FUNCTIONAL-MORPHOLOGY OF TRYPANOSOME CHROMATIN

The major part of the genetic information of eukaryotes is packed into chromosomes within the nucleus. Interactions of histones, nonhistone proteins and DNA ploy a central part in chromatin structure as well as in gene regulation. Parasites living in tissue spaces or even intrace llularly, such os trypanosomes, are hardly eliminated by currently use d drugs. If their packing of the genetic information and their gene re gulation were to diverge from those of higher eukaryotes, new possibil ities in the fight against trypanosomal infections would open up. Inve stigations of the east few years have revealed a chromatin organizatio n of trypanosomes that differs in various parameters from that of thei r possible hosts, as discussed here by Hermann Hecker, Bruno Betschart Markus Burri and Wolfram Schlimme.