Subpellicular and flagellar microtubules of Trypanosoma brucei brucei contain the same alpha-tubulin isoforms.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The cytoskeleton of the parasitic hemoflagellate Trypanosoma brucei brucei essentially consists of two microtubule-based structures: a subpellicular layer of singlet microtubules, which are in close contact with the cell membrane, and the flagellar axoneme. In addition, the cells contain a small pool of soluble tubulin. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of the tubulins present in these subcellular compartments revealed two distinct electrophoretic isoforms of .alpha.-tubulin, termed .alpha.1 and .alpha.3, .alpha.1-Tubulin most likely represents the primary translation product, while .alpha.3-tubulin is a posttranslationally acetylated derivative of .alpha.1-tubulin. In the pool of soluble cytoplasmic tubulin, .alpha.1 is the predominant species, while the very stable flagellar microtubules contain almost exclusively the .alpha.3-tubulin isoform. The subpellicular microtubules contain both isoforms. Neither of the two .alpha.-tubulin isoforms is organelle specific, but the .alpha.3 isoform is predominantly located in stable microtubules.