Polymorphism in the procyclic acidic repetitive protein gene family of Trypanosoma brucei

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 4055-4062
Author(s):  
M R Mowatt ◽  
C E Clayton

The expression of procyclic acidic repetitive protein (PARP) by Trypanosoma brucei is strongly induced during the transition of bloodstream form to cultured procyclic trypomastigotes in vitro. The membrane-associated protein is distinguished by a central domain consisting of tandemly repeated glutamate-proline dipeptides. The trypanosome genome contains eight PARP genes, at least four of which are expressed. A minimum of four distinct PARP mRNA species comprises two classes of PARP mRNA, based upon divergent 3' untranslated region sequences, and these mRNAs encode polypeptides that exhibited an inverse relation between molecular weight and isoelectric point. Comparative analysis of PARP gene structure indicated that these polypeptides differ by variation in size of the dipeptide repeat domain. Comparison of PARP genes and polypeptides of three independent T. brucei isolates suggested that PARP is not a homogeneous species but instead represents a family of polymorphic proteins.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 4055-4062 ◽  
Author(s):  
M R Mowatt ◽  
C E Clayton

The expression of procyclic acidic repetitive protein (PARP) by Trypanosoma brucei is strongly induced during the transition of bloodstream form to cultured procyclic trypomastigotes in vitro. The membrane-associated protein is distinguished by a central domain consisting of tandemly repeated glutamate-proline dipeptides. The trypanosome genome contains eight PARP genes, at least four of which are expressed. A minimum of four distinct PARP mRNA species comprises two classes of PARP mRNA, based upon divergent 3' untranslated region sequences, and these mRNAs encode polypeptides that exhibited an inverse relation between molecular weight and isoelectric point. Comparative analysis of PARP gene structure indicated that these polypeptides differ by variation in size of the dipeptide repeat domain. Comparison of PARP genes and polypeptides of three independent T. brucei isolates suggested that PARP is not a homogeneous species but instead represents a family of polymorphic proteins.


1992 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Hemphill ◽  
M Affolter ◽  
T Seebeck

The major component of the cytoskeleton of the parasitic hemoflagellate Trypanosoma brucei is a membrane skeleton which consists of a single layer of tightly spaced microtubules. This array encloses the entire cell body, and it is apposed to, and connected with, the overlying cell membrane. The microtubules of this array contain numerous microtubule-associated proteins. Prominent among those is a family of high molecular weight, repetitive proteins which consist to a large extent of tandemly arranged 38-amino acid repeat units. The binding of one of these proteins, MARP-1, to microtubules has now been characterized in vitro and in vivo. MARP-1 binds to microtubules via tubulin domains other than the COOH-termini used by microtubule-associated proteins from mammalian brain, e.g., MAP2 or Tau. In vitro binding assays using recombinant protein, as well as transfection of mammalian cell lines, have established that the repetitive 38-amino acid repeat units represent a novel microtubule-binding motif. This motif is very similar in length to those of the mammalian microtubule-associated proteins Tau, MAP2, and MAP-U, but both its sequence and charge are different. The observation that the microtubule-binding motifs both of the neural and the trypanosomal proteins are of similar length may reflect the fact that both mediate binding to the same repetitive surface, the microtubule, while their sequence and charge differences are in agreement with the observation that they interact with different domains of the tubulins.


1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 1462-1468 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Fernández ◽  
Jari Petäjä ◽  
John Griffin

SummaryUnfractionated heparin potentiates the anticoagulant action of activated protein C (APC) through several mechanisms, including the recently described enhancement of proteolytic inactivation of factor V. Possible anticoagulant synergism between APC and physiologic glycosaminoglycans, pharmacologic low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), and other heparin derivatives was studied. Dermatan sulfate showed potent APC-enhancing effect. Commercial LMWHs showed differing abilities to promote APC activity, and the molecular weight of LMWHs correlated with enhancement of APC activity. Degree of sulfation of the glycosaminoglycans influenced APC enhancement. However, because dextran sulfates did not potentiate APC action, the presence of sulfate groups per se on a polysaccharide is not sufficient for APC enhancement. As previously for unfractionated heparin, APC anticoagulant activity was enhanced by glycosaminoglycans when factor V but not factor Va was the substrate. Thus, dermatan sulfate and LMWHs exhibit APC enhancing activity in vitro that could be of physiologic and pharmacologic significance.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (06) ◽  
pp. 942-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Landolfi ◽  
Erica De Candia ◽  
Bianca Rocca ◽  
Giovanni Ciabattoni ◽  
Armando Antinori ◽  
...  

SummarySeveral “in vitro” and “in vivo” studies indicate that heparin administration may affect platelet function. In this study we investigated the effects of prophylactic heparin on thromboxane (Tx)A2 biosynthesis “in vivo”, as assessed by the urinary excretion of major enzymatic metabolites 11-dehydro-TxB2 and 2,3-dinor-TxB2. Twenty-four patients who were candidates for cholecystectomy because of uncomplicated lithiasis were randomly assigned to receive placebo, unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin or unfractionaed heparin plus 100 mg aspirin. Measurements of daily excretion of Tx metabolites were performed before and during the treatment. In the groups assigned to placebo and to low molecular weight heparin there was no statistically significant modification of Tx metabolite excretion while patients receiving unfractionated heparin had a significant increase of both metabolites (11-dehydro-TxB2: 3844 ± 1388 vs 2092 ±777, p <0.05; 2,3-dinor-TxB2: 2737 ± 808 vs 1535 ± 771 pg/mg creatinine, p <0.05). In patients randomized to receive low-dose aspirin plus unfractionated heparin the excretion of the two metabolites was largely suppressed thus suggesting that platelets are the primary source of enhanced thromboxane biosynthesis associated with heparin administration. These data indicate that unfractionated heparin causes platelet activation “in vivo” and suggest that the use of low molecular weight heparin may avoid this complication.


1961 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 015-024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Erik Bergentz ◽  
Oddvar Eiken ◽  
Inga Marie Nilsson

Summary1. Infusions of low molecular weight dextran (Mw = 42 000) to dogs in doses of 1—1.5 g per kg body weight did not produce any significant changes in the coagulation mechanism.2. Infusions of high molecular weight dextran (Mw = 1 000 000) to dogs in doses of 1—1.5 g per kg body weight produced severe defects in the coagulation mechanism, namely prolongation of bleeding time and coagulation time, thrombocytopenia, pathological prothrombin consumption, decrease of fibrinogen, prothrombin and factor VII, factor V and AHG.3. Heparin treatment of the dogs was found to prevent the decrease of fibrinogen, prothrombin and factor VII, and factor V otherwise occurring after injection of high molecular weight dextran. Thrombocytopenia was not prevented.4. In in vitro experiments an interaction between fibrinogen and dextran of high and low molecular weight was found to take place in systems comprising pure fibrinogen. No such interaction occurred in the presence of plasma.5. It is concluded that the coagulation defects induced by infusions of high molecular weight dextran are due to intravascular coagulation.


1964 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 232-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Sasaki ◽  
T Takemoto ◽  
S Oka

SummaryTo demonstrate whether the intravascular precipitation of fibrinogen is responsible for the toxicity of heparinoid, the relation between the toxicity of heparinoid in vivo and the precipitation of fibrinogen in vitro was investigated, using dextran sulfate of various molecular weights and various heparinoids.1. There are close relationships between the molecular weight of dextran sulfate, its toxicity, and the quantity of fibrinogen precipitated.2. The close relationship between the toxicity and the precipitation of fibrinogen found for dextran sulfate holds good for other heparinoids regardless of their molecular structures.3. Histological findings suggest strongly that the pathological changes produced with dextran sulfate are caused primarily by the intravascular precipitates with occlusion of the capillaries.From these facts, it is concluded that the precipitates of fibrinogen with heparinoid may be the cause or at least the major cause of the toxicity of heparinoid.4. The most suitable molecular weight of dextran sulfate for clinical use was found to be 5,300 ~ 6,700, from the maximum value of the product (LD50 · Anticoagulant activity). This product (LD50 · Anticoagulant activity) can be employed generally to assess the comparative merits of various heparinoids.5. Clinical use of the dextran sulfate prepared on this basis gave satisfactory results. No severe reaction was observed. However, two delayed reactions, alopecia and thrombocytopenia, were observed. These two reactions seem to come from the cause other than intravascular precipitation.


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