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Nofal SD, Patel A, Blackman MJ, Flueck C, Baker DA. Plasmodium falciparum Guanylyl Cyclase-Alpha and the Activity of Its Appended P4-ATPase Domain Are Essential for cGMP Synthesis and Blood-Stage Egress. mBio 2021; 12:e02694-20. [PMID: 33500341 PMCID: PMC7858053 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02694-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanylyl cyclases (GCs) synthesize cyclic GMP (cGMP) and, together with cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, are responsible for regulating levels of this intracellular messenger which mediates myriad functions across eukaryotes. In malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp), as well as their apicomplexan and ciliate relatives, GCs are associated with a P4-ATPase-like domain in a unique bifunctional configuration. P4-ATPases generate membrane bilayer lipid asymmetry by translocating phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet. Here, we investigate the role of Plasmodium falciparum guanylyl cyclase alpha (GCα) and its associated P4-ATPase module, showing that asexual blood-stage parasites lacking both the cyclase and P4-ATPase domains are unable to egress from host erythrocytes. GCα-null parasites cannot synthesize cGMP or mobilize calcium, a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG)-driven requirement for egress. Using chemical complementation with a cGMP analogue and point mutagenesis of a crucial conserved residue within the P4-ATPase domain, we show that P4-ATPase activity is upstream of and linked to cGMP synthesis. Collectively, our results demonstrate that GCα is a critical regulator of PKG and that its associated P4-ATPase domain plays a primary role in generating cGMP for merozoite egress.IMPORTANCE The clinical manifestations of malaria arise due to successive rounds of replication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells. Once mature, daughter merozoites are released from infected erythrocytes to invade new cells in a tightly regulated process termed egress. Previous studies have shown that the activation of cyclic GMP (cGMP) signaling is critical for initiating egress. Here, we demonstrate that GCα, a unique bifunctional enzyme, is the sole enzyme responsible for cGMP production during the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum and is required for the cellular events leading up to merozoite egress. We further demonstrate that in addition to the GC domain, the appended ATPase-like domain of GCα is also involved in cGMP production. Our results highlight the critical role of GCα in cGMP signaling required for orchestrating malaria parasite egress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie D Nofal
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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52
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Scarpelli PH, Pecenin MF, Garcia CRS. Intracellular Ca 2+ Signaling in Protozoan Parasites: An Overview with a Focus on Mitochondria. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22010469. [PMID: 33466510 PMCID: PMC7796463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ signaling has been involved in controling critical cellular functions such as activation of proteases, cell death, and cell cycle control. The endoplasmatic reticulum plays a significant role in Ca2+ storage inside the cell, but mitochondria have long been recognized as a fundamental Ca2+ pool. Protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Trypanosoma cruzi display a Ca2+ signaling toolkit with similarities to higher eukaryotes, including the participation of mitochondria in Ca2+-dependent signaling events. This review summarizes the most recent knowledge in mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling in protozoan parasites, focusing on the mechanism involved in mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake by pathogenic protists.
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53
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Chen K, Günay-Esiyok Ö, Klingeberg M, Marquardt S, Pomorski TG, Gupta N. Aminoglycerophospholipid flipping and P4-ATPases in Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100315. [PMID: 33485966 PMCID: PMC7949121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid flipping in the membrane bilayers is a widespread eukaryotic phenomenon that is catalyzed by assorted P4-ATPases. Its occurrence, mechanism, and importance in apicomplexan parasites have remained elusive, however. Here we show that Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite with high clinical relevance, can salvage phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) but not phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) probes from its milieu. Consistently, the drug analogs of PtdCho are broadly ineffective in the parasite culture. NBD-PtdSer imported to the parasite interior is decarboxylated to NBD-PtdEtn, while the latter is not methylated to yield PtdCho, which confirms the expression of PtdSer decarboxylase but a lack of PtdEtn methyltransferase activity and suggests a role of exogenous lipids in membrane biogenesis of T. gondii. Flow cytometric quantitation of NBD-probes endorsed the selectivity of phospholipid transport and revealed a dependence of the process on energy and protein. Accordingly, our further work identified five P4-ATPases (TgP4-ATPase1-5), all of which harbor the signature residues and motifs required for phospholipid flipping. Of the four proteins expressed during the lytic cycle, TgP4-ATPase1 is present in the apical plasmalemma; TgP4-ATPase3 resides in the Golgi network along with its noncatalytic partner Ligand Effector Module 3 (TgLem3), whereas TgP4-ATPase2 and TgP4-ATPase5 localize in the plasmalemma as well as endo/cytomembranes. Last but not least, auxin-induced degradation of TgP4-ATPase1-3 impaired the parasite growth in human host cells, disclosing their crucial roles during acute infection. In conclusion, we show selective translocation of PtdEtn and PtdSer at the parasite surface and provide the underlying mechanistic and physiological insights in a model eukaryotic pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Özlem Günay-Esiyok
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Melissa Klingeberg
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Marquardt
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; Department of Experimental Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Günther Pomorski
- Department of Experimental Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India.
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54
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Uboldi AD, Wilde ML, Bader SM, Tonkin CJ. Environmental sensing and regulation of motility in Toxoplasma. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:916-929. [PMID: 33278047 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma and other apicomplexan parasites undergo a unique form of cellular locomotion referred to as "gliding motility." Gliding motility is crucial for parasite survival as it powers tissue dissemination, host cell invasion and egress. Distinct environmental cues lead to activation of gliding motility and have become a prominent focus of recent investigation. Progress has been made toward understanding what environmental cues are sensed and how these signals are transduced in order to regulate the machinery and cellular events powering gliding motility. In this review, we will discuss new findings and integrate these into our current understanding to propose a model of how environmental sensing is achieved to regulate gliding motility in Toxoplasma. Collectively, these findings also have implications for the understanding of gliding motility across Apicomplexa more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro D Uboldi
- Division of Infectious Disease and Immune Defense, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mary-Louise Wilde
- Division of Infectious Disease and Immune Defense, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stefanie M Bader
- Division of Infectious Disease and Immune Defense, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- Division of Infectious Disease and Immune Defense, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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55
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Baker DA, Matralis AN, Osborne SA, Large JM, Penzo M. Targeting the Malaria Parasite cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase to Develop New Drugs. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:602803. [PMID: 33391223 PMCID: PMC7773720 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.602803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The single-celled apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of deaths due to malaria each year. The selection of drug resistance has been a recurring theme over the decades with each new drug that is developed. It is therefore crucial that future generations of drugs are explored to tackle this major public health problem. Cyclic GMP (cGMP) signaling is one of the biochemical pathways that is being explored as a potential target for new antimalarial drugs. It has been shown that this pathway is essential for all of the key developmental stages of the complex malaria parasite life cycle. This gives hope that targeting cGMP signaling might give rise to drugs that treat disease, block its transmission and even prevent the establishment of infection. Here we review previous work that has been carried out to develop and optimize inhibitors of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) which is a critical regulator of the malaria parasite life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Simon A Osborne
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan M Large
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Penzo
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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56
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Mustière R, Vanelle P, Primas N. Plasmodial Kinase Inhibitors Targeting Malaria: Recent Developments. Molecules 2020; 25:E5949. [PMID: 33334080 PMCID: PMC7765515 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in reducing malaria cases and ensuing deaths is threatened by factors like mutations that induce resistance to artemisinin derivatives. Multiple drugs are currently in clinical trials for malaria treatment, including some with novel mechanisms of action. One of these, MMV390048, is a plasmodial kinase inhibitor. This review lists the recently developed molecules which target plasmodial kinases. A systematic review of the literature was performed using CAPLUS and MEDLINE databases from 2005 to 2020. It covers a total of 60 articles and describes about one hundred compounds targeting 22 plasmodial kinases. This work highlights the strong potential of compounds targeting plasmodial kinases for future drug therapies. However, the majority of the Plasmodium kinome remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrice Vanelle
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France;
| | - Nicolas Primas
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France;
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57
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Ren B, Kong P, Hedar F, Brouwers JF, Gupta N. Phosphatidylinositol synthesis, its selective salvage, and inter-regulation of anionic phospholipids in Toxoplasma gondii. Commun Biol 2020; 3:750. [PMID: 33303967 PMCID: PMC7728818 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01480-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) serves as an integral component of eukaryotic membranes; however, its biosynthesis in apicomplexan parasites remains poorly understood. Here we show that Toxoplasma gondii-a common intracellular pathogen of humans and animals-can import and co-utilize myo-inositol with the endogenous CDP-diacylglycerol to synthesize PtdIns. Equally, the parasite harbors a functional PtdIns synthase (PIS) containing a catalytically-vital CDP-diacylglycerol phosphotransferase motif in the Golgi apparatus. Auxin-induced depletion of PIS abrogated the lytic cycle of T. gondii in human cells due to defects in cell division, gliding motility, invasion, and egress. Isotope labeling of the PIS mutant in conjunction with lipidomics demonstrated de novo synthesis of specific PtdIns species, while revealing the salvage of other lipid species from the host cell. Not least, the mutant showed decline in phosphatidylthreonine, and elevation of selected phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol species, indicating a rerouting of CDP-diacylglycerol and homeostatic inter-regulation of anionic phospholipids upon knockdown of PIS. In conclusion, strategic allocation of own and host-derived PtdIns species to gratify its metabolic demand features as a notable adaptive trait of T. gondii. Conceivably, the dependence of T. gondii on de novo lipid synthesis and scavenging can be exploited to develop new anti-infectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjian Ren
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pengfei Kong
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fatima Hedar
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jos F Brouwers
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India.
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58
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Brochet M, Balestra AC, Brusini L. cGMP homeostasis in malaria parasites-The key to perceiving and integrating environmental changes during transmission to the mosquito. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:829-838. [PMID: 33112460 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites are transmitted from humans to mosquitoes when developmentally arrested gametocytes are taken up by a female Anopheles during a blood meal. The changes in environment from human to mosquito activate gametogenesis, including a drop in temperature, a rise in pH, and a mosquito-derived molecule, xanthurenic acid. Signaling receptors have not been identified in malaria parasites but mounting evidence indicates that cGMP homeostasis is key to sensing extracellular cues in gametocytes. Low levels of cGMP maintained by phosphodiesterases prevent precocious activation of gametocytes in the human blood. Upon ingestion, initiation of gametogenesis depends on the activation of a hybrid guanylyl cyclase/P4-ATPase. Elevated cGMP levels lead to the rapid mobilization of intracellular calcium that relies upon the activation of both cGMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphoinositide phospholipase C. Once calcium is released, a cascade of phosphorylation events mediated by calcium-dependent protein kinases and phosphatases regulates the cellular processes required for gamete formation. cGMP signaling also triggers timely egress from the host cell at other life cycle stages of malaria parasites and in Toxoplasma gondii, a related apicomplexan parasite. This suggests that cGMP signaling is a versatile platform transducing external cues into calcium signals at important decision points in the life cycle of apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélia C Balestra
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Brusini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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59
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Moolman C, van der Sluis R, Beteck RM, Legoabe LJ. An Update on Development of Small-Molecule Plasmodial Kinase Inhibitors. Molecules 2020; 25:E5182. [PMID: 33171706 PMCID: PMC7664427 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria control relies heavily on the small number of existing antimalarial drugs. However, recurring antimalarial drug resistance necessitates the continual generation of new antimalarial drugs with novel modes of action. In order to shift the focus from only controlling this disease towards elimination and eradication, next-generation antimalarial agents need to address the gaps in the malaria drug arsenal. This includes developing drugs for chemoprotection, treating severe malaria and blocking transmission. Plasmodial kinases are promising targets for next-generation antimalarial drug development as they mediate critical cellular processes and some are active across multiple stages of the parasite's life cycle. This review gives an update on the progress made thus far with regards to plasmodial kinase small-molecule inhibitor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantalle Moolman
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
| | - Rencia van der Sluis
- Focus Area for Human Metabolomics, Biochemistry, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa;
| | - Richard M. Beteck
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
| | - Lesetja J. Legoabe
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.M.); (R.M.B.)
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Abstract
Malaria is one of the most impacting public health problems in tropical and subtropical areas of the globe, with approximately 200 million cases worldwide annually. In the absence of an effective vaccine, rapid treatment is vital for effective malaria control. However, parasite resistance to currently available drugs underscores the urgent need for identifying new antimalarial therapies with new mechanisms of action. Among potential drug targets for developing new antimalarial candidates, protein kinases are attractive. These enzymes catalyze the phosphorylation of several proteins, thereby regulating a variety of cellular processes and playing crucial roles in the development of all stages of the malaria parasite life cycle. Moreover, the large phylogenetic distance between Plasmodium species and its human host is reflected in marked differences in structure and function of malaria protein kinases between the homologs of both species, indicating that selectivity can be attained. In this review, we describe the functions of the different types of Plasmodium kinases and highlight the main recent advances in the discovery of kinase inhibitors as potential new antimalarial drug candidates.
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61
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Cestari I, Stuart K. The phosphoinositide regulatory network in Trypanosoma brucei: Implications for cell-wide regulation in eukaryotes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008689. [PMID: 33119588 PMCID: PMC7595295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The unicellular eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei undergoes extensive cellular and developmental changes during its life cycle. These include regulation of mammalian stage surface antigen variation and surface composition changes between life stages; switching between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation; differential mRNA editing; and changes in posttranscriptional gene expression, protein trafficking, organellar function, and cell morphology. These diverse events are coordinated and controlled throughout parasite development, maintained in homeostasis at each life stage, and are essential for parasite survival in both the host and insect vector. Described herein are the enzymes and metabolites of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) cellular regulatory network, its integration with other cellular regulatory systems that collectively control and coordinate these numerous cellular processes, including cell development and differentiation and the many associated complex processes in multiple subcellular compartments. We conclude that this regulation is the product of the organization of these enzymes within the cellular architecture, their activities, metabolite fluxes, and responses to environmental changes via signal transduction and other processes. We describe a paradigm for how these enzymes and metabolites could function to control and coordinate multiple cellular functions. The significance of the PI system's regulatory functions in single-celled eukaryotes to metazoans and their potential as chemotherapeutic targets are indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Cestari
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (IC); (KS)
| | - Kenneth Stuart
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail: (IC); (KS)
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62
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Krasitskaya VV, Bashmakova EE, Frank LA. Coelenterazine-Dependent Luciferases as a Powerful Analytical Tool for Research and Biomedical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7465. [PMID: 33050422 PMCID: PMC7590018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
: The functioning of bioluminescent systems in most of the known marine organisms is based on the oxidation reaction of the same substrate-coelenterazine (CTZ), catalyzed by luciferase. Despite the diversity in structures and the functioning mechanisms, these enzymes can be united into a common group called CTZ-dependent luciferases. Among these, there are two sharply different types of the system organization-Ca2+-regulated photoproteins and luciferases themselves that function in accordance with the classical enzyme-substrate kinetics. Along with deep and comprehensive fundamental research on these systems, approaches and methods of their practical use as highly sensitive reporters in analytics have been developed. The research aiming at the creation of artificial luciferases and synthetic CTZ analogues with new unique properties has led to the development of new experimental analytical methods based on them. The commercial availability of many ready-to-use assay systems based on CTZ-dependent luciferases is also important when choosing them by first-time-users. The development of analytical methods based on these bioluminescent systems is currently booming. The bioluminescent systems under consideration were successfully applied in various biological research areas, which confirms them to be a powerful analytical tool. In this review, we consider the main directions, results, and achievements in research involving these luciferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilisa V. Krasitskaya
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
| | - Eugenia E. Bashmakova
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
| | - Ludmila A. Frank
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia; (V.V.K.); (E.E.B.)
- School of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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de Araújo RV, Santos SS, Sanches LM, Giarolla J, El Seoud O, Ferreira EI. Malaria and tuberculosis as diseases of neglected populations: state of the art in chemotherapy and advances in the search for new drugs. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e200229. [PMID: 33053077 PMCID: PMC7534959 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria and tuberculosis are no longer considered to be neglected diseases by the World Health Organization. However, both are huge challenges and public health problems in the world, which affect poor people, today referred to as neglected populations. In addition, malaria and tuberculosis present the same difficulties regarding the treatment, such as toxicity and the microbial resistance. The increase of Plasmodium resistance to the available drugs along with the insurgence of multidrug- and particularly tuberculosis drug-resistant strains are enough to justify efforts towards the development of novel medicines for both diseases. This literature review provides an overview of the state of the art of antimalarial and antituberculosis chemotherapies, emphasising novel drugs introduced in the pharmaceutical market and the advances in research of new candidates for these diseases, and including some aspects of their mechanism/sites of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renan Vinicius de Araújo
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Soraya Silva Santos
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Luccas Missfeldt Sanches
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Jeanine Giarolla
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Omar El Seoud
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Química, Departamento de
Química Fundamental, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas,
Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos
Contra Doenças Negligenciadas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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64
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Perrin AJ, Patel A, Flueck C, Blackman MJ, Baker DA. cAMP signalling and its role in host cell invasion by malaria parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:69-74. [PMID: 33032143 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is an important signalling molecule across evolution, but until recently there was little information on its role in malaria parasites. Advances in gene editing - in particular conditional genetic approaches and mass spectrometry have paved the way for characterisation of the key components of the cAMP signalling pathway in malaria parasites. This has revealed that cAMP signalling plays a critical role in invasion of host red blood cells by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites through regulating the phosphorylation of key parasite proteins by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). These insights will help us to investigate parasite cAMP signalling as a target for novel antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail J Perrin
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
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PfMAP-2 is essential for male gametogenesis in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11930. [PMID: 32681115 PMCID: PMC7368081 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68717-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In malaria parasites, male gametogenesis is a proliferative stage essential for parasite transmission to the mosquito vector. It is a rapid process involving three rounds of genome replication alternating with closed endomitoses, and assembly of axonemes to produce eight flagellated motile microgametes. Studies in Plasmodium berghei have highlighted tight regulation of gametogenesis by a network of kinases. The P. berghei MAPK homologue PbMAP-2 is dispensable for asexual development but important at the induction of axoneme motility. However, in P. falciparum, causing the most severe form of human malaria, PfMAP-2 was suggested to be essential for asexual proliferation indicating distinct functions for MAP-2 in these two Plasmodium species. We here show that PfMAP-2 is dispensable for asexual growth but important for male gametogenesis in vitro. Similar to PbMAP-2, PfMAP-2 is required for initiating axonemal beating but not for prior DNA replication or axoneme formation. In addition, single and double null mutants of PfMAP-2 and the second P. falciparum MAPK homologue PfMAP-1 show no defect in asexual proliferation, sexual commitment or gametocytogenesis. Our results suggest that MAPK activity plays no major role in the biology of both asexual and sexual blood stage parasites up until the point of male gametogenesis.
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Vanaerschot M, Murithi JM, Pasaje CFA, Ghidelli-Disse S, Dwomoh L, Bird M, Spottiswoode N, Mittal N, Arendse LB, Owen ES, Wicht KJ, Siciliano G, Bösche M, Yeo T, Kumar TRS, Mok S, Carpenter EF, Giddins MJ, Sanz O, Ottilie S, Alano P, Chibale K, Llinás M, Uhlemann AC, Delves M, Tobin AB, Doerig C, Winzeler EA, Lee MCS, Niles JC, Fidock DA. Inhibition of Resistance-Refractory P. falciparum Kinase PKG Delivers Prophylactic, Blood Stage, and Transmission-Blocking Antiplasmodial Activity. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:806-816.e8. [PMID: 32359426 PMCID: PMC7369637 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The search for antimalarial chemotypes with modes of action unrelated to existing drugs has intensified with the recent failure of first-line therapies across Southeast Asia. Here, we show that the trisubstituted imidazole MMV030084 potently inhibits hepatocyte invasion by Plasmodium sporozoites, merozoite egress from asexual blood stage schizonts, and male gamete exflagellation. Metabolomic, phosphoproteomic, and chemoproteomic studies, validated with conditional knockdown parasites, molecular docking, and recombinant kinase assays, identified cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) as the primary target of MMV030084. PKG is known to play essential roles in Plasmodium invasion of and egress from host cells, matching MMV030084's activity profile. Resistance selections and gene editing identified tyrosine kinase-like protein 3 as a low-level resistance mediator for PKG inhibitors, while PKG itself never mutated under pressure. These studies highlight PKG as a resistance-refractory antimalarial target throughout the Plasmodium life cycle and promote MMV030084 as a promising Plasmodium PKG-targeting chemotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Vanaerschot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - James M Murithi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Charisse Flerida A Pasaje
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Louis Dwomoh
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK, Scotland
| | - Megan Bird
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Natasha Spottiswoode
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lauren B Arendse
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry & Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Edward S Owen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA; Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Kathryn J Wicht
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Giulia Siciliano
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Markus Bösche
- Cellzome GmbH, GlaxoSmithKline, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - T R Santha Kumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Emma F Carpenter
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Marla J Giddins
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Olalla Sanz
- Diseases of the Developing World Global Health Pharma Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, 28760 Tres Cantos, Spain
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Pietro Alano
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry & Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA; Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Anne-Catrin Uhlemann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Michael Delves
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK, Scotland
| | - Christian Doerig
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora VIC 3083, Australia
| | | | - Marcus C S Lee
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Paul AS, Miliu A, Paulo JA, Goldberg JM, Bonilla AM, Berry L, Seveno M, Braun-Breton C, Kosber AL, Elsworth B, Arriola JSN, Lebrun M, Gygi SP, Lamarque MH, Duraisingh MT. Co-option of Plasmodium falciparum PP1 for egress from host erythrocytes. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3532. [PMID: 32669539 PMCID: PMC7363832 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17306-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Asexual proliferation of the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria follows a developmental program that alternates non-canonical intraerythrocytic replication with dissemination to new host cells. We carried out a functional analysis of the Plasmodium falciparum homolog of Protein Phosphatase 1 (PfPP1), a universally conserved cell cycle factor in eukaryotes, to investigate regulation of parasite proliferation. PfPP1 is indeed required for efficient replication, but is absolutely essential for egress of parasites from host red blood cells. By phosphoproteomic and chemical-genetic analysis, we isolate two functional targets of PfPP1 for egress: a HECT E3 protein-ubiquitin ligase; and GCα, a fusion protein composed of a guanylyl cyclase and a phospholipid transporter domain. We hypothesize that PfPP1 regulates lipid sensing by GCα and find that phosphatidylcholine stimulates PfPP1-dependent egress. PfPP1 acts as a key regulator that integrates multiple cell-intrinsic pathways with external signals to direct parasite egress from host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya S Paul
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra Miliu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Goldberg
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Arianna M Bonilla
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Laurence Berry
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Seveno
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Catherine Braun-Breton
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Aziz L Kosber
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Brendan Elsworth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Jose S N Arriola
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Maryse Lebrun
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Mauld H Lamarque
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France.
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA.
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68
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Bisio H, Soldati-Favre D. Signaling Cascades Governing Entry into and Exit from Host Cells by Toxoplasma gondii. Annu Rev Microbiol 2020; 73:579-599. [PMID: 31500539 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-020518-120235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The Apicomplexa phylum includes a large group of obligate intracellular protozoan parasites responsible for important diseases in humans and animals. Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread parasite with considerable versatility, and it is capable of infecting virtually any warm-blooded animal, including humans. This outstanding success can be attributed at least in part to an efficient and continuous sensing of the environment, with a ready-to-adapt strategy. This review updates the current understanding of the signals governing the lytic cycle of T. gondii, with particular focus on egress from infected cells, a key step for balancing survival, multiplication, and spreading in the host. We cover the recent advances in the conceptual framework of regulation of microneme exocytosis that ensures egress, motility, and invasion. Particular emphasis is given to the trigger molecules and signaling cascades regulating exit from host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Bisio
- Département de Microbiologie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre Médical Universitaire, Université de Genève, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland;
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Département de Microbiologie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre Médical Universitaire, Université de Genève, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland;
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69
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Balestra AC, Zeeshan M, Rea E, Pasquarello C, Brusini L, Mourier T, Subudhi AK, Klages N, Arboit P, Pandey R, Brady D, Vaughan S, Holder AA, Pain A, Ferguson DJP, Hainard A, Tewari R, Brochet M. A divergent cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase complex controls the atypical replication of a malaria parasite during gametogony and transmission. eLife 2020; 9:e56474. [PMID: 32568069 PMCID: PMC7308089 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell cycle transitions are generally triggered by variation in the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) bound to cyclins. Malaria-causing parasites have a life cycle with unique cell-division cycles, and a repertoire of divergent CDKs and cyclins of poorly understood function and interdependency. We show that Plasmodium berghei CDK-related kinase 5 (CRK5), is a critical regulator of atypical mitosis in the gametogony and is required for mosquito transmission. It phosphorylates canonical CDK motifs of components in the pre-replicative complex and is essential for DNA replication. During a replicative cycle, CRK5 stably interacts with a single Plasmodium-specific cyclin (SOC2), although we obtained no evidence of SOC2 cycling by transcription, translation or degradation. Our results provide evidence that during Plasmodium male gametogony, this divergent cyclin/CDK pair fills the functional space of other eukaryotic cell-cycle kinases controlling DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Zeeshan
- University of Nottingham, School of Life SciencesNottinghamUnited Kingdom
| | - Edward Rea
- University of Nottingham, School of Life SciencesNottinghamUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Lorenzo Brusini
- University of Geneva, Faculty of MedicineGenevaSwitzerland
- University of Nottingham, School of Life SciencesNottinghamUnited Kingdom
| | - Tobias Mourier
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Amit Kumar Subudhi
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Natacha Klages
- University of Geneva, Faculty of MedicineGenevaSwitzerland
| | | | - Rajan Pandey
- University of Nottingham, School of Life SciencesNottinghamUnited Kingdom
| | - Declan Brady
- University of Nottingham, School of Life SciencesNottinghamUnited Kingdom
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Oxford Brookes University, Department of Biological and Medical SciencesOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Anthony A Holder
- The Francis Crick Institute, Malaria Parasitology LaboratoryLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Arnab Pain
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - David JP Ferguson
- Oxford Brookes University, Department of Biological and Medical SciencesOxfordUnited Kingdom
- University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory ScienceOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Rita Tewari
- University of Nottingham, School of Life SciencesNottinghamUnited Kingdom
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Jiang Y, Wei J, Cui H, Liu C, Zhi Y, Jiang Z, Li Z, Li S, Yang Z, Wang X, Qian P, Zhang C, Zhong C, Su XZ, Yuan J. An intracellular membrane protein GEP1 regulates xanthurenic acid induced gametogenesis of malaria parasites. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1764. [PMID: 32273496 PMCID: PMC7145802 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Gametocytes differentiation to gametes (gametogenesis) within mosquitos is essential for malaria parasite transmission. Both reduction in temperature and mosquito-derived XA or elevated pH are required for triggering cGMP/PKG dependent gametogenesis. However, the parasite molecule for sensing or transducing these environmental signals to initiate gametogenesis remains unknown. Here we perform a CRISPR/Cas9-based functional screening of 59 membrane proteins expressed in the gametocytes of Plasmodium yoelii and identify that GEP1 is required for XA-stimulated gametogenesis. GEP1 disruption abolishes XA-stimulated cGMP synthesis and the subsequent signaling and cellular events, such as Ca2+ mobilization, gamete formation, and gametes egress out of erythrocytes. GEP1 interacts with GCα, a cGMP synthesizing enzyme in gametocytes. Both GEP1 and GCα are expressed in cytoplasmic puncta of both male and female gametocytes. Depletion of GCα impairs XA-stimulated gametogenesis, mimicking the defect of GEP1 disruption. The identification of GEP1 being essential for gametogenesis provides a potential new target for intervention of parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jun Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Huiting Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chuanyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yuan Zhi
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - ZhengZheng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenkui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Shaoneng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Pengge Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Cui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chuanqi Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
- Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, 510642, Guangzhou, China.
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71
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Koussis K, Withers-Martinez C, Baker DA, Blackman MJ. Simultaneous multiple allelic replacement in the malaria parasite enables dissection of PKG function. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:e201900626. [PMID: 32179592 PMCID: PMC7081069 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Over recent years, a plethora of new genetic tools has transformed conditional engineering of the malaria parasite genome, allowing functional dissection of essential genes in the asexual and sexual blood stages that cause pathology or are required for disease transmission, respectively. Important challenges remain, including the desirability to complement conditional mutants with a correctly regulated second gene copy to confirm that observed phenotypes are due solely to loss of gene function and to analyse structure-function relationships. To meet this challenge, here we combine the dimerisable Cre (DiCre) system with the use of multiple lox sites to simultaneously generate multiple recombination events of the same gene. We focused on the Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), creating in parallel conditional disruption of the gene plus up to two allelic replacements. We use the approach to demonstrate that PKG has no scaffolding or adaptor role in intraerythrocytic development, acting solely at merozoite egress. We also show that a phosphorylation-deficient PKG is functionally incompetent. Our method provides valuable new tools for analysis of gene function in the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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72
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Günay-Esiyok Ö, Gupta N. Chimeras of P4-ATPase and Guanylate Cyclase in Pathogenic Protists. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:382-392. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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73
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An Endoplasmic Reticulum CREC Family Protein Regulates the Egress Proteolytic Cascade in Malaria Parasites. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.03078-19. [PMID: 32098818 PMCID: PMC7042697 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03078-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is thought to play an essential role during egress of malaria parasites because the ER is assumed to be required for biogenesis and secretion of egress-related organelles. However, no proteins localized to the parasite ER have been shown to play a role in egress of malaria parasites. In this study, we generated conditional mutants of the Plasmodium falciparum endoplasmic reticulum-resident calcium-binding protein (PfERC), a member of the CREC family. Knockdown of the PfERC gene showed that this gene is essential for asexual growth of P. falciparum Analysis of the intraerythrocytic life cycle revealed that PfERC is essential for parasite egress but is not required for protein trafficking or calcium storage. We found that PfERC knockdown prevents the rupture of the parasitophorous vacuole membrane. This is because PfERC knockdown inhibited the proteolytic maturation of the subtilisin-like serine protease SUB1. Using double mutant parasites, we showed that PfERC is required for the proteolytic maturation of the essential aspartic protease plasmepsin X, which is required for SUB1 cleavage. Further, we showed that processing of substrates downstream of the proteolytic cascade is inhibited by PfERC knockdown. Thus, these data establish that the ER-resident CREC family protein PfERC is a key early regulator of the egress proteolytic cascade of malaria parasites.IMPORTANCE The divergent eukaryotic parasites that cause malaria grow and divide within a vacuole inside a host cell, which they have to break open once they finish cell division. The egress of daughter parasites requires the activation of a proteolytic cascade, and a subtilisin-like protease initiates a proteolytic cascade to break down the membranes blocking egress. It is assumed that the parasite endoplasmic reticulum plays a role in this process, but the proteins in this organelle required for egress remain unknown. We have identified an early ER-resident regulator essential for the maturation of the recently discovered aspartic protease in the egress proteolytic cascade, plasmepsin X, which is required for maturation of the subtilisin-like protease. Conditional loss of PfERC results in the formation of immature and inactive egress proteases that are unable to breakdown the vacuolar membrane barring release of daughter parasites.
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74
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Matralis AN, Malik A, Penzo M, Moreno I, Almela MJ, Camino I, Crespo B, Saadeddin A, Ghidelli-Disse S, Rueda L, Calderon F, Osborne SA, Drewes G, Böesche M, Fernández-Álvaro E, Martin Hernando JI, Baker DA. Development of Chemical Entities Endowed with Potent Fast-Killing Properties against Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Parasites. J Med Chem 2019; 62:9217-9235. [PMID: 31566384 PMCID: PMC6816013 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
One of the attractive properties of artemisinins is their extremely fast-killing capability, quickly relieving malaria symptoms. Nevertheless, the unique benefits of these medicines are now compromised by the prolonged parasite clearance times and the increasing frequency of treatment failures, attributed to the increased tolerance of Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin. This emerging artemisinin resistance threatens to undermine the effectiveness of antimalarial combination therapies. Herein, we describe the medicinal chemistry efforts focused on a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor scaffold, leading to the identification of novel chemical entities with very potent, similar to artemisinins, fast-killing potency against asexual blood stages that cause disease, and activity against gametocyte activation that is required for transmission. Furthermore, we confirm that selective PKG inhibitors have a slow speed of kill, while chemoproteomic analysis suggests for the first time serine/arginine protein kinase 2 (SRPK2) targeting as a novel strategy for developing antimalarial compounds with extremely fast-killing properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexios N Matralis
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain.,Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming" , Fleming 34 Street , 16672 Vari , Greece
| | - Adnan Malik
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Maria Penzo
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain.,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London WC1E 7HT , U.K
| | - Inmaculada Moreno
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Maria J Almela
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Isabel Camino
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Benigno Crespo
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Anas Saadeddin
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Sonja Ghidelli-Disse
- Cellzome GmbH, a GlaxoSmithKline Company , Meyerhofstrasse 1 , 69117 Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Lourdes Rueda
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Felix Calderon
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Simon A Osborne
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus , Stevenage SG1 2FX , U.K
| | - Gerard Drewes
- Cellzome GmbH, a GlaxoSmithKline Company , Meyerhofstrasse 1 , 69117 Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Markus Böesche
- Cellzome GmbH, a GlaxoSmithKline Company , Meyerhofstrasse 1 , 69117 Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Elena Fernández-Álvaro
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - Jose Ignacio Martin Hernando
- Tres Cantos, Medicines Development Campus, DDW, GlaxoSmithKline , Severo Ochoa 2 , 28760 Tres Cantos , Madrid , Spain
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London WC1E 7HT , U.K
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75
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Cernikova L, Faso C, Hehl AB. Roles of Phosphoinositides and Their binding Proteins in Parasitic Protozoa. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:996-1008. [PMID: 31615721 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Phosphoinositides (or phosphatidylinositol phosphates, PIPs) are low-abundance membrane phospholipids that act, in conjunction with their binding partners, as important constitutive signals defining biochemical organelle identity as well as membrane trafficking and signal transduction at eukaryotic cellular membranes. In this review, we present roles for PIP residues and PIP-binding proteins in endocytosis and autophagy in protist parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei, Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia. Molecular parasitologists with an interest in comparative cell and molecular biology of membrane trafficking in protist lineages beyond the phylum Apicomplexa, along with cell and molecular biologists generally interested in the diversification of membrane trafficking in eukaryotes, will hopefully find this review to be a useful resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Cernikova
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich (ZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Faso
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich (ZH), Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern (BE), Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrian B Hehl
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich (ZH), Zurich, Switzerland.
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76
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Currà C, Kehrer J, Lemgruber L, Silva PAGC, Bertuccini L, Superti F, Pace T, Ponzi M, Frischknecht F, Siden-Kiamos I, Mair GR. Malaria transmission through the mosquito requires the function of the OMD protein. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222226. [PMID: 31553751 PMCID: PMC6760768 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ookinetes, one of the motile and invasive forms of the malaria parasite, rely on gliding motility in order to establish an infection in the mosquito host. Here we characterize the protein PBANKA_0407300 which is conserved in the Plasmodium genus but lacks significant similarity to proteins of other eukaryotes. It is expressed in gametocytes and throughout the invasive mosquito stages of P. berghei, but is absent from asexual blood stages. Mutants lacking the protein developed morphologically normal ookinetes that were devoid of productive motility although some stretching movement could be detected. We therefore named the protein Ookinete Motility Deficient (OMD). Several key factors known to be involved in motility however were normally expressed and localized in the mutant. Importantly, the mutant failed to establish an infection in the mosquito which resulted in a total malaria transmission blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Currà
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Jessica Kehrer
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leandro Lemgruber
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Lucia Bertuccini
- Core Facilities, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
- National Center for Innovative Technologies in Public Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiana Superti
- Core Facilities, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
- National Center for Innovative Technologies in Public Health, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Tomasino Pace
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Ponzi
- Core Facilities, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inga Siden-Kiamos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, Heraklion, Greece
- * E-mail: , (GRM); (IS-K)
| | - Gunnar R. Mair
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- Instituto Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal
- Iowa State University, Biomedical Sciences, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail: , (GRM); (IS-K)
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77
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Brochet M. cGMP Signalling: Malarial Guanylyl Cyclase Leads the Way. Curr Biol 2019; 28:R939-R941. [PMID: 30205065 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
When ingested by a mosquito, the malaria parasite relies on an unusual form of gliding motility to escape from the rapidly deteriorating blood meal. A new study on an atypical malaria guanylyl cyclase reveals the importance of spatiotemporal regulation of cGMP production in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, CH-1211 Switzerland.
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78
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Essential role of GEXP15, a specific Protein Phosphatase type 1 partner, in Plasmodium berghei in asexual erythrocytic proliferation and transmission. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007973. [PMID: 31348803 PMCID: PMC6685639 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential and distinct functions of Protein Phosphatase type 1 (PP1) catalytic subunit in eukaryotes are exclusively achieved through its interaction with a myriad of regulatory partners. In this work, we report the molecular and functional characterization of Gametocyte EXported Protein 15 (GEXP15), a Plasmodium specific protein, as a regulator of PP1. In vitro interaction studies demonstrated that GEXP15 physically interacts with PP1 through the RVxF binding motif in P. berghei. Functional assays showed that GEXP15 was able to increase PP1 activity and the mutation of the RVxF motif completely abolished this regulation. Immunoprecipitation assays of tagged GEXP15 or PP1 in P. berghei followed by immunoblot or mass spectrometry analyses confirmed their interaction and showed that they are present both in schizont and gametocyte stages in shared protein complexes involved in the spliceosome and proteasome pathways and known to play essential role in parasite development. Phenotypic analysis of viable GEXP15 deficient P. berghei blood parasites showed that they were unable to develop lethal infection in BALB/c mice or to establish experimental cerebral malaria in C57BL/6 mice. Further, although deficient parasites produced gametocytes they did not produce any oocysts/sporozoites indicating a high fitness cost in the mosquito. Global proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of GEXP15 deficient schizonts revealed a profound defect with a significant decrease in the abundance and an impact on phosphorylation status of proteins involved in regulation of gene expression or invasion. Moreover, depletion of GEXP15 seemed to impact mainly the abundance of some specific proteins of female gametocytes. Our study provides the first insight into the contribution of a PP1 regulator to Plasmodium virulence and suggests that GEXP15 affects both the asexual and sexual life cycle. In the absence of an effective vaccine and the emerging resistance to artemisinin combination therapy, malaria is still a significant threat to human health. Increasing our understanding of the specific mechanisms of the biology of Plasmodium is essential to propose new strategies to control this infection. Here, we demonstrated that GEXP15, a specific protein in Plasmodium, was able to interact with the Protein Phosphatase 1 and regulate its activity. We showed that both proteins are implicated in common protein complexes involved in the mRNA splicing and proteasome pathways. We reported that the deletion of GEXP15 leads to a loss of parasite virulence during asexual stages and a total abolishment of the capacity of deficient parasites to develop in the mosquito. We also found that this deletion affects both protein phosphorylation status and significantly decreases the expression of essential proteins in schizont and gametocyte stages. This study characterizes for the first time a novel molecular pathway through the control of PP1 by an essential and specific Plasmodium regulator, which may contribute to the discovery of new therapeutic targets to control malaria.
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79
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Billker O. CRISPRing the Elephant in the Room. Cell Host Microbe 2019; 24:754-755. [PMID: 30543773 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The importance of guanylyl-cyclases (GCs) in apicomplexa has remained elusive due to the large size of the genes. Two recent studies, including Brown and Sibley, 2018 in this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, make elegant use of genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9 to characterize roles of GCs in Toxoplasma and Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Billker
- Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden.
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80
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Structures of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase in malaria parasites reveal a unique structural relay mechanism for activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:14164-14173. [PMID: 31239348 PMCID: PMC6628679 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1905558116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) was identified >25 y ago; however, efforts to obtain a structure of the entire PKG enzyme or catalytic domain from any species have failed. In malaria parasites, cooperative activation of PKG triggers crucial developmental transitions throughout the complex life cycle. We have determined the cGMP-free crystallographic structures of PKG from Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, revealing how key structural components, including an N-terminal autoinhibitory segment (AIS), four predicted cyclic nucleotide-binding domains (CNBs), and a kinase domain (KD), are arranged when the enzyme is inactive. The four CNBs and the KD are in a pentagonal configuration, with the AIS docked in the substrate site of the KD in a swapped-domain dimeric arrangement. We show that although the protein is predominantly a monomer (the dimer is unlikely to be representative of the physiological form), the binding of the AIS is necessary to keep Plasmodium PKG inactive. A major feature is a helix serving the dual role of the N-terminal helix of the KD as well as the capping helix of the neighboring CNB. A network of connecting helices between neighboring CNBs contributes to maintaining the kinase in its inactive conformation. We propose a scheme in which cooperative binding of cGMP, beginning at the CNB closest to the KD, transmits conformational changes around the pentagonal molecule in a structural relay mechanism, enabling PKG to orchestrate rapid, highly regulated developmental switches in response to dynamic modulation of cGMP levels in the parasite.
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81
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Günay-Esiyok Ö, Scheib U, Noll M, Gupta N. An unusual and vital protein with guanylate cyclase and P4-ATPase domains in a pathogenic protist. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/3/e201900402. [PMID: 31235476 PMCID: PMC6592433 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii harbors an alveolate-specific guanylate cyclase linked to P-type ATPase motifs, which is an essential actuator of cGMP-dependent gliding motility, egress, and invasion during acute infection. cGMP signaling is one of the master regulators of diverse functions in eukaryotes; however, its architecture and functioning in protozoans remain poorly understood. Herein, we report an exclusive guanylate cyclase coupled with N-terminal P4-ATPase in a common parasitic protist, Toxoplasma gondii. This bulky protein (477-kD), termed TgATPaseP-GC to fairly reflect its envisaged multifunctionality, localizes in the plasma membrane at the apical pole of the parasite, whereas the corresponding cGMP-dependent protein kinase (TgPKG) is distributed in the cytomembranes. TgATPaseP-GC is refractory to genetic deletion, and its CRISPR/Cas9–assisted disruption aborts the lytic cycle of T. gondii. Besides, Cre/loxP–mediated knockdown of TgATPaseP-GC reduced the synthesis of cGMP and inhibited the parasite growth due to impairments in the motility-dependent egress and invasion events. Equally, repression of TgPKG by a similar strategy recapitulated phenotypes of the TgATPaseP-GC–depleted mutant. Notably, despite a temporally restricted function, TgATPaseP-GC is expressed constitutively throughout the lytic cycle, entailing a post-translational regulation of cGMP signaling. Not least, the occurrence of TgATPaseP-GC orthologs in several other alveolates implies a divergent functional repurposing of cGMP signaling in protozoans, and offers an excellent drug target against the parasitic protists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özlem Günay-Esiyok
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Scheib
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Noll
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
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82
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Ebrahimzadeh Z, Mukherjee A, Crochetière MÈ, Sergerie A, Amiar S, Thompson LA, Gagnon D, Gaumond D, Stahelin RV, Dacks JB, Richard D. A pan-apicomplexan phosphoinositide-binding protein acts in malarial microneme exocytosis. EMBO Rep 2019; 20:e47102. [PMID: 31097469 PMCID: PMC6549027 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201847102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasion of human red blood cells by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is an essential step in the development of the disease. Consequently, the molecular players involved in host cell invasion represent important targets for inhibitor design and vaccine development. The process of merozoite invasion is a succession of steps underlined by the sequential secretion of the organelles of the apical complex. However, little is known with regard to how their contents are exocytosed. Here, we identify a phosphoinositide-binding protein conserved in apicomplexan parasites and show that it is important for the attachment and subsequent invasion of the erythrocyte by the merozoite. Critically, removing the protein from its site of action by knock sideways preferentially prevents the secretion of certain types of micronemes. Our results therefore provide evidence for a role of phosphoinositide lipids in the malaria invasion process and provide further insight into the secretion of microneme organelle populations, which is potentially applicable to diverse apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Ebrahimzadeh
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Angana Mukherjee
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Crochetière
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Audrey Sergerie
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Souad Amiar
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - L Alexa Thompson
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Dominic Gagnon
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - David Gaumond
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Robert V Stahelin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Joel B Dacks
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Dave Richard
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CRCHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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83
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Choudhary HH, Gupta R, Mishra S. PKAc is not required for the preerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium berghei. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/3/e201900352. [PMID: 31142638 PMCID: PMC6545604 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mutant salivary gland sporozoites lacking PKAc are able to glide, invade hepatocytes, and mature into hepatic merozoites, which release successfully from the merosome, however, fail to initiate blood stage infection when inoculated into mice. Plasmodium sporozoites invade hepatocytes to initiate infection in the mammalian host. In the infected hepatocytes, sporozoites undergo rapid expansion and differentiation, resulting in the formation and release of thousands of invasive merozoites into the bloodstream. Both sporozoites and merozoites invade their host cells by activation of a signaling cascade followed by discharge of micronemal content. cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (PKAc)–mediated signaling plays an important role in merozoite invasion of erythrocytes, but its role during other stages of the parasite remains unknown. Becaused of the essentiality of PKAc in blood stages, we generated conditional mutants of PKAc by disrupting the gene in Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. The mutant salivary gland sporozoites were able to glide, invaded hepatocytes, and matured into hepatic merozoites which were released successfully from merosome, however failed to initiate blood stage infection when inoculated into mice. Our results demonstrate that malaria parasite complete preerythrocytic stages development without PKAc, raising the possibility that the PKAc independent signaling operates in preerythrocytic stages of P. berghei.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roshni Gupta
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Satish Mishra
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India .,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, India
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84
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Penzo M, de Las Heras-Dueña L, Mata-Cantero L, Diaz-Hernandez B, Vazquez-Muñiz MJ, Ghidelli-Disse S, Drewes G, Fernandez-Alvaro E, Baker DA. High-throughput screening of the Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-dependent protein kinase identified a thiazole scaffold which kills erythrocytic and sexual stage parasites. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7005. [PMID: 31065005 PMCID: PMC6504873 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42801-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimalarial drug resistance compels the quest for new compounds that target alternative pathways to current drugs. The Plasmodium cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) has essential functions in all of the major life cycle developmental stages. An imidazopyridine PKG inhibitor scaffold was previously shown to clear P. falciparum infection in a rodent model in vivo and blocked transmission to mosquitoes providing proof of concept for this target. To find new classes of PKG inhibitors to serve as alternative chemical starting points, we performed a high-throughput screen of the GSK Full Diversity Collection using recombinant P. falciparum PKG. We developed a robust enzymatic assay in a 1536-well plate format. Promising compounds were then tested for activity against P. falciparum asexual blood stage growth, selectivity and cytotoxicity. By using a scoring system we selected the 66 most promising PKG inhibitors (comprising nine clusters and seven singletons). Among these, thiazoles were the most potent scaffold with mid-nanomolar activity on P. falciparum blood stage and gamete development. Using Kinobeads profiling we identified additional P. falciparum protein kinases targeted by the thiazoles that mediate a faster speed of the kill than PKG-selective compounds. This scaffold represents a promising starting point to develop a new antimalarial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Penzo
- GSK Global Health, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos 28760 Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Sonja Ghidelli-Disse
- Cellzome GmbH, a GlaxoSmithKline Company, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gerard Drewes
- Cellzome GmbH, a GlaxoSmithKline Company, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
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85
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Patel A, Perrin AJ, Flynn HR, Bisson C, Withers-Martinez C, Treeck M, Flueck C, Nicastro G, Martin SR, Ramos A, Gilberger TW, Snijders AP, Blackman MJ, Baker DA. Cyclic AMP signalling controls key components of malaria parasite host cell invasion machinery. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000264. [PMID: 31075098 PMCID: PMC6530879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is an important signalling molecule across evolution, but its role in malaria parasites is poorly understood. We have investigated the role of cAMP in asexual blood stage development of Plasmodium falciparum through conditional disruption of adenylyl cyclase beta (ACβ) and its downstream effector, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). We show that both production of cAMP and activity of PKA are critical for erythrocyte invasion, whilst key developmental steps that precede invasion still take place in the absence of cAMP-dependent signalling. We also show that another parasite protein with putative cyclic nucleotide binding sites, Plasmodium falciparum EPAC (PfEpac), does not play an essential role in blood stages. We identify and quantify numerous sites, phosphorylation of which is dependent on cAMP signalling, and we provide mechanistic insight as to how cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of the essential invasion adhesin apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) regulates erythrocyte invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail J. Perrin
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Helen R. Flynn
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudine Bisson
- Crystallography, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Moritz Treeck
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giuseppe Nicastro
- Macromolecular Structure Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R. Martin
- Macromolecular Structure Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andres Ramos
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tim W. Gilberger
- Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ambrosius P. Snijders
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Blackman
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Baker
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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86
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Yang L, Uboldi AD, Seizova S, Wilde ML, Coffey MJ, Katris NJ, Yamaryo-Botté Y, Kocan M, Bathgate RAD, Stewart RJ, McConville MJ, Thompson PE, Botté CY, Tonkin CJ. An apically located hybrid guanylate cyclase-ATPase is critical for the initiation of Ca 2+ signaling and motility in Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:8959-8972. [PMID: 30992368 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.005491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa actively move through tissue to initiate and perpetuate infection. The regulation of parasite motility relies on cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases, but how these kinases are activated remains unknown. Here, using an array of biochemical and cell biology approaches, we show that the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii expresses a large guanylate cyclase (TgGC) protein, which contains several upstream ATPase transporter-like domains. We show that TgGC has a dynamic localization, being concentrated at the apical tip in extracellular parasites, which then relocates to a more cytosolic distribution during intracellular replication. Conditional TgGC knockdown revealed that this protein is essential for acute-stage tachyzoite growth, as TgGC-deficient parasites were defective in motility, host cell attachment, invasion, and subsequent host cell egress. We show that TgGC is critical for a rapid rise in cytosolic [Ca2+] and for secretion of microneme organelles upon stimulation with a cGMP agonist, but these deficiencies can be bypassed by direct activation of signaling by a Ca2+ ionophore. Furthermore, we found that TgGC is required for transducing changes in extracellular pH and [K+] to activate cytosolic [Ca2+] flux. Together, the results of our work implicate TgGC as a putative signal transducer that activates Ca2+ signaling and motility in Toxoplasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luning Yang
- From the The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China 100006
| | - Alessandro D Uboldi
- From the The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Simona Seizova
- From the The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Mary-Louise Wilde
- From the The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Michael J Coffey
- From the The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Katris
- ApicoLipid Team, Institute of Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Yoshiki Yamaryo-Botté
- ApicoLipid Team, Institute of Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Martina Kocan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia, and
| | - Rebecca J Stewart
- From the The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Malcolm J McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia, and
| | - Philip E Thompson
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Cyrille Y Botté
- ApicoLipid Team, Institute of Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- From the The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia, .,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
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87
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Dubois DJ, Soldati-Favre D. Biogenesis and secretion of micronemes in Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13018. [PMID: 30791192 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of the parasitic phylum of Apicomplexa is the presence of highly specialised, apical secretory organelles, called the micronemes and rhoptries that play critical roles in ensuring survival and dissemination. Upon exocytosis, the micronemes release adhesin complexes, perforins, and proteases that are crucially implicated in egress from infected cells, gliding motility, migration across biological barriers, and host cell invasion. Recent studies on Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium species have shed more light on the signalling events and the machinery that trigger microneme secretion. Intracellular cyclic nucleotides, calcium level, and phosphatidic acid act as key mediators of microneme exocytosis, and several downstream effectors have been identified. Here, we review the key steps of microneme biogenesis and exocytosis, summarising the still fractal knowledge at the molecular level regarding the fusion event with the parasite plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Dubois
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva CMU, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva CMU, Geneva, Switzerland
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88
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Katris NJ, Ke H, McFadden GI, van Dooren GG, Waller RF. Calcium negatively regulates secretion from dense granules in Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Microbiol 2019; 21:e13011. [PMID: 30673152 PMCID: PMC6563121 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites including Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. manufacture a complex arsenal of secreted proteins used to interact with and manipulate their host environment. These proteins are organised into three principle exocytotic compartment types according to their functions: micronemes for extracellular attachment and motility, rhoptries for host cell penetration, and dense granules for subsequent manipulation of the host intracellular environment. The order and timing of these events during the parasite's invasion cycle dictates when exocytosis from each compartment occurs. Tight control of compartment secretion is, therefore, an integral part of apicomplexan biology. Control of microneme exocytosis is best understood, where cytosolic intermediate molecular messengers cGMP and Ca2+ act as positive signals. The mechanisms for controlling secretion from rhoptries and dense granules, however, are virtually unknown. Here, we present evidence that dense granule exocytosis is negatively regulated by cytosolic Ca2+, and we show that this Ca2+‐mediated response is contingent on the function of calcium‐dependent protein kinases TgCDPK1 and TgCDPK3. Reciprocal control of micronemes and dense granules provides an elegant solution to the mutually exclusive functions of these exocytotic compartments in parasite invasion cycles and further demonstrates the central role that Ca2+ signalling plays in the invasion biology of apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Katris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Huiling Ke
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Giel G van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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89
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Phosphatidic acid governs natural egress in Toxoplasma gondii via a guanylate cyclase receptor platform. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:420-428. [DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0339-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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90
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Flueck C, Drought LG, Jones A, Patel A, Perrin AJ, Walker EM, Nofal SD, Snijders AP, Blackman MJ, Baker DA. Phosphodiesterase beta is the master regulator of cAMP signalling during malaria parasite invasion. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000154. [PMID: 30794532 PMCID: PMC6402698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclic nucleotide signalling is a major regulator of malaria parasite differentiation. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes are known to control cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels in the parasite, but the mechanisms by which cyclic AMP (cAMP) is regulated remain enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that Plasmodium falciparum phosphodiesterase β (PDEβ) hydrolyses both cAMP and cGMP and is essential for blood stage viability. Conditional gene disruption causes a profound reduction in invasion of erythrocytes and rapid death of those merozoites that invade. We show that this dual phenotype results from elevated cAMP levels and hyperactivation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Phosphoproteomic analysis of PDEβ-null parasites reveals a >2-fold increase in phosphorylation at over 200 phosphosites, more than half of which conform to a PKA substrate consensus sequence. We conclude that PDEβ plays a critical role in governing correct temporal activation of PKA required for erythrocyte invasion, whilst suppressing untimely PKA activation during early intra-erythrocytic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura G. Drought
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Jones
- Protein Analysis and Proteomics Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail J. Perrin
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eloise M. Walker
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie D. Nofal
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ambrosius P. Snijders
- Protein Analysis and Proteomics Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Blackman
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Baker
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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91
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Plasmodium falciparum Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Interacts with a Subunit of the Parasite Proteasome. Infect Immun 2018; 87:IAI.00523-18. [PMID: 30323024 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00523-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium, which undergoes a complex life cycle in a human host and a mosquito vector. The parasite's cyclic GMP (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) is essential at multiple steps of the life cycle. Phosphoproteomic studies in Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic stages and Plasmodium berghei ookinetes have identified proteolysis as a major biological pathway dependent on PKG activity. To further understand PKG's mechanism of action, we screened a yeast two-hybrid library for P. falciparum proteins that interact with P. falciparum PKG (PfPKG) and tested peptide libraries to identify its phosphorylation site preferences. Our data suggest that PfPKG has a distinct phosphorylation site and that PfPKG directly phosphorylates parasite RPT1, one of six AAA+ ATPases present in the 19S regulatory particle of the proteasome. PfPKG and RPT1 interact in vitro, and the interacting fragment of RPT1 carries a PfPKG consensus phosphorylation site; a peptide carrying this consensus site competes with the RPT1 fragment for binding to PfPKG and is efficiently phosphorylated by PfPKG. These data suggest that PfPKG's phosphorylation of RPT1 could contribute to its regulation of parasite proteolysis. We demonstrate that proteolysis plays an important role in a biological process known to require Plasmodium PKG: invasion by sporozoites of hepatocytes. A small-molecule inhibitor of proteasomal activity blocks sporozoite invasion in an additive manner when combined with a Plasmodium PKG-specific inhibitor. Mining the previously described parasite PKG-dependent phosphoproteomes using the consensus phosphorylation motif identified additional proteins that are likely to be direct substrates of the enzyme.
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92
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Jenwithisuk R, Kangwanrangsan N, Tachibana M, Thongkukiatkul A, Otsuki H, Sattabongkot J, Tsuboi T, Torii M, Ishino T. Identification of a PH domain-containing protein which is localized to crystalloid bodies of Plasmodium ookinetes. Malar J 2018; 17:466. [PMID: 30545367 PMCID: PMC6291999 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2617-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background For the success of the malaria control and eradication programme it is essential to reduce parasite transmission by mosquito vectors. In the midguts of mosquitoes fed with parasite-infected blood, sexual-stage parasites fertilize to develop into motile ookinetes that traverse midgut epithelial cells and reside adjacent the basal lamina. Therefore, the ookinete is a promising target of transmission-blocking vaccines to break the parasite lifecycle in mosquito vectors. However, the molecular mechanisms of ookinete formation and invasion of epithelial cells have not been fully elucidated. A unique structure called the crystalloid body has been identified in the ookinete cytoplasm by electron microscopy, but its biological functions remain unclear. Methods A recombinant protein of a novel molecule, designated as crystalloid body specific PH domain-containing protein of Plasmodium yoelii (PyCryPH), was synthesized using a wheat germ cell-free system. Specific rabbit antibodies against PyCryPH were obtained to characterize the expression and localization of PyCryPH during sexual-stage parasite development. In addition, PyCryPH knockout parasites were generated by targeted gene disruption to examine PyCryPH function in mosquito-stage parasite development. Results Western blot and immunofluorescence assays using specific antibodies showed that PyCryPH is specifically expressed in zygotes and ookinetes. By immunoelectron microscopy it was demonstrated that PyCryPH is localized within crystalloid bodies. Parasites with a disrupted PyCryPH gene developed normally into ookinetes and formed oocysts on the basal lamina of midguts. In addition, the number of sporozoites residing in salivary glands was comparable to that of wild-type parasites. Conclusions CryPH, containing a signal peptide and PH domain, is predominantly expressed in zygotes and ookinetes and is localized to crystalloid bodies in P. yoelii. CryPH accumulates in vesicle-like structures prior to the appearance of typical crystalloid bodies. Unlike other known crystalloid body localized proteins, CryPH does not appear to have a multiple domain architecture characteristic of the LAP/CCp family proteins. Although CryPH is highly conserved among Plasmodium, Babesia, Theileria, and Cryptosporidium, PyCryPH is dispensable for the development of invasive ookinetes and sporozoites in mosquito bodies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2617-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachaneeporn Jenwithisuk
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.,Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Niwat Kangwanrangsan
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Mayumi Tachibana
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan
| | - Amporn Thongkukiatkul
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, 20131, Thailand
| | - Hitoshi Otsuki
- Division of Medical Zoology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan
| | - Motomi Torii
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ishino
- Division of Molecular Parasitology, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
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93
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Brown KM, Sibley LD. Essential cGMP Signaling in Toxoplasma Is Initiated by a Hybrid P-Type ATPase-Guanylate Cyclase. Cell Host Microbe 2018; 24:804-816.e6. [PMID: 30449726 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites rely on cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases for host cell infection, yet the mechanisms that control their activation remain unknown. Here we show that an apically localized guanylate cyclase (GC) controls microneme secretion and lytic growth in the model apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii. Cell-permeable cGMP reversed the block in microneme secretion seen in a knockdown of TgGC, linking its function to production of cGMP. TgGC possesses an N-terminal P-type ATPase domain fused to a C-terminal heterodimeric guanylate cyclase domain, an architecture found only in Apicomplexa and related protists. Complementation with a panel of mutants revealed a critical requirement for the P-type ATPase domain for maximum GC function. We further demonstrate that knockdown of TgGC in vivo protects mice from lethal infection by blocking parasite expansion and dissemination. Collectively, this work demonstrates that cGMP-mediated signaling in Toxoplasma relies on a multi-domain architecture, which may serve a conserved role in related parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Brown
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - L David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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94
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Flieger A, Frischknecht F, Häcker G, Hornef MW, Pradel G. Pathways of host cell exit by intracellular pathogens. MICROBIAL CELL 2018; 5:525-544. [PMID: 30533418 PMCID: PMC6282021 DOI: 10.15698/mic2018.12.659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Host cell exit is a critical step in the life-cycle of intracellular pathogens, intimately linked to barrier penetration, tissue dissemination, inflammation, and pathogen transmission. Like cell invasion and intracellular survival, host cell exit represents a well-regulated program that has evolved during host-pathogen co-evolution and that relies on the dynamic and intricate interplay between multiple host and microbial factors. Three distinct pathways of host cell exit have been identified that are employed by three different taxa of intracellular pathogens, bacteria, fungi and protozoa, namely (i) the initiation of programmed cell death, (ii) the active breaching of host cellderived membranes, and (iii) the induced membrane-dependent exit without host cell lysis. Strikingly, an increasing number of studies show that the majority of intracellular pathogens utilize more than one of these strategies, dependent on life-cycle stage, environmental factors and/or host cell type. This review summarizes the diverse exit strategies of intracellular-living bacterial, fungal and protozoan pathogens and discusses the convergently evolved commonalities as well as system-specific variations thereof. Key microbial molecules involved in host cell exit are highlighted and discussed as potential targets for future interventional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Flieger
- Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | | | - Georg Häcker
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mathias W Hornef
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
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95
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Epistasis studies reveal redundancy among calcium-dependent protein kinases in motility and invasion of malaria parasites. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4248. [PMID: 30315162 PMCID: PMC6185908 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06733-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In malaria parasites, evolution of parasitism has been linked to functional optimisation. Despite this optimisation, most members of a calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) family show genetic redundancy during erythrocytic proliferation. To identify relationships between phospho-signalling pathways, we here screen 294 genetic interactions among protein kinases in Plasmodium berghei. This reveals a synthetic negative interaction between a hypomorphic allele of the protein kinase G (PKG) and CDPK4 to control erythrocyte invasion which is conserved in P. falciparum. CDPK4 becomes critical when PKG-dependent calcium signals are attenuated to phosphorylate proteins important for the stability of the inner membrane complex, which serves as an anchor for the acto-myosin motor required for motility and invasion. Finally, we show that multiple kinases functionally complement CDPK4 during erythrocytic proliferation and transmission to the mosquito. This study reveals how CDPKs are wired within a stage-transcending signalling network to control motility and host cell invasion in malaria parasites. Despite functional optimisation during evolution of parasitism, most members of a calcium dependent protein kinase (CDPK) family show genetic redundancy in Plasmodium. Here, the authors screen 294 genetic interactions among protein kinases in Plasmodium and show how some CDPKs functionally interact to control motility and host cell invasion.
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96
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Uboldi AD, Wilde ML, McRae EA, Stewart RJ, Dagley LF, Yang L, Katris NJ, Hapuarachchi SV, Coffey MJ, Lehane AM, Botte CY, Waller RF, Webb AI, McConville MJ, Tonkin CJ. Protein kinase A negatively regulates Ca2+ signalling in Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005642. [PMID: 30208022 PMCID: PMC6152992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The phylum Apicomplexa comprises a group of obligate intracellular parasites that alternate between intracellular replicating stages and actively motile extracellular forms that move through tissue. Parasite cytosolic Ca2+ signalling activates motility, but how this is switched off after invasion is complete to allow for replication to begin is not understood. Here, we show that the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A catalytic subunit 1 (PKAc1) of Toxoplasma is responsible for suppression of Ca2+ signalling upon host cell invasion. We demonstrate that PKAc1 is sequestered to the parasite periphery by dual acylation of PKA regulatory subunit 1 (PKAr1). Upon genetic depletion of PKAc1 we show that newly invaded parasites exit host cells shortly thereafter, in a perforin-like protein 1 (PLP-1)-dependent fashion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that loss of PKAc1 prevents rapid down-regulation of cytosolic [Ca2+] levels shortly after invasion. We also provide evidence that loss of PKAc1 sensitises parasites to cyclic GMP (cGMP)-induced Ca2+ signalling, thus demonstrating a functional link between cAMP and these other signalling modalities. Together, this work provides a new paradigm in understanding how Toxoplasma and related apicomplexan parasites regulate infectivity. Central to pathogenesis and infectivity of Toxoplasma and related parasites is their ability to move through tissue, invade host cells, and establish a replicative niche. Ca2+-dependent signalling pathways are important for activating motility, host cell invasion, and egress, yet how this signalling is turned off after invasion is unclear. Here, we show that a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is essential for rapid suppression of Ca2+ signalling upon completion of host cell invasion. Parasites lacking this kinase rapidly invoke an egress program to re-exit host cells, thus preventing the establishment of a stable infection. This finding therefore highlights the first factor required for Toxoplasma (and any related apicomplexan parasite) to switch from invasive to the replicative forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro D. Uboldi
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Mary-Louise Wilde
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Emi A. McRae
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Rebecca J. Stewart
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Laura F. Dagley
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Luning Yang
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Nicholas J. Katris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Institute of Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Michael J. Coffey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Adele M. Lehane
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, A.C.T., Australia
| | - Cyrille Y. Botte
- Institute of Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Ross F. Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew I. Webb
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Malcolm J. McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Christopher J. Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- * E-mail:
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97
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Douglas RG, Reinig M, Neale M, Frischknecht F. Screening for potential prophylactics targeting sporozoite motility through the skin. Malar J 2018; 17:319. [PMID: 30170589 PMCID: PMC6119338 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2469-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-malarial compounds have not yet been identified that target the first obligatory step of infection in humans: the migration of Plasmodium sporozoites in the host dermis. This movement is essential to find and invade a blood vessel in order to be passively transported to the liver. Here, an imaging screening pipeline was established to screen for compounds capable of inhibiting extracellular sporozoites. METHODS Sporozoites expressing the green fluorescent protein were isolated from infected Anopheles mosquitoes, incubated with compounds from two libraries (MMV Malaria Box and a FDA-approved library) and imaged. Effects on in vitro motility or morphology were scored. In vivo efficacy of a candidate drug was investigated by treating mice ears with a gel prior to infectious mosquito bites. Motility was analysed by in vivo imaging and the progress of infection was monitored by daily blood smears. RESULTS Several compounds had a pronounced effect on in vitro sporozoite gliding or morphology. Notably, monensin sodium potently affected sporozoite movement while gramicidin S resulted in rounding up of sporozoites. However, pre-treatment of mice with a topical gel containing gramicidin did not reduce sporozoite motility and infection. CONCLUSIONS This approach shows that it is possible to screen libraries for inhibitors of sporozoite motility and highlighted the paucity of compounds in currently available libraries that inhibit this initial step of a malaria infection. Screening of diverse libraries is suggested to identify more compounds that could serve as leads in developing 'skin-based' malaria prophylactics. Further, strategies need to be developed that will allow compounds to effectively penetrate the dermis and thereby prevent exit of sporozoites from the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross G Douglas
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Miriam Reinig
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthew Neale
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Gao H, Yang Z, Wang X, Qian P, Hong R, Chen X, Su XZ, Cui H, Yuan J. ISP1-Anchored Polarization of GCβ/CDC50A Complex Initiates Malaria Ookinete Gliding Motility. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2763-2776.e6. [PMID: 30146157 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.06.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ookinete gliding motility is essential for penetration of the mosquito midgut wall and transmission of malaria parasites. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling has been implicated in ookinete gliding. However, the upstream mechanism of how the parasites activate cGMP signaling and thus initiate ookinete gliding remains unknown. Using real-time imaging to visualize Plasmodium yoelii guanylate cyclase β (GCβ), we show that cytoplasmic GCβ translocates and polarizes to the parasite plasma membrane at "ookinete extrados site" (OES) during zygote-to-ookinete differentiation. The polarization of enzymatic active GCβ at OES initiates gliding of matured ookinete. Both the P4-ATPase-like domain and guanylate cyclase domain are required for GCβ polarization and ookinete gliding. CDC50A, a co-factor of P4-ATPase, binds to and stabilizes GCβ during ookinete development. Screening of inner membrane complex proteins identifies ISP1 as a key molecule that anchors GCβ/CDC50A complex at the OES of mature ookinetes. This study defines a spatial-temporal mechanism for the initiation of ookinete gliding, where GCβ polarization likely elevates local cGMP levels and activates cGMP-dependent protein kinase signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhenke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Pengge Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Renjie Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Huiting Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signal Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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99
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Darvill N, Dubois DJ, Rouse SL, Hammoudi PM, Blake T, Benjamin S, Liu B, Soldati-Favre D, Matthews S. Structural Basis of Phosphatidic Acid Sensing by APH in Apicomplexan Parasites. Structure 2018; 26:1059-1071.e6. [PMID: 29910186 PMCID: PMC6084407 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii are obligate intracellular parasites that belong to the phylum of Apicomplexa and cause major human diseases. Their access to an intracellular lifestyle is reliant on the coordinated release of proteins from the specialized apical organelles called micronemes and rhoptries. A specific phosphatidic acid effector, the acylated pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein (APH) plays a central role in microneme exocytosis and thus is essential for motility, cell entry, and egress. TgAPH is acylated on the surface of the micronemes and recruited to phosphatidic acid (PA)-enriched membranes. Here, we dissect the atomic details of APH PA-sensing hub and its functional interaction with phospholipid membranes. We unravel the key determinant of PA recognition for the first time and show that APH inserts into and clusters multiple phosphate head-groups at the bilayer binding surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Darvill
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - David J Dubois
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sarah L Rouse
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tom Blake
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Stefi Benjamin
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Bing Liu
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; BioBank, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Steve Matthews
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; BioBank, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China.
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100
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Baker DA, Drought LG, Flueck C, Nofal SD, Patel A, Penzo M, Walker EM. Cyclic nucleotide signalling in malaria parasites. Open Biol 2018; 7:rsob.170213. [PMID: 29263246 PMCID: PMC5746546 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclic nucleotides 3′, 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3′, 5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are intracellular messengers found in most animal cell types. They usually mediate an extracellular stimulus to drive a change in cell function through activation of their respective cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, PKA and PKG. The enzymatic components of the malaria parasite cyclic nucleotide signalling pathways have been identified, and the genetic and biochemical studies of these enzymes carried out to date are reviewed herein. What has become very clear is that cyclic nucleotides play vital roles in controlling every stage of the complex malaria parasite life cycle. Our understanding of the involvement of cyclic nucleotide signalling in orchestrating the complex biology of malaria parasites is still in its infancy, but the recent advances in our genetic tools and the increasing interest in signalling will deliver more rapid progress in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Laura G Drought
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Stephanie D Nofal
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Maria Penzo
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.,Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eloise M Walker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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