Topographical differences in the distribution of surface coat components and intramembrane particles. A cytochemical and freeze-fracture study in culture forms of Trypanosoma cruzi.
A regional specialization of the cell surface of T. cruzi culture forms was found at the cytostome as a localized thick surface coat rich in carbohydrate-containing components. The prominent surface coat was located over a region of the plasma membrane where intramembranous particles were exceedingly low in number. In turn, the particle-poor region was related to specialized submembrane fibrils not present under other regions of the plasma membrane. The cystostome region provides a striking example of a stable regional differentiation of the plasma membrane, involving the outer surface, the membrane interior, and the underlying cytoplasm. In addition, independence of Con A receptors, colloidal iron binding sites, and ruthenium red-stainable surface components from membrane particles was demonstrated at the flagellar membrane.
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003102:Colloids; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005407:Flagella / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009940:Organoids / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D003102:Colloids; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D003208:Concanavalin A