Differential lectin recognition of glycoproteins in choanomastigote-shaped trypanosomatids: taxonomic implications

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 231; no. 2; pp. 171 - 176
• Main Authors: d’Avila-Levy, Claudia Masini, Araújo, Fernanda Miranda, Vermelho, Alane Beatriz, Branquinha, Marta Helena, Alviano, Celuta Sales, de Araújo Soares, Rosangela Maria, Souza dos Santos, André Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier B.V 16-02-2004; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Angomonas; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; chemotaxonomy; choanomastigotes; Classification; Crithidia; Crithidia - chemistry; Crithidia - classification; developmental stages; entomopathogenic protozoa; Flagella - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycoprotein; glycoproteins; Glycoproteins - analysis; Herpetomonas; Lectin; Lectins; Microbiology; Mycology; Sialic acid; Strigomonas; Systematics; Taxonomy; Trypanosomatid; Trypanosomatidae; Trypanosomatina - chemistry; Trypanosomatina - classification; Virology; Lectin; Sialic acid; Crithidia; Trypanosomatid; Taxonomy; Glycoprotein; Sialic acid: Glycoprotein; Recognition
• ISSN: 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1097(03)00915-7

The glycoprotein profiles of seven choanomastigote-shaped trypanosomatids (six
Crithidia spp. and one
Herpetomonas sp.), which have been suggested to form three distinct taxonomic groups (
Crithidia,
Angomonas and
Strigomonas), were analyzed by Western blotting using the lectins
Limax flavus (LFA),
Sambucus nigra (SNA) and
Maackia amurensis (MAA), which specifically recognize sialic acid residues, and concanavalin A (Con A) that recognizes mannose-like residues in glycoconjugates. All lectins showed a sugar-inhibited recognition with the parasite extracts, with the exception of LFA, which did not show any reactivity with the studied species. The SNA agglutinin presented a characteristic and specific pattern for each taxonomic group. The MAA lectin showed an identical profile for all species analyzed, while Con A grouped the choanomastigote-shaped species in two different patterns, one specific for the
Angomonas group, and the other comprehending both
Strigomonas and
Crithidia groups. These results illustrate the heterogeneity of the genus
Crithidia. The possible taxonomic redistribution of the choanomastigote-shaped trypanosomatids is also discussed.