title: The significance of transferrin receptor variation in Trypanosoma brucei.
abstract: The transferrin receptor of Trypanosoma brucei is encoded by genes located in different expression sites. The various expression sites encode slightly different transferrin receptors, which differ substantially in their affinity for transferrin of different host species. It was proposed that T. brucei has developed multiple expression sites encoding different transferrin receptors not only to cope with the diversity of mammalian transferrins, but also to ensure sufficient iron uptake in the presence of anti-transferrin receptor antibodies. This article shows that calculations based on K(d) values argue against the first part of the hypothesis, but might support the second part.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, UK BS8 1UG. dsteverding@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steverding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D014354:Trypanosomiasis, Bovine / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; C090143:ESAG 6 protein, Trypanosoma brucei; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; C078011:ESAG 7 protein, Trypanosoma brucei; D007501:Iron