Secretory traffic in the eukaryotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii: less is more.
Name a single-celled eukaryote that boasts a small genome size, is easily cultivated in haploid form, for which a wide variety of molecular genetic tools are available, and that exhibits a simple, polarized secretory apparatus with a well-defined endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi that can serve as a model for understanding secretion. Got it? Now name a cell with all these attributes that contains at least a dozen distinct and morphologically well-defined intracellular organelles, including three distinct types of secretory vesicles and two endosymbiotic organelles. Not so sure anymore?
Joiner
Keith A
KA
Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. keith.joyner@yale.edu
Roos
David S
DS
D000818:Animals; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000502:physiology*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008954:Models, Biological; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure