This work was funded by the Creative Inquiry Program for Undergraduate Research and the Calhoun Honors College at Clemson University.

1. General Trypanosome Husbandry
<ol>
	<li>Weigh solids for SDM79 media preparation (Table 1).</li>
	<li>Store at 4 &#176;C in 50 ml conical or a Ziploc&#160;bag. NOTE: Reagents are stable for at least 6 months.</li>
	<li>Thaw fetal bovine serum (FBS) in a 37 &#176;C waterbath, and mix periodically by inversion. NOTE: FBS is received from the supplier as a sterile solution. Filter sterilizing FBS reduces its ability to support parasite growth.</li>
	<li>Once the entire bottle is thawed, heat inactivate...

<ol>
	<li>Stuart, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinetoplastids:+related+protozoan+pathogens,+different+diseases.">Kinetoplastids: related protozoan pathogens, different diseases.</a> J Clin Invest. 118, 1301-1310 (2008).</li><li>Herman, M., Perez-Morga, D., Schtickzelle, N., Michels, P. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Turnover+of+glycosomes+during+life-cycle+differentiation+of+Trypanosoma+brucei.">Turnover of glycosomes during life-cycle differentiation of Trypanosoma brucei.</a> Autophagy. 4, 294-308 (2008).</li><li>Herman, M., Gillies, S., Michels, P. A., Rigden, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autophagy+and+related+processes+in+trypanosomatids:+insights+from+genomic+and+bioinformatic+analyses.">Autophagy and related processes in trypanosomatids: insights from genomic and bioinformatic analyses.</a> Autophagy. 2, 107-118 (2006).</li><li>Michels, P. A., Bringaud, F., Herman, M., Hannaert, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Metabolic+functions+of+glycosomes+in+trypanosomatids.">Metabolic functions of glycosomes in trypanosomatids.</a> Biochim Biophys Acta. 1763, 1463-1477 (2006).</li><li>Michels, P. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Peroxisomes,+glyoxysomes+and+glycosomes+(review).">Peroxisomes, glyoxysomes and glycosomes (review).</a> Mol Membr Biol. 22, 133-145 (2005).</li><li>Moyersoen, J., Choe, J., Fan, E., Hol, W. G., Michels, P. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biogenesis+of+peroxisomes+and+glycosomes:+trypanosomatid+glycosome+assembly+is+a+promising+new+drug+target.">Biogenesis of peroxisomes and glycosomes: trypanosomatid glycosome assembly is a promising new drug target.</a> FEMS Microbiol Rev. 28, 603-643 (2004).</li><li>Parsons, M., Furuya, T., Pal, S., Kessler, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biogenesis+and+function+of+peroxisomes+and+glycosomes.">Biogenesis and function of peroxisomes and glycosomes.</a> Molecular and biochemical parasitology. 115, 19-28 (2001).</li><li>Parsons, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glycosomes:+parasites+and+the+divergence+of+peroxisomal+purpose.">Glycosomes: parasites and the divergence of peroxisomal purpose.</a> Mol Microbiol. 53, 717-724 (2004).</li><li>Michels, P. A., Hannaert, V., Bringaud, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Metabolic+aspects+of+glycosomes+in+trypanosomatidae+-+new+data+and+views.">Metabolic aspects of glycosomes in trypanosomatidae - new data and views.</a> Parasitol Today. 16, 482-489 (2000).</li><li>Michels, P. A., Hannaert, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+evolution+of+kinetoplastid+glycosomes.">The evolution of kinetoplastid glycosomes.</a> J Bioenerg Biomembr. 26, 213-219 (1994).</li><li>Hannaert, V., Michels, P. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structure+function,+and+biogenesis+of+glycosomes+in+kinetoplastida.">Structure function, and biogenesis of glycosomes in kinetoplastida.</a> J Bioenerg Biomembr. 26, 205-212 (1994).</li><li>Bauer, S., Morris, J. C., Morris, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Environmentally+regulated+glycosome+protein+composition+in+the+african+trypanosome.">Environmentally regulated glycosome protein composition in the african trypanosome.</a> Eukaryot Cell. 12, 1072-1079 (2013).</li><li>Colasante, C., Ellis, M., Ruppert, T., Voncken, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparative+proteomics+of+glycosomes+from+bloodstream+form+and+procyclic+culture+form+Trypanosoma+brucei+brucei.">Comparative proteomics of glycosomes from bloodstream form and procyclic culture form Trypanosoma brucei brucei.</a> Proteomics. 6, 3275-3293 (2006).</li><li>Opperdoes, F. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Compartmentation+of+carbohydrate+metabolism+in+trypanosomes.">Compartmentation of carbohydrate metabolism in trypanosomes.</a> Annu Rev Microbiol. 41, 127-151 (1987).</li><li>Kessler, P. S., Parsons, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Probing+the+role+of+compartmentation+of+glycolysis+in+procyclic+form+Trypanosoma+brucei:+RNA+interference+studies+of+PEX14,+hexokinase,+and+phosphofructokinase.">Probing the role of compartmentation of glycolysis in procyclic form Trypanosoma brucei: RNA interference studies of PEX14, hexokinase, and phosphofructokinase.</a> The Journal of biological chemistry. 280, 9030-9036 (2005).</li><li>Bringaud, F., Riviere, L., Coustou, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Energy+metabolism+of+trypanosomatids:+adaptation+to+available+carbon+sources.">Energy metabolism of trypanosomatids: adaptation to available carbon sources.</a> Molecular and biochemical parasitology. 149, 1-9 (2006).</li><li>Coustou, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glucose-induced+remodeling+of+intermediary+and+energy+metabolism+in+procyclic+Trypanosoma+brucei.">Glucose-induced remodeling of intermediary and energy metabolism in procyclic Trypanosoma brucei.</a> The Journal of biological chemistry. 283, 16342-16354 (2008).</li><li>Lamour, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Proline+metabolism+in+procyclic+Trypanosoma+brucei+is+down-regulated+in+the+presence+of+glucose.">Proline metabolism in procyclic Trypanosoma brucei is down-regulated in the presence of glucose.</a> The Journal of biological chemistry. 280, 11902-11910 (2005).</li><li>Vertommen, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+expression+of+glycosomal+and+mitochondrial+proteins+in+the+two+major+life-cycle+stages+of+Trypanosoma+brucei.">Differential expression of glycosomal and mitochondrial proteins in the two major life-cycle stages of Trypanosoma brucei.</a> Molecular and biochemical parasitology. 158, 189-201 (2008).</li><li>Vickerman, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+cycles+and+biology+of+pathogenic+trypanosomes.">Developmental cycles and biology of pathogenic trypanosomes.</a> British medical bulletin. 41, 105-114 (1985).</li><li>Lorenz, P., Maier, A. G., Baumgart, E., Erdmann, R., Clayton, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Elongation+and+clustering+of+glycosomes+in+Trypanosoma+brucei+overexpressing+the+glycosomal+Pex11p.">Elongation and clustering of glycosomes in Trypanosoma brucei overexpressing the glycosomal Pex11p.</a> The EMBO journal. 17, 3542-3555 (1998).</li><li>Saveria, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Conservation+of+PEX19-binding+motifs+required+for+protein+targeting+to+mammalian+peroxisomal+and+trypanosome+glycosomal+membranes.">Conservation of PEX19-binding motifs required for protein targeting to mammalian peroxisomal and trypanosome glycosomal membranes.</a> Eukaryot Cell. 6, 1439-1449 (2007).</li><li>Banerjee, S. K., Kessler, P. S., Saveria, T., Parsons, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+trypanosomatid+PEX19:+functional+characterization+reveals+impact+on+cell+growth+and+glycosome+size+and+number.">Identification of trypanosomatid PEX19: functional characterization reveals impact on cell growth and glycosome size and number.</a> Molecular and biochemical parasitology. 142, 47-55 (2005).</li><li>Milagros Camara Mde, L., Bouvier, L. A., Miranda, M. R., Pereira, C. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+and+validation+of+Trypanosoma+cruzi's+glycosomal+adenylate+kinase+containing+a+peroxisomal+targeting+signal.">Identification and validation of Trypanosoma cruzi's glycosomal adenylate kinase containing a peroxisomal targeting signal.</a> Experimental parasitology. 130, 408-411 (2012).</li><li>Wiemer, E. A., Wenzel, T., Deerinck, T. J., Ellisman, M. H., Subramani, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visualization+of+the+peroxisomal+compartment+in+living+mammalian+cells:+dynamic+behavior+and+association+with+microtubules.">Visualization of the peroxisomal compartment in living mammalian cells: dynamic behavior and association with microtubules.</a> The Journal of cell biology. 136, 71-80 (1997).</li><li>Kim, P. K., Mullen, R. T., Schumann, U., Lippincott-Schwartz, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+origin+and+maintenance+of+mammalian+peroxisomes+involves+a+de+novo+PEX16-dependent+pathway+from+the+ER.">The origin and maintenance of mammalian peroxisomes involves a de novo PEX16-dependent pathway from the ER.</a> The Journal of cell biology. 173, 521-532 (2006).</li><li>Hoepfner, D., Schildknegt, D., Braakman, I., Philippsen, P., Tabak, H. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Contribution+of+the+endoplasmic+reticulum+to+peroxisome+formation.">Contribution of the endoplasmic reticulum to peroxisome formation.</a> Cell. 122, 85-95 (2005).</li><li>Furuya, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glucose+is+toxic+to+glycosome-deficient+trypanosomes.">Glucose is toxic to glycosome-deficient trypanosomes.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 99, 14177-14182 (2002).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Glycosomes are essential, dynamic, parasite-specific organelles. The processes that regulate the biogenesis, maintenance, proliferation and remodeling of these organelles likely include drug targets that could be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Despite the potentially high abundance of such drug targets, the field of glycosome biogenesis has lagged behind the study of similar processes in other organisms, predominately due to the lack of a tractable, high-throughput system by which to monitor rapid, dynamic, organell...

Trypanosoma brucei causes African sleeping sickness in humans and a wasting disease, nagana, in cattle. Drugs used in the treatment of these diseases are antiquated and extremely toxic, vaccines are not available, and the potential for the development of drug resistance necessitates the search for new drug targets1.
During its lifecycle, T. brucei, alternates between an insect vector and mammalian host; two hosts that present very different environments in which the parasite must survive. A number of metabolic and morphological changes occur as the parasite is exposed to different environmental conditions. Some of the most dramatic changes are observed in single-membrane-bounded parasite specific microbodies, termed glycosomes13.
Glucose levels are relatively high (~5 mM) in the bloodstream and bloodstream parasites (BSF) generate ATP exclusively through glycolysis while mitochondrial metabolism is repressed14. Unlike other eukaryotes in which glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm, T. brucei compartmentalizes most of the glycolytic enzymes in glycosomes14,15. The parasites are taken up by the tsetse fly during a bloodmeal and experience a drop in glucose, which falls to undetectable levels within 15 min of being ingested by the fly. The metabolism of insect, procyclic form (PCF), parasites is more flexible and glucose, as well as amino acids such as proline, can be used in the synthesis of ATP16-18. Comparative proteomic studies reveal lifecycle dependent changes in glycosomal and mitochondrial proteins with glycolytic proteins increased in bloodstream parasites and mitochondrial proteins involved in TCA cycle and respiratory chain13,19. While many studies have focused on the differences between BSF and PCF glycosomes, little is known about the changes in PCF glycosomes that occur in response to environmental changes.
In the hindgut of the fly, glucose levels are low with transient increases during a feeding20. In most in vitro studies, PCF parasites are grown in media containing glucose. However, recent studies have demonstrated that PCF metabolism changes significantly in response to glucose availability17. In the absence of glucose, proline uptake and proline dehydrogenase activity increase18. This change in mitochondrial metabolism is likely accompanied by a change in glycosome composition and morphology, however, this has not been directly assessed.
Electron and fluorescence microscopy are common techniques used to study glycosome dynamics in T. brucei2,21-24. These protocols are time and labor intensive, expensive, and difficult to adapt to real-time studies and high throughput protocols. To overcome this limitation, a fluorescent-organelle reporter system used to study organelles in mammalian and yeast systems has been modified for use in T. brucei12.
Fluorescent-organelle reporter systems have been extensively used in higher eukaryotes such as yeast, plant, and mammalian cells25-27. In such systems, a fluorescent protein is fused to an amino acid sequence that targets the protein to specific organelles. The degradation or synthesis of the targeted proteins is measured via fluorescence and changes in organelle composition are reflected by changes in cell fluorescence.
When the open reading frame of enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) is fused to a type II peroxisomal targeting sequence (PTS2)12, the PTS2eYFP protein is imported into mature, import-competent glycosomes and fluorescence can be monitored via flow cytometry. Variations in glycosome composition are reflected by changes in cellular fluorescence. This system can aid in resolving the mechanisms that regulate environmentally induced changes in glycosome composition.
This manuscript describes the generation of a glycosome reporter system in PCF parasites in conjunction with flow cytometry to monitor real-time glycosome dynamics in live parasites and provides an example of how it has been used to follow changes in glycosome composition in response to different environments. In summary, glycosome composition is influenced by extracellular glucose concentrations and passage of log-phase cultures into fresh media triggers changes in glycosome composition. This system can be modified to study the dynamic behavior of other organelles in trypanosomes and other parasites.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1257">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:396px;">Adenosine</td>
			<td style="width:425px;">Avocado Research Chemicals Ltd</td>
			<td style="width:180px;">A10781</td>
			<td style="width:256px;">SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-Alanine</td>
			<td>Avocado Research Chemicals Ltd</td>
			<td>A15804</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-arginine</td>
			<td>CalBiochem</td>
			<td>1820</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">p-aminobenzoic acid</td>
			<td>ICN Biomedicals</td>
			<td>102569</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Basal Medium Eagle Vitamin Solution (100X)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>B6891</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Biotin</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>BP232-1</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Calcium Chloride</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>BDH0224</td>
			<td>Cytomix</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">EDTA</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>S311-100</td>
			<td>Cytomix ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">EZNA Gel Extraction kit</td>
			<td>Omega Biotek</td>
			<td>D2500-01</td>
			<td>DNA purifiation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Research grade Serum</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>03-600-511</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Folic acid</td>
			<td>ICN Biomedicals</td>
			<td>101725</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glucosamine HCl</td>
			<td>ICN Biomedicals</td>
			<td>194671</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glucose</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>15023-021</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-glutamine</td>
			<td>CalBiochem</td>
			<td>3520</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glycerol</td>
			<td>Acros Organics</td>
			<td>Ac15892-0010</td>
			<td>Freezing media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Graces insect cell media powder</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>11300-043</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Hemin</td>
			<td>MP Biomedicals</td>
			<td>194025</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Guanosine</td>
			<td>Avocado Research Chemicals Ltd</td>
			<td>A11328</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">HEPES</td>
			<td>MP Biomedicals</td>
			<td>194025</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Magnesium Chloride</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>BP214-500</td>
			<td>Cytomix ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-methionine</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>BP388-100</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MEM Amino Acids (50X)</td>
			<td>Cellgro</td>
			<td>25-030-CI</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NEAA Mixture (100X)</td>
			<td>Lonza</td>
			<td>13-114E</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Minimal Essential Medium (1X) with L-glutamine</td>
			<td>Cellgro</td>
			<td>10-010-CM</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MOPS</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>BP308-500</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium Biocarbonate</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>S233-500</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Penicillin-Streptomycin Solution</td>
			<td>Cellgro</td>
			<td>30-002-CI</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-phenylalanine</td>
			<td>ICN Biomedicals</td>
			<td>102623</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Potassium Chloride</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>P217-500</td>
			<td>Cytomix ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Potassium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous</td>
			<td>Fisheer</td>
			<td>P290-212</td>
			<td>Cytomix ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-proline</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>BP392-100</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-serine</td>
			<td>Acros Organics</td>
			<td>56-45-1</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Pyruvic acid, sodium salt</td>
			<td>Acros Organics</td>
			<td>113-24-6</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-taurine</td>
			<td>TCI America</td>
			<td>A0295</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-threonine</td>
			<td>Acros Organics</td>
			<td>72-19-5</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L-tyrosine</td>
			<td>ICN Biomedicals</td>
			<td>103183</td>
			<td>SDM79 Ingredient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">E.Z.N.A.Cycle Pure kit</td>
			<td>Omega Biotek</td>
			<td>D6492-02</td>
			<td>DNA purification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Binding buffer</td>
			<td>Omega Biotek</td>
			<td>PDR041</td>
			<td>DNA purification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">SPW wash buffer&#160;</td>
			<td>Omega Biotek</td>
			<td>PDR045</td>
			<td>DNA purification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Gene Pulser Xcell&#160;</td>
			<td>Biorad</td>
			<td>165-2660</td>
			<td>Trypanosome transformation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4 mm electroporation cuvettes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Trypanosome transformation</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

using fluorescent proteins to monitor glycosome dynamics in the african trypanosome

Trypanosoma brucei is a kinetoplastid parasite that causes human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, and a wasting disease, nagana, in cattle1. The parasite alternates between the bloodstream of the mammalian host and the tsetse fly vector. The composition of many cellular organelles changes in response to these different extracellular conditions2-5.
Glycosomes are highly specialized peroxisomes in which many of the enzymes involved in glycolysis are compartmentalized. Glycosome composition changes in a developmental and environmentally regulated manner4-11. Currently, the most common techniques used to study glycosome dynamics are electron and fluorescence microscopy; techniques that are expensive, time and labor intensive, and not easily adapted to high throughput analyses.
To overcome these limitations, a fluorescent-glycosome reporter system in which enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) is fused to a peroxisome targeting sequence (PTS2), which directs the fusion protein to glycosomes12, has been established. Upon import of the PTS2eYFP fusion protein, glycosomes become fluorescent. Organelle degradation and recycling results in the loss of fluorescence that can be measured by flow cytometry. Large numbers of cells (5,000 cells/sec) can be analyzed in real-time without extensive sample preparation such as fixation and mounting. This method offers a rapid way of detecting changes in organelle composition in response to fluctuating environmental conditions.

In this system, a glucose-dependent change in glycosome composition was observed. When cells are grown in glucose containing media, two populations are observed; one bright and one dim (Figure 2A). Dim cells harbor immature glycosomes, which have not imported the PTS2eYFP while bright cells harbor a mixture of mature and immature glycosomes12. When glucose is present in the media, mislocalization of glycosome proteins is lethal15,28 and glycosome protein expression is likely coupled...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using Fluorescent Proteins to Monitor Glycosome Dynamics in the African Trypanosome at JoVE.com

Using Fluorescent Proteins to Monitor Glycosome Dynamics in the African Trypanosome

Glycosome dynamics in African trypanosomes are difficult to study by traditional cell biology techniques such as electron and fluorescence microscopy. As a means of observing dynamic organelle behavior, a fluorescent-organelle reporter system has been used in conjunction with flow cytometry to monitor real-time glycosome dynamics in live parasites.

Trypanosoma brucei is a kinetoplastid parasite that causes human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, and a wasting disease, nagana, in ...

using-fluorescent-proteins-to-monitor-glycosome-dynamics-african

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

8.9K Views.  Clemson University Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center. Glycosome dynamics in African trypanosomes are difficult to study by traditional cell biology techniques such as electron and fluorescence microscopy. As a means of observing dynamic organelle behavior, a fluorescent-organelle reporter system has been used in conjunction with flow cytometry to monitor real-time glycosome dynamics in live parasites.