What question did this study set out to answer?

Determine the in situ elemental composition of subcellular compartments in Trypanosoma cruzi to define the identity and properties of acidocalcisomes.

October 1, 1997Journal of Biological ChemistryOpen Access

In Situ Compositional Analysis of Acidocalcisomes in Trypanosoma cruzi

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Authors

DSDavid A. ScottDiscovery Institute RDRoberto DocampoUniversity of Georgia JDJames A. DvorakTwin Cities Public Television

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Implication

In vitro study reveals unique elemental composition of acidocalcisomes in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, indicating they are distinct calcium-storing acidic organelles.

Key Points

Determine the in situ elemental composition of subcellular compartments in Trypanosoma cruzi to define the identity and properties of acidocalcisomes.
Measured compartment elemental content in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes using quick freezing, ultracryomicrotomy, and electron probe microanalysis.
Tested vacuolar acidity via 70-minute incubation with ionophores (ionomycin and nigericin) and analyzed organelle density shifts using Percoll gradients with Triton WR-1339 detergent treatment.
Tracked the endocytic system relative to calcium-containing vacuoles using conventional electron microscopy with gold-labeled transferrin.
Electron-dense vacuoles contained high concentrations (mmol/kg dry weight ± SE) of phosphorus (1390 ± 13), magnesium (646 ± 19), calcium (171 ± 5), sodium (161 ± 18), and zinc (148 ± 6), with no other compartment exhibiting appreciable calcium or zinc.
Iron was detected exclusively in separate vacuoles (128 ± 16 mmol/kg dry weight), and ionophore treatment stimulated a 3-fold potassium increase in electron-dense vacuoles and a 2-fold increase in iron-rich vacuoles.
Density separation and gold-labeled transferrin tracking demonstrated that acidocalcisomes represent distinct organelles separate from lysosomes and the endosomal system.

Cite This Study

Scott et al. (1997) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9cdeac4ba5cffa0a736bbd https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.272.44.28020

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Implication

In vitro study reveals unique elemental composition of acidocalcisomes in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, indicating they are distinct calcium-storing acidic organelles.

In Situ Compositional Analysis of Acidocalcisomes in Trypanosoma cruzi

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

In Situ Compositional Analysis of Acidocalcisomes in Trypanosoma cruzi

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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