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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Secretory Vesicles01:33

Overview of Secretory Vesicles

Secretory vesicles, also known as dense core vesicles (DCVs), are membrane-bound vesicles that transport secretory proteins, such as hormones or neurotransmitters. Regulated secretory vesicles transport proteins from the trans-Golgi network to the exterior of the cell. Proteins present in regulated secretory vesicles are required to be rapidly exocytosed in large amounts upon a specific stimulus.
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...
Protein Translocation Machinery on the ER Membrane01:28

Protein Translocation Machinery on the ER Membrane

The translocon complex situated on the ER membrane is the main gateway for the protein secretory pathway. It facilitates the transport of nascent peptides into the ER lumen and their insertion into the ER membrane.
Sec61 protein conducting channel
In eukaryotes, the translocon complex comprises a core heterotrimeric translocator channel called the Sec61 complex. This channel includes three transmembrane proteins, Sec61α, Sec61β, and Sec61γ, and is the largest subunit of the translocon complex.
Protein Transport to the Thylakoids01:22

Protein Transport to the Thylakoids

Thylakoids are membrane-bound sac-like structures within the chloroplast that serve as sites for photosynthesis. Thylakoid lumen contains many electron transport proteins and is enclosed by a thylakoid membrane rich in the light-harvesting complex. Proteins targeted to the thylakoids are transported as precursors and are sorted by the general TOC/TIC import pathway. Once the precursor reaches the stroma, stromal processing peptidases remove their transit signal and expose thylakoid signal...
Insertion of Single-pass Transmembrane Proteins in the RER01:26

Insertion of Single-pass Transmembrane Proteins in the RER

Integral membrane proteins are proteins adhered to the lipid bilayer of a cell organelle or membrane. They can be of two types: transmembrane integral proteins that span the lipid bilayer and monotopic proteins that are attached to either side of the membrane but do not pass through it.
Integral transmembrane proteins possess transmembrane and extra membrane domains. The transmembrane domains are primarily made of 20-25 hydrophobic amino acids arranged in a helical secondary confirmation. These...
Role of ER in the Secretory Pathway01:17

Role of ER in the Secretory Pathway

Eukaryotic cells have a special pathway that enables communication between various intracellular membrane-bound compartments and also with the extracellular environment. This pathway is termed as the secretory pathway.
Components of the secretory pathway
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Cotranslational Protein Translocation01:20

Cotranslational Protein Translocation

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Updated: May 23, 2026

Purification of Extracellular Trypanosomes, Including African, from Blood by Anion-Exchangers (Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose Columns)
14:26

Purification of Extracellular Trypanosomes, Including African, from Blood by Anion-Exchangers (Diethylaminoethyl-cellulose Columns)

Published on: April 6, 2019

Form and function in the trypanosomal secretory pathway.

Jason S Silverman1, James D Bangs

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States.

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|March 27, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

African trypanosomes exhibit unique secretory pathways, streamlining transport of VSG and utilizing novel cytoskeletal elements for organelle management. Research clarifies lysosomal cargo sorting and endocytic trafficking in these organisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • African trypanosomes, parasitic protozoa, possess distinct cellular mechanisms compared to model eukaryotes.
  • Understanding their secretory pathway is crucial for parasite biology and drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the unique features of the African trypanosome secretory pathway.
  • To define the mechanisms of cargo selectivity and organelle dynamics.
  • To investigate lysosomal and endocytic trafficking pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of secretory cargo transport, focusing on VSG (Variant Surface Glycoprotein).
  • Investigation of glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchor roles in cargo sorting.
  • Characterization of ER exit sites, Golgi association, and flagellar cytoskeletal elements.
  • Studies on lysosomal and endocytic trafficking pathways.

Main Results:

  • Secretion is streamlined for rapid, selective VSG transport, dependent on GPI anchors.
  • Reduced organellar abundance and close ER-Golgi association are observed.
  • Novel flagellar cytoskeletal elements, including a centrin-containing bilobe structure, are involved in organelle segregation.
  • Innate signals for lysosomal cargo sorting and defined pathways for biosynthetic and endocytic trafficking to the lysosome have been identified.

Conclusions:

  • African trypanosome secretion shows streamlined and unique characteristics compared to other eukaryotes.
  • GPI anchors play a key role in early and post-Golgi sorting.
  • Novel cytoskeletal elements and organelle associations contribute to efficient cellular processes.
  • Further investigation into less-defined organelles like multivesicular bodies and acidocalcisomes is warranted.