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Science 21 June 1996:
Vol. 272. no. 5269, pp. 1795 - 1797
DOI: 10.1126/science.272.5269.1795
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Reports

Stable Expression of Mosaic Coats of Variant Surface Glycoproteins in Trypanosoma brucei

Jorge L. Muñoz-Jordán, Kelvin P. Davies, George A. M. Cross *

The paradigm of antigenic variation in parasites is the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of African trypanosomes. Only one VSG is expressed at any time, except for short periods during switching. The reasons for this pattern of expression and the consequences of expressing more than one VSG are unknown. Trypanosoma brucei was genetically manipulated to generate cell lines that expressed two VSGs simultaneously. These VSGs were produced in equal amounts and were homogeneously distributed on the trypanosome surface. The double-expressor cells had similar population doubling times and were as infective as wild-type cells. Thus, the simultaneous expression of two VSGs is not intrinsically harmful.

Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Rockefeller University, Box 185, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gamc{at}rockvax.rockefeller.edu


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Dependent Protein Trafficking in Bloodstream Stage Trypanosoma brucei.
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Protein structure controls the processing of the N-linked oligosaccharides and glycosylphosphatidylinositol glycans of variant surface glycoproteins expressed in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei.
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Leaky Transcription of Variant Surface Glycoprotein Gene Expression Sites in Bloodstream African Trypanosomes.
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J. Biol. Chem. 274, 16884-16893
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Cell lysis induces redistribution of the GPI-anchored variant surface glycoprotein on both faces of the plasma membrane of Trypanosoma brucei.
M. Cardoso De Almeida, M Geuskens, and E Pays (1999)
J. Cell Sci. 112, 4461-4473
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