Genetic Structure and Expression of the Surface Glycoprotein GP82, the Main Adhesin of Trypanosoma cruzi Metacyclic Trypomastigotes

Figure 1

Alignment of amino acid sequences of some representatives of the GP82 family. Sequences are encoded by cDNA clones isolated from T. cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes: 5.4G6 (ABR19835); CO3 (ABO28970); R31 (AF128843); J18 (AAA21303). GenBank accession numbers are in parentheses. Potential initiator methionines (M) and a predicted N-amino terminal signal peptide are indicated in red and green, respectively. The Asp boxes (bacterial sialidase motifs) are boxed and indicated by Roman numerals II and III. The epitope for Mab3F6 (P3), mammalian cell binding sites (P4 and P8), and gastric-mucin binding site (P7) are boxed and indicated by different colors. Note the overlapping between P3 and P4 sites, and P7 and P8 sites. The subterminal VTV motif, characteristic of the TS superfamily, and the potential GPI-anchor sequence are shaded in yellow and magenta, respectively. The arrow denotes the cleavage site for GPI anchor addition.