Cyclic AMP Regulates Social Behavior in African Trypanosomes.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei engages in surface-induced social behavior, termed social motility, characterized by single cells assembling into multicellular groups that coordinate their movements in response to extracellular signals. Social motility requires sensing and responding to extracellular signals, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here we report that T. brucei social motility depends on cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling systems in the parasite's flagellum (synonymous with cilium). Pharmacological inhibition of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) completely blocks social motility without impacting the viability or motility of individual cells. Using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based sensor to monitor cAMP dynamics in live cel

SUBMITTER: Oberholzer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4436052 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature