Item – Theses Canada

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OCLC number
56065214
Link(s) to full text
LAC copy
LAC copy
Author
Abourjeily, Nay,1976-
Title
Involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation during Leishmania donovani differentiation.
Degree
M. Sc. -- McGill University, 2002
Publisher
Ottawa : National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, [2004]
Description
2 microfiches.
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
Dimorphic 'Leishmania donovani' parasites exist as promastigotes in the sandfly vector and differentiate into amastigotes once injected into the skin of human hosts during a blood meal. The mechanisms and signals that are involved in triggering differentiation are not well understood in ' Leishmania'. We have investigated whether tyrosine phosphorylation is a possible signalling component. Differential levels of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins were observed in extracts from 'in vitro' promastigote and amastigote cultures, with an overall reduction in the latter stage. Following this observation, the inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation was examined in promastigotes using Tyrphostin AG1433, a broad-spectrum tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitor. AG1433 treated 'in vitro' promastigote cultures differentiate into amastigote-like morphology, have reduced tyrosine phosphorylation level, and express the amastigote-specific marker A2 proteins. Our studies demonstrate that signal transduction mechanisms involving tyrosine phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events are involved in controlling 'L. donovani' promastigote differentiation into amastigote forms.
ISBN
0612788148
9780612788145