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C L Patton

Publications and source records attributed to C L Patton.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of the methylating agent 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-methylhydrazine on morphology, DNA content and mitochondrial function of Trypanosoma brucei subspecies.

Repeated exposure of trypanosomes in vitro or in vivo to low concentrations of the methylating agent 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-methylhydrazine induces a series of moderately synchronous morphological and biochemical changes. Cell division halts and the long-slender bloodstream forms transform to short-stumpy forms via larger intermediate-stage cells which contain approximately double the normal G2 content of DNA. In common with naturally occurring short-stumpy trypanosomes, drug-induced short-stumpy forms do not infect rodents and when transferred to Cunningham's medium, transform to and replicate as procyclics. Furthermore, these short-stumpy forms exhibit alpha-ketoglutarate supported motility and oxygen consumption, acquire the ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NADH diaphorase positivity) and appear to be in the G1 or G0 stage of the cell cycle based upon DNA content.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of rhodamine 123 as a probe for monitoring mitochondrial function in Trypanosoma brucei spp.

Rhodamine 123, a membrane potential-specific dye, has been evaluated as a probe to monitor the function of the mitochondrion in long slender bloodstream and procyclic trypomastigotes of several Trypanosoma brucei spp. By epifluorescence microscopy, mitochondrial development has been followed in long slender bloodstream and procyclic organisms stained with rhodamine 123. To photograph stained long slender bloodstream forms, it was necessary to develop a method to completely immobilize viable organisms. In both parasite forms, as the cell cycle progressed, the mitochondrion developed from a thread-like structure to a highly branched organelle. A dramatic reorganization occurred preceding cytokinesis to produce two progeny thread-like structures which were partitioned into newly formed daughter cells. The organelle within the long slender trypomastigote was found to stain optimally at 0.3 microgram/ml of rhodamine 123, while the procyclic form required 3.0 micrograms/ml. The results suggest that the plasma membrane potential is higher in the long slender parasite than in the procyclic form. The effects of inhibitors that disrupt mitochondrial function were examined in long slender and procyclic parasites, and some of these agents were shown to affect rhodamine 123 accumulation and retention. In long slender trypomastigotes the trypanosome alternative oxidase does not appear to be coupled to proton pumping, whereas in procyclic organisms the effects of inhibitors indicate that this oxidase may be coupled to a pathway that is branched preceding an antimycin A1-sensitive site.

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