SURFACE RECEPTORS AND TRANSPORTERS OF TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI

African trypanosomes combine antigenic variation of their surface coat with the ability to take up nutrients from their mammalian hosts. Uptake of small molecules such as glucose or nucleosides is mediated by translocators hidden from host antibodies by the surface coat. The multiple glucose transpo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of microbiology 1998-01, Vol.52 (1), p.745-778
Main Authors: Borst, P, Fairlamb, A. H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adenylate/guanylate cyclase
Animals
antigenic variation
Antigens, Protozoan - chemistry
Antigens, Protozoan - genetics
Antigens, Protozoan - physiology
Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology. Molecular biology
Biological and medical sciences
Cell receptors
Flagella - physiology
flagellar pocket
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Glucose
Glucose - metabolism
glucose transporter
Microbiology
N-Glycosyl Hydrolases - metabolism
Proteins
Protozoa
Receptors, Cell Surface - physiology
Receptors, Lipoprotein - physiology
Receptors, Transferrin - physiology
transferrin receptors
Tropical medicine
Trypanosoma brucei
Trypanosoma brucei brucei - immunology
Trypanosoma brucei brucei - metabolism
Trypanosoma brucei brucei - physiology
Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma - chemistry
Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma - genetics
Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma - physiology
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Summary:African trypanosomes combine antigenic variation of their surface coat with the ability to take up nutrients from their mammalian hosts. Uptake of small molecules such as glucose or nucleosides is mediated by translocators hidden from host antibodies by the surface coat. The multiple glucose transporters and transporters for nucleobases and nucleosides have been characterized. Receptors for host macromolecules such as transferrin and lipoproteins are visible to antibodies but hidden from the cellular arm of the host immune system in an invagination of the trypanosome surface, the flagellar pocket. The trypanosomal transferrin receptor is a heterodimer that resembles the major component of the surface coat of Trypanosoma brucei . The ability to make several versions of this receptor allows T. brucei to bind transferrins from a range of mammals with high affinity. The proteins required for uptake of nutrients by trypanosomes provide a target for chemotherapy that remains to be fully exploited.
ISSN:0066-4227
1545-3251
DOI:10.1146/annurev.micro.52.1.745