The substitution of procyclic for bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in isoenzyme studies

Abstract

Examination of 10 enzymes from 8 stocks of Trypanosoma brucei showed that procyclic forms could be substituted for bloodstream forms in isoenzyme studies. T. b. gambiense procyclic forms cultured in vitro offer a better source of material for genetic investigations because this species is usually of low infectivity and virulence to laboratory rodents. Using 6 stocks of T. b. gambiense and 2 stocks of T. b. brucei, enzyme patterns of bloodstream and procyclic forms were identical for isocitrate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, two nucleoside hydrolases (utilizing inosine and deoxyinosine respectively), phosphoglucomutase and superoxide dismutase. Procyclic forms appeared to have greater threonine dehydrogenase activity than bloodstream forms. Consistent differences between bloodstream and culture forms were observed for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and malate dehydrogenase. These agreed with known differences in the metabolism of procyclic and blood-stream forms.