Role of glycerol permeation in the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei.

Under aerobic conditions, we have determined glycerol uptake in the long slender (LS) bloodstream form of Trypanosoma (Trypanozoon) brucei brucei by studying glycerophosphate accumulation in the parasites. The coupled enzyme theory applies to the permeation-phosphorylation sequence. Glycerol passage through the plasma membrane is asymmetric, the efflux process being favored over the influx process. No free diffusion of glycerol can be detected even under conditions under which free glycerol accumulates within the cells; most probably, glycerol permeation is mediated by a specific transport system. In the absence of respiratory activities, glycerol is known to be an end-product of T. brucei glycolysis; its production from glycerophosphate should allow ATP synthesis. The observed efflux of free glycerol following intracellular accumulation of glycerophosphate confirms the hypothesis that glycerol production occurs through reversal of glycerol kinase activity. We conclude that in vivo the role of the carrier-mediated asymmetric permeation process is to prevent inhibition of the reversal of the glycerol kinase-mediated reaction by removing free glycerol.