title: Effect of dimethylsulfoxide on the cell surface of Herpetomonas samuelpessoai.
abstract: The influence of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on surface components (Con A receptors, antigenic sites recognized by monospecific antibodies and membrane associated polysaccharide components) of Herpetomonas samuelpessoai was investigated. Techniques such as light and scanning electron microscopy and gas-liquid chromatography were used. The characteristic flagellar-flagellar (F-F) pattern of cell agglutination with Con A was markedly modified by DMSO and besides the F-F interactions other types of agglutination, including flagellar-somatic (F-S) and somatic-somatic (S-S), were detected. DMSO induced significant antigenic alteration in H. samuelpessoai. The interaction with serum anti-flagellate was greatly decreased in DMSO-treated cells. The pattern of the composition of membrane-associated polysaccharides was also substantially changed: DMSO induced a preferential synthesis of galactose and a decrease of xylose, whereas mannose and glucose content remained practically unchanged.
mesh_terms: D000371:Agglutination; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000166:cytology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D011952:Receptors, Concanavalin A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002241:Carbohydrates; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011952:Receptors, Concanavalin A; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide