title: The "primitive" microaerophile Giardia intestinalis (syn. lamblia, duodenalis) has specialized membranes with electron transport and membrane-potential-generating functions.
abstract: Here it is shown that the flagellated protozoon Giardia intestinalis, commonly regarded as an early branching eukaryote because of its lack of mitochondria, has membraneous structures that partition the cationic, membrane-potential-sensitive fluorophore rhodamine 123. This organism also reduces a tetrazolium fluorogen at discrete plasma-membrane-associated sites. That these functions occur in distinctive specialized membrane systems supports the growing evidence that G. intestinalis may not be primitive, but is derived from an aerobic, mitochondria-containing flagellate.
authors: School of Biosciences (Microbiology), Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff CF10 3TL, Wales, UK1.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Lloyd
authors: School of Biosciences (Microbiology), Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff CF10 3TL, Wales, UK1.
authors: Janine C
authors: JC
authors: Harris
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics2 and Cellular Analysis Facility, Department of Microbiology and Immunology3, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Maroulis
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics2 and Cellular Analysis Facility, Department of Microbiology and Immunology3, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Wadley
authors: School of Biosciences (Microbiology), Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff CF10 3TL, Wales, UK1.
authors: James R
authors: JR
authors: Ralphs
authors: School of Biosciences (Microbiology), Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff CF10 3TL, Wales, UK1.
authors: Ao C
authors: AC
authors: Hann
authors: School of Biosciences (Microbiology), Cardiff University, PO Box 915, Cardiff CF10 3TL, Wales, UK1.
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Turner
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics2 and Cellular Analysis Facility, Department of Microbiology and Immunology3, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004579:Electron Transport; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D005562:Formazans / Q000378:metabolism; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005562:Formazans