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Surface Charge of Trypanosoma cruzi. Binding of Cationized Ferritin and Measurement of Cellular Electrophoretic Mobility *
Author(s) -
SOUZA WANDERLEY DE,
ARGUELLO CARLOS,
MARTINEZPALOMO ADOLFO,
TRISSL DOROTHEA,
GONZÁLESROBLES ARTURO,
CHIARI EGLER
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1977.tb04762.x
Subject(s) - ferritin , trypanosoma cruzi , surface charge , electrophoresis , chemistry , biophysics , population , biochemistry , biology , parasite hosting , demography , sociology , world wide web , computer science
SYNOPSIS The surface charge of epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated by means of binding of cationized ferritin to the cell surface as visualized by electron microscopy, and by direct measurements of the cellular microelectrophoretic mobility (EPM). Epimastigote forms had a mean EPM of ‐0.52 μm . s ‐1. V ‐1. cm and were lightly labeled with cationized ferritin. In contrast, bloodstream trypomastigotes had a much higher EPM (‐1.14), and the surface was heavily labeled with cationized ferritin. When trypomastigotes from stationary phase cultures were isolated on DEAE cellulose columns, the mean EPM was found to be significantly lower (‐0.63), and labeling with cationized ferritin decreased. With a mixed population containing epimastigote, trypomastigote, and intermediate forms, EPM values ranging between ‐0.70 to ‐1.14 were found. From these observations we conclude that there is a definite increase in negative surface charge during development from epi‐ to trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi.