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Hydrodynamic flow-mediated protein sorting on the cell surface of trypanosomes

Engstler, Markus and Pfohl, Thomas and Herminghaus, Stephan and Boshart, Michael and Wiegertjes, Geert and Heddergott, Niko and Overath, Peter. (2007) Hydrodynamic flow-mediated protein sorting on the cell surface of trypanosomes. Cell, 131 (3). pp. 505-515.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/45895/

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Abstract

The unicellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei rapidly removes host-derived immunoglobulin (Ig) from its cell surface, which is dominated by a single type of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). We have determined the mechanism of antibody clearance and found that Ig-VSG immune complexes are passively sorted to the posterior cell pole, where they are endocytosed. The backward movement of immune complexes requires forward cellular motility but is independent of endocytosis and of actin function. We suggest that the hydrodynamic flow acting on swimming trypanosomes causes directional movement of Ig-VSG immune complexes in the plane of the plasma membrane, that is, immunoglobulins attached to VSG function as molecular sails. Protein sorting by hydrodynamic forces helps to protect trypanosomes against complement-mediated immune destruction in culture and possibly in infected mammals but likewise may be of functional significance at the surface of other cell types such as epithelial cells lining blood vessels.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Chemie > Former Organization Units Chemistry > Biophysikalische Chemie (Pfohl)
UniBasel Contributors:Pfohl, Thomas
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0092-8674
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Identification Number:
Last Modified:19 Dec 2016 13:35
Deposited On:19 Dec 2016 13:35

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