Life-cycle differentiation in Trypanosoma brucei: molecules and mutants

Differentiation between bloodstream and tsetse midgut procyclic forms durin g the life cycle of the African trypanosome is an attractive model for the analysis of stage-regulated events. In particular, this transformation occu rs synchronously, there are well-defined markers for stage-regulated proces ses and cell lines with specific defects in differentiation have been ident ified. This combination of tools, combined with the developing Trypanosoma brucei genome database is allowing its underlying controls to be investigat ed at the molecular and cytological levels. This paper examines some recent discoveries that illuminate some of the key events during trypanosome life cycle progression.