THE PROPERTIES AND FUNCTION OF THE GLYCOSYLPHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL-PHOSPHOLIPASE-C IN TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI

The purpose of this review is to consider recent results obtained conc erning the properties and function of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol -phospholipase C (GPI-PLC) in Trypanosoma brucei. A mutagenesis study that provides evidence that the GPI-PLC is more closely related to bac terial PI-PLCs than previously realised is described. The variant spec ific glycoprotein (VSG), which dominates the surface of the mammalian stages of the trypanosome, is almost certainly the major substrate of the GPI-PLC. The hydrolysis of the GPI-anchor of the VSG under stress conditions and hypotonic lysis is well established. To investigate whe ther this hydrolysis of the GPI-anchor plays any role during the life cycle a GPI-PLC null mutant has been made. The phenotype indicates tha t the gene is non-essential, but its absence alters the course of infe ction in mice. (C) 1998 Francqui Foundation. Published by Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.