The tripartite attachment complex (TAC) of Trypanosoma brucei physically connects the basal body with the single nucleoid mitochondrial genome. The TAC spans the mitochondrial outer and inner membranes, creating a unique permanent membrane contact site.
Using in vivo experiments, in vitro screens and protein structure predictions, we characterized this contact site. Our results suggest this contact site results from the interaction of two TAC subunits, TAC60 and p166, which interact by hydrophobic residues.

This work was carried out in the group of Prof. Dr. André Schneider.

References:

• P. Stettler, B.Schimanski, S. Aeschlimann, A. Schneider;
  "Molecular characterization of the permanent outer-inner membrane contact site of the mitochondrial genome segregation complex in trypanosomes"
  PLoS Pathog., 2024, 20(12), e1012635/1-24; doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1012635.