Trypanosoma cruzi: characterization of in vitro and in vivo synthesized polypeptides from epimastigote forms of different strains.

Intact RNAs were isolated from epimastigote forms of different Trypanosoma cruzi strains. Translation of the mRNAs using rabbit reticulocyte lysate and analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed protein profiles comparable to those observed by labeling cells in vivo. No major interstrain differences were observed in the patterns of the polypeptides synthesized in vitro and in vivo, indicating that metabolic proteins are similar among distinct strains. Several T. cruzi polypeptides produced in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system were immunoprecipitated by specific antisera. The patterns of antigenic polypeptides recognized by antisera raised against epimastigotes from different strains were also very similar.