title: The variant surface glycoproteins of Trypanosoma equiperdum. Identification of a phosphorylated glycopeptide as the cross-reacting antigenic determinant.
abstract: The cross-reacting antigenic determinant in the variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) of Trypanosoma equiperdum was studied by testing the ability of VSG glycopeptides to bind heterologous anti-VSG sera. VSG glycopeptide purification revealed the presence of 3 oligosaccharide sidechains on the mature VSG. These consist of two sidechains containing only mannose and glucosamine and a third containing galactose and mannose (in a 5:1 ratio) as well as phosphorous and ethanolamine. This phosphorylated fragment completely blocked the binding of VSG to heterologous anti-VSG and therefore contained the cross-reacting determinants.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000939:Epitopes; D006020:Glycopeptides