The Giardia median body protein is a ventral disc protein that is critical for maintaining a domed disc conformation during attachment.

ABSTRACT: Giardia has unique microtubule structures, including the ventral disc, the primary organelle of attachment to the host, and the median body, a structure of undefined function. During attachment, the ventral disc has a domed conformation and enables Giardia to attach to the host intestinal epithelia within seconds. The mechanism of attachment via the ventral disc and the overall structure, function, and assembly of the ventral disc are not well understood. Our recent proteomic analysis of the ventral disc indicated that the median body protein (MBP), previously reported to localize exclusively to the median body, was primarily localized to the ventral disc. Using high-resolution light and electron microscopy, we confirm that the median body protein localizes primarily to the overlap zone of

SUBMITTER: Woessner DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3294447 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature