Figure 3.

Trans-sialidase (TS) superfamily. Schematic representation of the four different groups of trans-sialidases (TS) from Trypanosoma cruzi. Characteristic motifs SXDXGTW and VTVXNVXLYNR for TS are depicted as black and shadowed boxes, respectively. The glycosylphosphatidylinositol- (GPI-) anchor signal in the C-terminus position is shown as grey boxes. Tandem repeats (TR) of 12 amino acid residues [DS₂AH(S/G)TPSTP(A/V)] are detected in SAPA and TCNA (TR12 inside an open box). Nine amino acid residue repeats [DK₂ESESGDSE] are identified in TSA-1 (TR9 inside an open box). A characteristic epitope [TPQRKT₂EDRPQ] is present in FL-160 (E12 inside an open box). The pentapeptide [EPKSA] is found once into subfamily I of Group IV (TR5 inside an open box) whereas, in subfamily II, EPKSA is repeatedly present (TRV5 inside an open box indicating the number of repeats). Image based on Colli and Schenkman [61, 62].