A. The occurrence of punctate structures in live L. major promastigotes containing GFP-ATG8 (row 1), GFP-ATG8A (row 2), GFP-ATG8B (row 3) and GFP-ATG8C (row 4). Promastigotes expressing GFP-ATG8A were visualised after 4 h incubation in nutrient-deprived medium. Arrowheads indicate punctate structures. Scale bar, 10 μm.
B. Quantification of punctate structure formation in promastigotes after incubation for 4 h in nutrient-deprived medium. The number of promastigotes containing at least one GFP-ATG8 punctum is expressed as a percentage of all GFP-expressing cells. The data are means ± SE from three series of measurements from three independent experiments. *, data for GFP-ATG8 and GFP-ATG8A cell lines after starvation differed significantly from those for cells maintained in nutrient-rich medium (p<0.01).
C. The appearance of live Δatg4.2 promastigotes containing GFP-ATG8A (C1) or GFP-ATG8 (C2) after 4 h starvation in nutrient-deprived medium. Arrowheads indicate puncta. Scale bar, 10 μm.