The gp82 surface molecule of Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic forms.

Gp82 is a surface glycoprotein expressed in Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes, the parasite forms from the insect vector that initiate infection in the mammalian host. Studies with metacyclic forms generated in vitro, as counterparts of insect-borne parasites, have shown that gp82 plays an essential role in host cell invasion and in the establishment of infection by the oral route. Among the gp82 properties relevant for infection are the gastric mucin-binding capacity and the ability to induce the target cell signaling cascades that result in actin cytoskeleton disruption and lysosome exocytosis, events that facilitate parasite internalization. The gp82 sequences from genetically divergent T. cruzi strains are highly conserved, displaying >90 % identity. Both the host cell-binding sites, as well as the gastric mucin-binding sequence of gp82, are localized in the C-terminal domain of the molecule. In the gp82 structure model, the main cell-binding site consists of an α-helix, which connects the N-terminal β-propeller domain to the C-terminal β-sandwich domain, where the second cell binding site is nested. The two cell binding sites are fully exposed on gp82 surface. Downstream and close to the α-helix is the gp82 gastric mucin-binding site, which is partially exposed. All available data support the notion that gp82 is structurally suited for metacyclic trypomastigote invasion of host cells and for initiating infection by the oral route.