A protein linked to mitochondrion development in Trypanosoma brucei

The use of the two-hybrid system in yeast allowed us to isolate a new mitoc hondrial protein of Trypanosoma brucei, termed PIE8, for putative protein i nteracting with ESAG8. This protein was found to localize progressively in the single mitochondrion of the parasite during the mitochondrial reactivat ion needed to adapt the parasite from the glycolysis-based metabolism in th e mammalian host, to the cytochrome-mediated respiration in the fly vector. Once this reactivation is established, PIE8 is lost from the mitochondrion . Thus, the temporary presence of PIE8 in the mitochondrion is linked to mi tochondrial reactivation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.