TSSA (trypomastigote small surface antigen) is a polymorphic mucin-like molecule displayed on the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigote forms. To evaluate its functional properties, we undertook comparative biochemical and genetic approaches on isoforms present in parasite stocks from extant evolutionary lineages (CL Brener and Sylvio X-10). We show that CL Brener TSSA, but not the Sylvio X-10 counterpart, exhibits dose-dependent and saturable binding towards non-macrophagic cell lines. This binding triggers Ca2+-based signalling responses in the target cell while providing an anchor for the invading parasite. Accordingly, exogenous addition of either TSSA-derived peptides or specific antibodies significantly inhibits invasion of CL Brener, but not Sylvio X-10, trypomastigotes. Non-infective epimastigote forms, which do not express detectable levels of TSSA, were stably transfected with TSSA cDNA from either parasite stock. Although both transfectants produced a surface-associated mucin-like TSSA product, epimastigotes expressing CL Brener TSSA showed a ~2-fold increase in their attachment to mammalian cells. Overall, these findings indicate that CL Brener TSSA functions as a parasite adhesin, engaging surface receptor(s) and inducing signalling pathways on the host cell as a prerequisite for parasite internalization. More importantly, the contrasting functional features of TSSA isoforms provide one appealing mechanism underlying the differential infectivity of T. cruzi stocks.
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June 2012
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Research Article|
May 11 2012
Involvement of TSSA (trypomastigote small surface antigen) in Trypanosoma cruzi invasion of mammalian cells1
Gaspar E. Cánepa;
Gaspar E. Cánepa
*Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)–CONICET, Av. Gral Paz y Albarellos, Predio INTI, Edificio 24, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Maria Sol Degese;
Maria Sol Degese
†Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)–CONICET, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Alexandre Budu;
Alexandre Budu
‡Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biociências, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
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Celia R. S. Garcia;
Celia R. S. Garcia
‡Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biociências, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
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Carlos A. Buscaglia
Carlos A. Buscaglia
2
*Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)–CONICET, Av. Gral Paz y Albarellos, Predio INTI, Edificio 24, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2To whom correspondence should be addressed (email cbusca@iib.unsam.edu.ar).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 10 2012
Revision Received:
March 15 2012
Accepted:
March 20 2012
Accepted Manuscript online:
March 20 2012
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2012 Biochemical Society
2012
Biochem J (2012) 444 (2): 211–218.
Article history
Received:
January 10 2012
Revision Received:
March 15 2012
Accepted:
March 20 2012
Accepted Manuscript online:
March 20 2012
Citation
Gaspar E. Cánepa, Maria Sol Degese, Alexandre Budu, Celia R. S. Garcia, Carlos A. Buscaglia; Involvement of TSSA (trypomastigote small surface antigen) in Trypanosoma cruzi invasion of mammalian cells. Biochem J 1 June 2012; 444 (2): 211–218. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20120074
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