Demonstration of kinetoplast DNA in dyskinetoplastic strains of Trypanosoma equiperdum.

4,6 Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) forma a highly fluorescent complex with DNA which allows detection of mitochondrial DNA (K-DNA) in normal and dyskinetoplastic strains of Trypanosoma equiperdum. The K-DNA DAPI complexes in the dyskinetoplastic cells, cells lacking detactable K-DNA by other cytochemical methods, are not restricted to a single region of the organism as in the normal strain, but are seen as a row of particles. These observations support the hypothesis that the K-DNA is retained in dyskinetoplastic cells.