PMID: 6172709Nov 1, 1981Paper

Studies on the biosynthesis of the variant surface glycoproteins of Trypanosoma brucei: sequence of glycosylation

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
L Rovis, D K Dube

Abstract

The variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of several Trypanosoma brucei clones has been metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine in parasites grown in the presence or in the absence of tunicamycin. Pulse and chase experiments followed by immunoprecipiation with anti-VSG sera and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitates, have helped to elucidate two steps of the sequence of glycosylation of VSG. Immediately after, or concomitantly with the synthesis of the protein, a first type of oligosaccharide side chain is also synthesized. Tunicamycin, a specific inhibitor of asparagine glycosylation, completely inhibits this reaction. The total amount of VSG found in trypanosomes grown in the presence of tunicamycin is less than in controls. The unglycosylated molecule has an apparent molecular weight 5-10% smaller than the mature form. A subsequent step, occurring after translation, is the synthesis of carbohydrate side chains which contain a cross-reacting antigenic determinant detected in all VSGs so far studied by immunoprecipitations with heterologous antisera. The percentage of total VSG bearing sugars involved in cross-reactions is variable in different clones, increases with time and subsequently decreases, sugge...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1978·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A F Barbet, T C McGuire
Apr 23, 1979·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·A J Parodi, L F Leloir
Jul 2, 1973·European Journal of Biochemistry·N J Cowan, C Milstein
Dec 1, 1973·Parasitology·G A Cross, J C Manning
Dec 1, 1970·Experimental Parasitology·S M Lanham, D G Godfrey
Mar 1, 1980·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J E Strickler, C L Patton
Sep 1, 1980·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J M Prives, K Olden

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 1, 1983·Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology·M MilhausenN Agabian
Nov 1, 1984·Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology·E N MillerM J Turner
Jun 1, 1985·Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology·P A MajiwaR Hamers
Jan 2, 1987·Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology·J K Lovelace, M Gottlieb
Dec 1, 1984·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D J GrabY Verjee
May 1, 1985·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J D BangsP T Englund
Dec 1, 1982·Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·R A CaseroR J Bernacki
Apr 1, 1986·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·K A Presper, E C Heath
Jan 29, 1985·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·A Bernards

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

African Trypanosomiasis

African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is an insect-borne parasitic disease of humans and other animals. It is caused by protozoa of the species Trypanosoma brucei and almost invariably progresses to death unless treated. Discover the latest research on African trypanosomiasis here.