Stage specific kinetoplast DNA-binding proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Knowledge regarding kinetoplast DNA organization in all members of the Trypanosomatid family is incomplete. Recently, the presence of kinetoplast-associated proteins in condensing kDNA networks in Crithidia fasciculata has been described and a role for these proteins in the maintenance of these complex structures was suggested. To investigate the presence of protein components in Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast, we previously described seven epimastigote kinetoplast-associated proteins. We report here the existence of kinetoplast binding proteins in amastigote and trypomastigote stages of T. cruzi, which could bind both mini and maxicircles components with a stage specific elements for every infective form of the parasite. We propose three major classes of kinetoplast-associated proteins related to the basic processes of this intricate disc structure and suggest a possible function of these binding proteins in the T. cruzi mitochondrial DNA organization.