Endocytosed transferrin in African trypanosomes is delivered to lysosomes and may not be recycled
Grab, D.J.; Wells, C.W.; Shaw, M.K.; Webster, P.; Russo, D.C.
European Journal of Cell Biology 59(2): 398-404
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0171-9335 PMID: 1493805 Document Number: 394547
Using an affinity-purified anti-bovine transferrin IgG, it was demonstrated that, in both Trypanosoma brucei and T. congolense, native transferrin, like Tf-Au, is found in the flagellar pocket, coated vesicles, tubular structures, and lysosome-like organelles (where it appears to be concentrated). The presence of Tf in the lysosomes was confirmed by colocalization experiments using T. congolense, where native bovine transferrin colocalized with a trypanosome lysosomal marker, a cysteine protease. The data suggested that, unlike the situation in mammalian cells where most transferrin is recycled to the cell surface, in African trypanosomes transferrin is routed into lysosomes and may not, therefore, be recycled.