CHARACTERIZATION AND CELLULAR-DISTRIBUTION OF HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS HSP70 AND HSP60 IN TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI

At least eight protein members of HSP70 and three of the HSP60 familie s have been identified in Trypanosoma cruzi; of these, five HSP70 isof orms and one HSP60 isoform were respectively induced by a 2-hr heat-sh ock treatment at 37 degrees C. Immunoelectronmicroscopy of epimastigot e, spheromastigote, and metacyclic cells obtained in vitro showed anti -HSP60 reactive proteins in the mitochondria and near the kinetoplast. Anti-HSP70 reactive proteins presented a more complex pattern. They w ere observed in different cellular compartments, and after heat shock all the three cell forms analyzed presented gold particles associated with the cellular membrane. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.