Endocytosis in Trypanosoma cruzi

摘要

Endocytic activity is particularly intense in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, while in amastigotes and trypomastigotesit is untraceable. Cargo molecules enters through the cytostome or flagellar pocket at the parasite anterior region,goes along a branched early endosomal network of tubules and vesicles spread from nuclear periphery to the posteriorpole, until delivery to reservosomes, the final compartment. Reservosomes are acid compartments that store proteinand lipid cargo and also accumulate lysosomal hydrolases, modulating digestive activity. Although T. cruzi infectiveforms are unable to uptake molecules, its lysosome related organelles represent a potential targets for anti-parasiticchemotherapy.