Effect of dimethylsulfoxide on the cell surface of Herpetomonas samuelpessoai.

The influence of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on surface components (Con A receptors, antigenic sites recognized by monospecific antibodies and membrane associated polysaccharide components) of Herpetomonas samuelpessoai was investigated. Techniques such as light and scanning electron microscopy and gas-liquid chromatography were used. The characteristic flagellar-flagellar (F-F) pattern of cell agglutination with Con A was markedly modified by DMSO and besides the F-F interactions other types of agglutination, including flagellar-somatic (F-S) and somatic-somatic (S-S), were detected. DMSO induced significant antigenic alteration in H. samuelpessoai. The interaction with serum anti-flagellate was greatly decreased in DMSO-treated cells. The pattern of the composition of membrane-associated polysaccharides was also substantially changed: DMSO induced a preferential synthesis of galactose and a decrease of xylose, whereas mannose and glucose content remained practically unchanged.