Characteristic proteins of micronemes and dense granules from Sarcocystis tenella zoites (Protozoa, Coccidia).

A subcellular fractionation procedure has been developed, which allowed the recovery of purified fractions of micronemes, dense granules and pellicles from Sarcocystis tenella zoites. As expected, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gels electrophoresis of the pellicles showed a fairly heterogenous protein content. In contrast, only one major omponent (42 000) daltons) was found in the dense granules, whereas two major bands (20 000 and 22 000 daltons) were observed for the micromemes. These characteristic proteins were also major components of the whole zoite and might have important functions in the physiology of the organism.