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ABSTRACT We have used electron microscopy to examine purified intact variable surface glycoproteins (VSGs) from clones derived from two distinct stocks of _Trypanosoma brucei_. The VSG
molecule from MITat 1.2 has a large elongated domain consistent with the shape of the dimeric N-terminal domain determined by X-ray analysis (see preceding paper1), and a heretofore unseen
short, thin fibrous tail presumed to be the C-terminal domain. Electron microscopy on DiTat 1.3, however, indicates a morphology quite distinct from that of MITat 1.2. Analysis of four VSG
amino acid sequences reveals 7-fold periodicities (heptad repeats) which indicate that _α_-helical coiled-coil secondary structure elements occur in all of these VSGs, consistent with the
observation of helical bundles in one VSG1. These results suggest the possibility that VSG antigenic diversity may be related to a diversity in length and disposition of _α_-helical bundles
and coiled-coil domains. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your
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FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS THE STRUCTURE OF _SHIGELLA_ VIRUS SF14 REVEALS THE PRESENCE OF TWO DECORATION PROTEINS AND TWO LONG TAIL FIBERS
Article Open access 12 February 2025 IN SITU STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE INFLUENZA C VIRUS SURFACE GLYCOPROTEIN Article Open access 16 March 2021 CRYO-EM STRUCTURE OF SEVERE FEVER WITH
THROMBOCYTOPENIA SYNDROME VIRUS Article Open access 10 October 2023 REFERENCES * Freymann, D., Metcalf, P., Turner, M. & Wiley, D. C. _Nature_ 310, 167–169 (1984). Article ADS Google
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Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02254, USA Carolyn Cohen & Bruce Reinhardt * Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and
Biophysics, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand David A. D. Parry * Centre de Recherches sur les Trypanosomoses Animales, Bobo-Dioulasso, Haute-Volta Georges E. Roelants,
Wolfgang Hirsch & Babine Kanwé Authors * Carolyn Cohen View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Bruce Reinhardt View author publications You
can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * David A. D. Parry View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Georges E. Roelants View
author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Wolfgang Hirsch View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar *
Babine Kanwé View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Cohen,
C., Reinhardt, B., Parry, D. _et al._ _α_-Helical coiled-coil structures of _Trypanosoma brucei_ variable surface glycoproteins. _Nature_ 311, 169–171 (1984).
https://doi.org/10.1038/311169a0 Download citation * Received: 18 June 1984 * Accepted: 05 July 1984 * Issue Date: 13 September 1984 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311169a0 SHARE THIS
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