Centrin in Giardia lamblia - ultrastructural localization

Giardia lamblia is a multiflagellar parasite and one of the earliest diverging eukaryotic cells. It possesses a complex cytoskeleton based on different groups of microtubular structures - a ventral adhesive disc, four pairs of flagella, a median body and funis. Centrin is an important member of the EF-hand family of calcium-binding proteins, and it is known to show calcium-sensitive contractile behaviour. In the present study, we performed an ultrastructural localization of centrin in G. lamblia using several monoclonal antibodies to centrin. Microtubular structures such as the basal bodies, all the flagella axonemes, the adhesive disc, funis, and the median bodies presented positive labelling to centrin. In addition, the dense rods also demonstrated positive labelling. These results show that centrin is located in key positions related to microtubules. The role of centrin in these dynamic regions is discussed.