeled conjugates formed of either cationic or amphipathic CPPs covalently coupled to a decamer peptide, we observed important differences in internalization levels between both methods.We partly explained these discrepancies by analyzing the effect of buffer conditions (pH, detergents) and peptide sequence/structure on TAMRA dye accessibility. Based on this analysis, we calculated a correction coefficient allowing a better coherence between both methods. However, an overestimated signal was still observable for both amphipathic peptides using the spectroscopic detection, which could be due to their localization at the cell membrane. Based on several in vitro experiments modeling events at the plasma membrane, we hypothesized that fluorescence of peptides entrapped in the membrane bilayer could be quenched by the tryptophan residues of close transmembrane proteins. During cell lysis, cell membranes are disintegrated liberating the entrapped peptides and restoring the fluorescence, explaining the divergences observed between flow cytometry and spectroscopy on lysates.Overall, our results highlighted major biases in the fluorescently-based quantification of internalized fluorescently-labeled CPP conjugates, which should be considered for accurate uptake quantification.     

Characterization of TAT-mediated transport of detachable kinase substrates

The conjugation of peptides derived from the HIV TAT protein to membrane-impermeant molecules has gained wide acceptance as a means for intracellular delivery. Numerous studies have addressed the mechanism of uptake and kinetics of TAT translocation, but the cytosolic concentrations and bioavailability of the transported cargo have not been well-characterized. The current paper utilizes a microanalytical assay to perform quantitative single-cell measurements of the concentration and accessibility of peptide-based substrates for protein kinase B (PKB) and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-activated kinase II. The substrate peptide and TAT were conjugated through a releasable linker, either a disulfide or photolabile bond. Free substrate peptide concentrations of approximately 10(-20)-10(-18) moles were attainable in a cell when substrates were delivered utilizing these conjugates. The substrate peptides delivered as a disulfide conjugate were often present in the cytosol as several oxidized forms. Brief exposure of cells loaded with the photolabile conjugates to UVA light released free substrate peptide into the cytosol. Substrate peptide delivered by either conjugate was accessible to cytosolic kinase as demonstrated by the efficient phosphorylation of the peptide when the appropriate kinase was active. After incubation of the conjugated substrate with cells, free, kinase-accessible substrate was detectable in less than 30 min. Release of the majority of loaded substrate peptide from sequestered organelles occurred within 1 h. The utility of the photocleavable conjugates was demonstrated by measuring the activation of PKB in 3T3 cells after addition of varying concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor.     

Structural and Functional Characterization of the C-terminal Transmembrane Region of NBCe1-A

NBCe1-A and AE1 both belong to the SLC4 HCO₃⁻ transporter family. The two transporters share 40% sequence homology in the C-terminal transmembrane region. In this study, we performed extensive substituted cysteine-scanning mutagenesis analysis of the C-terminal region of NBCe1-A covering amino acids Ala⁸⁰⁰–Lys⁹⁶⁷. Location of the introduced cysteines was determined by whole cell labeling with a membrane-permeant biotin maleimide and a membrane-impermeant 2-((5(6)-tetramethylrhodamine)carboxylamino) ethyl methanethiosulfonate (MTS-TAMRA) cysteine-reactive reagent. The results show that the extracellular surface of the NBCe1-A C-terminal transmembrane region is minimally exposed to aqueous media with Met⁸⁵⁸ accessible to both biotin maleimide and TAMRA and Thr⁹²⁶–Ala⁹²⁹ only to TAMRA labeling. The intracellular surface contains a highly exposed (Met⁸¹³–Gly⁸²⁸) region and a cryptic (Met⁸⁸⁷–Arg⁹⁰⁴) connecting loop. The lipid/aqueous interface of the last transmembrane segment is at Asp⁹⁶⁰. Our data clearly determined that the C terminus of NBCe1-A contains 5 transmembrane segments with greater average size compared with AE1. Functional assays revealed only two residues in the region of Pro⁸⁶⁸–Leu⁹⁶⁷ (a functionally important region in AE1) that are highly sensitive to cysteine substitution. Our findings suggest that the C-terminal transmembrane region of NBCe1-A is tightly folded with unique structural and functional features that differ from AE1.     

Dendritic oligoguanidines as intracellular translocators

A series of polyguanidylated dendritic structures that can be used as molecular translocators have been designed and synthesized based on nonpeptide units. The dendritic oligoguanidines conjugated with fluorescein or with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) mutant as cargos were isolated and characterized. Quantification and time-course analyses of the cellular uptake of the conjugates using HeLa S3 and human cervical carcinoma cells reveal that the polyguanidylated dendrimers have comparable translocation efficiency to the Tat(49-57) peptide. Furthermore, the deconvolution microscopy image analysis shows that they are located inside the cells. These results clearly show that nonlinear, branched dendritic oligoguanidines are capable of translocation through the cell membrane. This work also demonstrates the potential of these nonpeptidic dendritic oligoguanidines as carriers for intracellular delivery of small molecule drugs, bioactive peptides, and proteins.     

Cell biology meets biophysics to unveil the different mechanisms of penetratin internalization in cells

Although cell-penetrating peptides are widely used as molecular devices to cross membranes and transport molecules or nanoparticles inside cells, the underlying internalization mechanism for such behavior is still studied and discussed. One of the reasons for such a debate is the wide panel of chemically different cell-penetrating peptides or cargo that is used. Indeed the intrinsic physico-chemical properties of CPP and conjugates strongly affect the cell membrane recognition and therefore the internalization pathways. Altogether, the mechanisms described so far should be shared between two general pathways: endocytosis and direct translocation. As it is established now that one cell-penetrating peptide can internalize at the same time by these two different pathways, the balance between the two pathways relies on the binding of the cell-penetrating peptide or conjugate to specific cell membrane components (carbohydrates, lipids). Like endocytosis which includes clathrin- and caveolae-dependent processes and macropinocytosis, different translocation mechanisms could co-exist, an idea that emerges from recent studies. In this review, we will focus solely on penetratin membrane interactions and internalization mechanisms.     

A comprehensive model for the cellular uptake of cationic cell-penetrating peptides

The plasma membrane represents an impermeable barrier for most macromolecules. Still some proteins and so-called cell-penetrating peptides enter cells efficiently. It has been shown that endocytosis contributes to the import of these molecules. However, conflicting results have been obtained concerning the nature of the endocytic process. In addition, there have been new findings for an endocytosis-independent cellular entry. In this study, we provide evidence that the Antennapedia-homeodomain-derived antennapedia (Antp) peptide, nona-arginine and the HIV-1 Tat-protein-derived Tat peptide simultaneously use three endocytic pathways: macropinocytosis, clathrin-mediated endocytosis and caveolae/lipid-raft-mediated endocytosis. Antennapedia differs from Tat and R9 by the extent by which the different import mechanisms contribute to uptake. Moreover, at higher concentrations, uptake occurs by a mechanism that originates from spatially restricted sites of the plasma membrane and leads to a rapid cytoplasmic distribution of the peptides. Endocytic vesicles could not be detected, suggesting an endocytosis-independent mode of uptake. Heparinase treatment of cells negatively affects this import, as does the protein kinase C inhibitor rottlerin, expression of dominant-negative dynamin and chlorpromazine. This mechanism of uptake was observed for a panel of different cell lines. For Antp, significantly higher peptide concentrations and inhibition of endocytosis were required to induce its uptake. The relevance of these findings for import of biologically active cargos is shown.     

Efficient cellular delivery of β-galactosidase mediated by NrTPs, a new family of cell-penetrating peptides

Nucleolar targeting peptides (NrTPs), a recently developed family of cell-penetrating peptides, have been shown to be very efficient in entering cells and accumulating in their nucleoli. In this work, we have used conjugates of NrTP6 (YKQSHKKGGKKGSG) covalently linked to β-galactosidase in order to demonstrate the capacity of NrTP for intracellular delivery of large molecules. NrTP6/β-galactosidase conjugates, prepared by maleimide-based chemistry, were stable and enzymatically active on the standard 4-methylumbelliferyl β-d-galactopyranoside substrate. Their translocation into HeLa cells, monitored by β-galactosidase activity as a readout of the uptake, showed efficient cellular entry and thus demonstrated the potential of NrTPs for intracellular delivery of large-size cargos with preservation of biological activity.     

Kinetic uptake profiles of cell penetrating peptides in lymphocytes and monocytes

Background

Nucleolar targeting peptides (NrTPs), resulting from structural minimization of the rattlesnake toxin crotamine, are a novel family of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) shown to internalize and deliver cargos into different cell types.

Methods

In this study, we address NrTP kinetics of translocation into primary cells. We used flow cytometry to measure the intracellular uptake of rhodamine B-labeled NrTPs in peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs).

Results

The kinetic profiles for each peptide are concentration-independent but significantly different among NrTPs, pointing out for the amino acid sequence importance. Arginine-containing peptides (NrTP7 and Tat_48–60, used for comparison) were found to be more toxic than lysine-containing ones, as expected. On the other hand, one same peptide behaves differently in each of the lymphocyte and monocyte cell populations, suggesting differences in entry mechanism that in turn reflect diversity in cell functionality. Uptake results obtained at 4 °C or using chemical endocytosis inhibitors support the importance of non-endocytic mechanisms in the cellular internalization of NrTP1 and NrTP5, while confirming endocytosis as the main mechanism of NrTPs entry.

Conclusion

Overall, both direct translocation and endocytosis mechanisms play a role in NrTP entry. Yet, there is predominance of endocytosis-mediated mechanisms. NrTPs (especially NrTP6) are an excellent intracellular delivery tool, with efficient internalization and no toxicity.

General significance

This work validates NrTPs as potential therapeutic tools for, e.g., cancer or inhibition of viral replication and establishes a new comparative and quantitative method to test CPP efficiency.     

Translocation and Endocytosis for Cell-penetrating Peptide Internalization

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) share the property of cellular internalization. The question of how these peptides reach the cytoplasm of cells is still widely debated. Herein, we have used a mass spectrometry-based method that enables quantification of internalized and membrane-bound peptides. Internalization of the most used CPP was studied at 37 °C (endocytosis and translocation) and 4 °C (translocation) in wild type and proteoglycan-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells. Both translocation and endocytosis are internalization pathways used by CPP. The choice of one pathway versus the other depends on the peptide sequence (not the number of positive changes), the extracellular peptide concentration, and the membrane components. There is no relationship between the high affinity of these peptides for the cell membrane and their internalization efficacy. Translocation occurs at low extracellular peptide concentration, whereas endocytosis, a saturable and cooperative phenomenon, is activated at higher concentrations. Translocation operates in a narrow time window, which implies a specific lipid/peptide co-import in cells.     

Structure-activity relationship study of the cell-penetrating peptide pVEC

The peptide pVEC is a recently described cell-penetrating peptide, derived from the murine vascular endothelial-cadherin protein. In order to define which part of this 18-amino acid long peptide is important for the cellular translocation, we performed a structure-activity relationship study of pVEC. Together with the l-alanine substituted peptides, the retro-pVEC, D-pVEC and the scramble pVEC are studied for comparison. The peptide analogues are labeled with carboxyfluorescein at the N-terminus for monitoring the cellular uptake into human Bowes melanoma cells with different efficacy. We show that all the Fl-pVEC analogues internalize in live Bowes melanoma cells. l-Alanine substitution of the five respective N-terminal hydrophobic amino acids significantly decreases the translocation property, while replacing of Arg⁶, Arg⁸ or Ser¹⁷ by alanine enhances the uptake. The uptake of pVEC is significantly reduced by treatment with an endocytosis inhibitor wortmannin. Treatment with heparinase III, nystatin and EIPA had no effect on the peptide uptake. The data presented here show that the N-terminal hydrophobic part of pVEC is crucial for efficient cellular translocation.     

Osmotically evoked shrinking of guard-cell protoplasts causes vesicular retrieval of plasma membrane into the cytoplasm

The dye FM1-43 was used alone or in combination with measurements of the membrane capacitance (C_m) to monitor membrane changes in protoplasts from Viciafaba L. guard cells. Confocal images of protoplasts incubated with FM1-43 (10 μM) at constant ambient osmotic pressure (π_o) revealed in confocal images a slow internalisation of FM1-43-labelled membrane into the cytoplasm. As a result of this process the relative fluorescence intensity of the cell interior (f_FM,i) increased with reference to the total fluorescence (f_FM,t) by 7.4 × 10⁻⁴ min⁻¹. This steady internalisation of dye suggests the occurrence of constitutive endocytosis under constant osmotic pressure. Steady internalisation of FM1-43 labelled membrane caused a prominent staining of a ring-like structure located beneath the plasma membrane. Abrupt elevation of π_o by 200 mosmol kg⁻¹ caused, over the first minutes of incubation, a rapid internalisation of FM1-43 fluorescence into the cytoplasm concomitant with a decrease in cell perimeter. Within the first 5 min the cell perimeter decreased by 7.9%. Over the same time f_FM,i/f_FM,t increased by 0.13, reflecting internalisation of fluorescent label into the cytoplasm. Combined measurements of C_m and total fluorescence of a protoplast (f_FM,p) showed that an increase in π_o evoked a decrease in C_m but no change in f_FM,p. This means that surface contraction of the protoplast is due to retrieval of excess membrane from the plasma membrane and internalisation into the cytoplasm. Further inspection of confocal images revealed that protoplast shrinking was only occasionally associated with internalisation of giant vesicles (median diameter 2.7 μm) with FM1-43-labelled membrane. But, in all cases, osmotic contraction was correlated with a diffuse distribution of FM1-43 label throughout the cytoplasm. From this, we conclude that endocytosis of small vesicles into the cytoplasm is the obligatory process by which cells accommodate an osmotically driven decrease in membrane surface area. Received: 4 May 1999 / Accepted: 19 August 1999     

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) Specifically Induces Membrane Penetration and Deformation by Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) Domains

Cellular proteins containing Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domains play a key role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Despite extensive structural and functional studies of BAR domains, it is still unknown how exactly these domains interact with the plasma membrane containing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P₂) and whether they function by a universal mechanism or by different mechanisms. Here we report that PtdIns(4,5)P₂ specifically induces partial membrane penetration of the N-terminal amphiphilic α-helix (H₀) of two representative N-BAR domains from Drosophila amphiphysin (dAmp-BAR) and rat endophilin A1 (EndoA1-BAR). Our quantitative fluorescence imaging analysis shows that PtdIns(4,5)P₂-dependent membrane penetration of H₀ is important for self-association of membrane-bound dAmp-BAR and EndoA1-BAR and their membrane deformation activity. EndoA1-BAR behaves differently from dAmp-BAR because the former has an additional amphiphilic α-helix that penetrates the membrane in a PtdIns(4,5)P₂-independent manner. Depletion of PtdIns(4,5)P₂ from the plasma membrane of HEK293 cells abrogated the membrane deforming activity of EndoA1-BAR and dAmp-BAR. Collectively, these studies suggest that the local PtdIns(4,5)P₂ concentration in the plasma membrane may regulate the membrane interaction and deformation by N-BAR domain-containing proteins during clathrin-mediated endocytosis.     

Ubiquitin in trafficking: The network at work

Targeting of membrane proteins to their proper destination requires specific mechanisms. Protein cargos are included in vesicles that bud off a donor organelle and ultimately fuse with a target organelle, where the cargos are delivered. Endocytosis of transmembrane receptors (e.g., receptor tyrosine kinases, RTKs) follows a common scheme that consists of an internalization reaction and a delivery step, during which cargos are transferred to an endosomal station to be either directed to the lysosome for degradation or recycled back to the cell surface. At each stage along the endocytic route, short motifs within protein cargos and/or post-translational modifications regulate transmembrane receptor sorting. In recent years, studies have shown that ubiquitination acts as a signal for the internalization and sorting of plasma membrane proteins. Here, we present an overview of ubiquitin's role as a ‘signal’ for intracellular trafficking and give examples of the multifaced mechanisms of ubiquitin-regulated RTK endocytosis.     

Cell Adhesion Properties and Effects on Receptor-Mediated Insulin Endocytosis Are Independent Properties of pp120, a Substrate of the Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase

pp120 undergoes phosphorylation by the tyrosine kinase of the insulin, not the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), receptor. Moreover, pp120 stimulates receptor-mediated insulin, but not IGF-1, endocytosis, suggesting that pp120 phosphorylation underlies its effect on insulin endocytosis. pp120 phosphorylation also underlies its bile acid transport and tumor suppression functions. In addition to depending on the intracellular tail, the cell adhesion property of pp120 depends on Arg⁹⁸ in the N-terminal IgV-like ectoplasmic domain. To investigate whether this domain mediates the effect of pp120 on insulin endocytosis, we mutated Arg⁹⁸ to Ala and examined whether this mutation altered pp120 phosphorylation and its effect on ligand endocytosis in transfected NIH 3T3 cells. This mutation did not modify either pp120 phosphorylation or its effect on receptor-mediated ligand endocytosis. These findings support the hypothesis that stimulation of insulin endocytosis by pp120 is not mediated by Arg⁹⁸ in the N-terminal IgV-like ectoplasmic domain of pp120.     

Influence of the Dabcyl group on the cellular uptake of cationic peptides: short oligoarginines as efficient cell-penetrating peptides

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are promising delivery vehicles. These short peptides can transport wide range of cargos into cells, although their usage has often limitations. One of them is the endosomatic internalisation and thus the vesicular entrapment. Modifications which increases the direct delivery into the cytosol is highly researched area. Among the oligoarginines the longer ones (n > 6) show efficient internalisation and they are well-known members of CPPs. Herein, we describe the modification of tetra- and hexaarginine with (4–((4–(dimethylamino)phenyl)azo)benzoyl) (Dabcyl) group. This chromophore, which is often used in FRET system increased the internalisation of both peptides, and its effect was more outstanding in case of hexaarginine. The modified hexaarginine may enter into cells more effectively than octaarginine, and showed diffuse distribution besides vesicular transport already at low concentration. The attachment of Dabcyl group not only increases the cellular uptake of the cell-penetrating peptides but it may affect the mechanism of their internalisation. Their conjugates with antitumor drugs were studied on different cells and showed antitumor activity.

     

The Plasma Membrane of Bloodstream-form African Trypanosomes Confers Susceptibility and Specificity to Killing by Hydrophobic Peptides

Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of both a veterinary wasting disease and human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness. The cell membrane of the developmental stage found within the mammalian host, the bloodstream form (BSF), is highly dynamic, exhibiting rapid rates of endocytosis and lateral flow of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins. Here, we show that the cell membrane of these organisms is a target for killing by small hydrophobic peptides that increase the rigidity of lipid bilayers. Specifically, we have derived trypanocidal peptides that are based upon the hydrophobic N-terminal signal sequences of human apolipoproteins. These peptides selectively partitioned into the plasma membrane of BSF trypanosomes, resulting in an increase in the rigidity of the bilayer, dramatic changes in cell motility, and subsequent cell death. No killing of the developmental stage found within the insect midgut, the procyclic form, was observed. Additionally, the peptides exhibited no toxicity toward mammalian cell lines and did not induce hemolysis. Studies with model liposomes indicated that bilayer fluidity dictates the susceptibility of membranes to manipulation by hydrophobic peptides. We suggest that the composition of the BSF trypanosome cell membrane confers a high degree of fluidity and unique susceptibility to killing by hydrophobic peptides and is therefore a target for the development of trypanocidal drugs.