Parasitology Research

, Volume 75, Issue 2, pp 102–106 | Cite as

Detection and localization of actin inToxoplasma gondii

  • T. Endo
  • K. Yagita
  • T. Yasuda
  • T. Nakamura
Original Investigations
Accepted:

Abstract

The immunological cross-reactivity of the protein from whole-cell extracts ofToxoplasma gondii with antisera against actins from chickengizzard smooth muscle and fromAscaris body-wall muscle was demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunofluorescence studies. A protein of about 42 kDa, with the same mobility as that of rabbit smooth-muscle actin in SDS-PAGE showed cross-reactivity with anti-actin antisera on the electroblotted nitrocellulose sheet. Indirect fluorescent antibody staining of the parasites clearly showed that actin localized strongly in the anterior third of the organism in both extra- and intrahost cellular stages. From both a biochemical as well as structural point of view, the results obtained in the present experiments might explain the locomotive features of the parasite such as twirling and sliding, with most of the activity at the anterior end.

Keywords

Dodecyl Fluorescent Antibody Antibody Staining Immunofluorescence Study Structural Point 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1988

Authors and Affiliations

  • T. Endo
    • 1
  • K. Yagita
    • 1
  • T. Yasuda
    • 2
  • T. Nakamura
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of ParasitologyNational Institute of HealthTokyoJapan
  2. 2.Department of TechnologyNational Institute of HealthTokyoJapan
  3. 3.Department of ParasitologyKitasato University, School of MedicineKanagawaJapan

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