The cDNA Sequences of Three Tetrins, the Structural Proteins of the Tetrahymena Oral Filaments, Show that they are Novel Cytoskeletal Proteins

Novel Cytoskeletal Proteins in the Cortex of Tetrahymena1

“…Like the EpiC protein, the tetrin 4 peptides all lack the sequence motifs present in the articulin or epiplasmin proteins. These conclusions are supported by the recent analysis of three tetrin–encoding genes from Tetrahymena thermophita (Brimmer and Weber 2000). Their study emphasizes the coiled‐coil nature of these ciliate cytoskeletal proteins, as well as their apparent novelty.…”

“…The predominant residue detected is indicated; otherwise the position is left as undetermined (x). The genes for tetrin 4 and epiplasmic band C have been recently cloned and sequenced (Bouchard et al 2001; Brimmer and Weber 2000), and the deduced amino acid sequences have been deposited in the GenBank database (accession numbers, CAC07818 and AAF85984, respectively). The peptide sequences obtained in this study were located within these deduced sequences either by visual inspection or by the sequence alignment tool BLAST 2 Sequences at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast/bl2seq/wblast2.cgi.…”

Toxoplasma gondii: further studies on the subpellicular network

“…First, they support the general pattern that cytoskeletal elements in protists seem to be comprised of multiple forms of related proteins; this is exemplified by the multigenic protein family of epiplasmins observed in Paramecium (Coffe et al 1996, Pomel et al 2006, the multiple fibre-forming tetrins found in Tetrahymena (Brimmer & Weber 2000, Bouchard et al 2001) and the platein variants found together in the alveolar plates of Euplotes (Kloetzel et al 2003). Secondly, our findings suggest that subpellicular network filaments in Toxoplasma share several common features with cytoskeletal elements of free-living protozoa.…”

“…Examples of such cytoskeletal proteins are the tetrins, described in Tetrahymena (Honts & Williams 1990, Brimmer & Weber 2000, the epiplasmins, identified in Paramecium (Nahon et al 1993, Coffe et al 1996, Pomel et al 2006) and other protists (Huttenlauch et al 1998, Bouchard et al 2001, and (Huttenlauch et al 1998). Kloetzel et al (2003) first described a sub-family of articulins, the plateins, which are the major structural components of a monolayer of flattened scales (the "alveolar plates") located within membranous sacs (cortical alveoli) in the free-living protozoon Euplotes aediculatus.…”

Localization by Indirect Immunofluorescence of Tetrin, Actin, and Centrin to the Oral Apparatus and Buccal Cavity of the Macrostomal Form of Tetrahymena vorax

“…Anti‐tetrin antibodies have been localized by indirect im‐munofluorescence to the CC and at the ultrastructural level to a filamentous structure associated with the undulating membrane in Tetrahymena pyriformis (Dress et al 1992). Tetrins are considered novel Tetrahymena proteins, though some similarity has been noted with other coiled‐coil proteins, such as heavy chain myosins and spectrins (Brimmer and Weber 2000; Honts 1991; Honts and Williams 2003). …”