Stage specific kinetoplast DNA-binding proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi

Knowledge regarding kinetoplast DNA organization in all members of the Tryp anosomatid family is incomplete. Recently, the presence of kinetoplast-asso ciated proteins in condensing kDNA networks in Crithidia fasciculata has be en described and a role for these proteins in the maintenance of these comp lex structures was suggested. To investigate the presence of protein compon ents in Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast, we previously described seven epimas tigote kinetoplast-associated proteins. We report here the existence of kin etoplast binding proteins in amastigote and trypomastigote stages of T. cru zi, which could bind both mini and maxicircles components with a stage spec ific elements for every infective form of the parasite. We propose three ma jor classes of kinetoplast-associated proteins related to the basic process es of this intricate disc structure and suggest a possible function of thes e binding proteins in the T. cruzi mitochondrial DNA organization. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.