SURFACE COATS AND SECRETORY TRAFFICKING IN AFRICAN TRYPANOSOMES

Recent advances in transfection technology have been exploited to addr ess fundamental questions relating to secretory trafficking in African trypanosomes. Targeted gene disruptions and ectopic expression of the major stage-specific surface proteins have provided unexpected insigh ts into both the function and assembly of the essential parasite surfa ce coats. A growing list of novel secretory cargo molecules, as well a s advances in the characterization of trypanosoma[ secretory machinery , provide a unique model system for the study of eukaryotic secretory processes.