KINETOPLASTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DRUG RESPONSES OF TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI

Trypanosoma brucei E164 and a dyskinetoplastic derivative, Dysk164, we re injected into mice that were treated subsequently with methylglyoxa l-bis-guanylhydrazone, berenil, ethidium bromide, and acriflavine. Add itionally, parasites were photoaffinity labeled with ethidium monoazid e to effect covalent drug attachment prior to injection into animals. In all cases, killing of animals with E164 was blocked by the drug tre atment, whereas killing due to Dysk164 was not. These findings are con sistent with the view that the intact kinetoplast plays an essential r ole in the action of these drugs.