ABSTRACT
In the present report we show the distribution of multiple tubulin isoforms in Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus, flagellated parasitic protists of the urogenital tracts of human and cattle, respectively, using immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. We used several monoclonal and polyclonal anti-tubulin antibodies from different sources and recognizing variant tubulin isoforms. Our results demonstrate that: (1) there is a heterogeneous distribution of the different tubulin isoforms in the main microtubular cell structures, such as axostyle, flagella, basal bodies, and mitotic spindle, (2) the axostyle-pelta junction is a structure with high affinity for glutamylated tubulin antibodies in T. foetus, (3) the spindle labeling is positive to anti-glutamylated tubulin and anti-alpha-tubulin (TAT1 and purchased from Amersham) antibodies in T. vaginalis but it is negative in T. foetus, (4) the nuclear matrix and the cytosol presented positive reaction using glutamylated and TAT1 (anti-alpha-tubulin) antibodies only in T. vaginalis, and (5) the Golgi complex exhibited staining using the glutamylated tubulin antibody. The present data corroborate with the idea of the existence of a heterogeneous population of microtubules in these protists and of a subset of intracytoplasmic microtubules. Microtubule diversity may reflect distinct tubulins, diverse microtubule-associated proteins, or a combination of both.
Subject(s)
Protein Processing, Post-Translational , Tritrichomonas/metabolism , Tubulin/metabolism , Animals , Cytosol/chemistry , Immunohistochemistry/methods , Nuclear Matrix/chemistry , Nuclear Matrix/ultrastructure , Protein Isoforms/chemistry , Tritrichomonas/chemistry , Tritrichomonas/ultrastructure , Tritrichomonas foetus/chemistry , Tritrichomonas foetus/metabolism , Tritrichomonas foetus/ultrastructure , Tubulin/chemistry , Tubulin/ultrastructureABSTRACT
The process of interaction between macrophages and Tritrichomonas foetus and Trichomonas vaginalis was analysed using light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The parasites attach to the macrophage surface and are ingested through a phagocytic process. Parasite-macrophage association index was higher for activated than for resident macrophages. Previous incubation of the parasites in the presence of Concanavalin A rendered their surface less negative and more hydrophobic, as evaluated by measurement of the zeta potential and contact angle, respectively. This treatment significantly increased parasite ingestion by resident, but not activated macrophages.