Practical 2: kinetoplastids

Question 1

What extra DNA-containing organelle do trypanosomes have?

Answer 1

A kinetoplast

Question 2

What is the function of the kinetoplast?

Answer 2

Encodes the respiratory chain components

Question 3

What is the difference between the slender and stumpy forms of trypanosoma brucei?

Answer 3

Slender is the proliferative phase, stumpy is the transmissable phase and is arrested in G1

Question 4

What are good signs to look for to assess which stage of the cell cycle a kinetoplastid is in?

Answer 4

Replication of the flagella, the kinetoplast and the nucleus

Question 5

What stage of the cell cycle should have the highest fluorescence when assessed by FACS analysis and why?

Answer 5

G2/M because the FACS analysis is measuring the fluorescence of DNA and the DNA will have replicated in G2 so there will be more of it therefore more fluorescence

Question 6

What causes differentiation from slender to stumpy forms?

Answer 6

Quorum sensing- the parasites can sense the number of other parasites around

Question 7

Where is the kinetoplast situated?

Answer 7

Near the base of the flagellum