Distribution of Carbohydrates Recognized by the Lectins Euonymus europaeus and Concanavalin A in Monoxenic and Heteroxenic Trypanosomatids |
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Authors: | RICARDO T. GAZZINELLI ALVARO J. ROMANHA GILBERTO FONTES EGLER CHIARI GIOVANNI GAZZINELLI ZIGMAN BRENER |
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Affiliation: | Centro de Pesquisas RenéRachou, FIOCRUZ, C.P. 1743, 30.190;Department of Parasitology, ICB, UFMG, C.P. 2486, 31271, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil |
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Abstract: | We observed a wide distribution of the carbohydrate epitopes galactosylα(1–3) galactose (galα1–3 gal), α-glucoside, and α-mannoside in mono- and heteroxenic trypanosomatids by using fluorescein-labelled lectins of Euonymus europaeus (EE) and Concanavalin A (Con A) as well as sera from acute chagasic patients who have very high levels of anti-galα(1–3) gal antibodies. The direct fluorescence test for galα1–3 gal with EE was positive at minimum concentrations of 6 μg/ml for heteroxenic trypanosomatids and 0.7 μg/ml for monoxenic ones and for the plant parasite, Phytomonas. On the other hand, heteroxenic trypanosomatids that infect vertebrates bound ten-fold more Con A than monoxenic flagellates and Phytomonas. These data were confirmed in ELISA and Western Blot assays carried out with peroxidase-labelled EE and Con A. Euonymus europaeus recognized several glycoproteins in all trypanosomatids that we tested. Con A, however, recognized a glycoprotein cluster in heteroxenic protozoa, which ranging from 60–120 kDa, seemed to lack monoxenic parasites and Phytomonas. These findings suggest that α-D-mannose and α-D-glucose might play an important role in the interaction between trypanosomatids and vertebrate hosts. |
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Keywords: | Heteroxenic trypanosomatids lectins monoxenic trypanosomatids. |
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