The cytostome-cytopharynx complex of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes disassembles during cell division

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Abstract

The cytostome-cytopharynx complex is the main site for endocytosis in epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. It consists of an opening at the plasma membrane surface - the cytostome - followed by a membrane invagination - the cytopharynx. In G1/S cells, this structure is associated with two specific sets of microtubules, a quartet and a triplet. Here, we used electron microscopy and electron tomography to build 3D models of the complex at different stages of the cell cycle. The cytostome-cytopharynx is absent in late G2 andM phase cells, whereas early G2 cells have either a short cytopharynx or no visible complex, with numerous vesicles aligned to the cytostome-cytopharynx microtubules. The microtubule quartet remains visible throughout cell division (albeit in a shorter form), and is duplicated during G2/M. In contrast, the microtubule triplet is absent during late G2/M. Cells in cytokinesis have an invagination of the flagellar pocket membrane likely to represent early stages in cytostome-cytopharynx assembly. Cells in late cytokinesis have two fully developed cytostome-cytopharynx complexes. Our data suggest that the microtubule quartet serves as a guide for new cytostome-cytopharynx assembly.

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Alcantara, C. de L., Vidal, J. C., de Souza, W., & Cunha-e-Silva, N. L. (2017). The cytostome-cytopharynx complex of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes disassembles during cell division. Journal of Cell Science, 130(1), 164–176. https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.187419

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