ReviewMaxi-circles, glycosomes, gene transposition, expression sites, transsplicing, transferrin receptors and base J

•Discovery of the kDNA maxi-circle.•Discovery of the glycosome.•Discovery of the mechanism of tryp antigenic variation.•Discovery of DNA base J.•Discovery of the function of base J as a transcriptional terminator in Leishmania.

This is a personal story of the author of his research on trypanosomatids, covering a period of 1970-2015. Some of the highlights include the discovery of new aspects of kDNA, the mini-circle heterogeneity and the maxi-circle; the glycosome; the discovery of gene transposition as a major mechanism for antigenic variation; trans-splicing as an essential step in the synthesis of all trypanosome mRNAs; Pulsed Field Gradient gels to size-fractionate chromosome-sized DNA molecules of protozoa; the sequence of trypanosome telomeres and their growth and contraction; the first ABC-transporter of trypanosomatids, LtpgpA; the variable transferrin receptor of T. brucei and its role in Fe uptake; and base J, its structure, biosynthesis and function.