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Zhao M, Yang Y, Shi Y, Chen X, Yang Y, Pan L, Du Z, Sun H, Yao C, Ma G, Du A. PP2Acα-B'/PR61 Holoenzyme of Toxoplasma gondii Is Required for the Amylopectin Metabolism and Proliferation of Tachyzoites. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0010423. [PMID: 37199633 PMCID: PMC10269777 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00104-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report that the inhibition of the PP2A subfamily by okadaic acid results in an accumulation of polysaccharides in the acute infection stage (tachyzoites) of Toxoplasma gondii, which is a protozoan of global zoonotic importance and a model for the apicomplexan parasites. The loss of the catalytic subunit α of PP2A (ΔPP2Acα) in RHΔku80 leads to the polysaccharide accumulation phenotype in the base of tachyzoites as well as residual bodies and significantly compromises the intracellular growth in vitro and the virulence in vivo. A metabolomic analysis revealed that the accumulated polysaccharides in ΔPP2Acα are derived from interrupted glucose metabolism, which affects the production of ATP and energy homeostasis in the T. gondii knockout. The assembly of the PP2Acα holoenzyme complex involved in the amylopectin metabolism in tachyzoites is possibly not regulated by LCMT1 or PME1, and this finding contributes to the identification of the regulatory B subunit (B'/PR61). The loss of B'/PR61 results in the accumulation of polysaccharide granules in the tachyzoites as well as reduced plaque formation ability, exactly the same as ΔPP2Acα. Taken together, we have identified a PP2Acα-B'/PR61 holoenzyme complex that plays a crucial role in the carbohydrate metabolism and viability in T. gondii, and its deficiency in function remarkably suppresses the growth and virulence of this important zoonotic parasite both in vitro and in vivo. Hence, rendering the PP2Acα-B'/PR61 holoenzyme functionless should be a promising strategy for the intervention of Toxoplasma acute infection and toxoplasmosis. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii switches back and forth between acute and chronic infections, mainly in response to host immunologic status, which is characterized by flexible but specific energy metabolism. Polysaccharide granules are accumulated in the acute infection stage of T. gondii that have been exposed to a chemical inhibitor of the PP2A subfamily. The genetic depletion of the catalytic subunit α of PP2A leads to this phenotype and significantly affects the cell metabolism, energy production, and viability. Further, a regulatory B subunit PR61 is necessary for the PP2A holoenzyme to function in glucose metabolism and in the intracellular growth of T. gondii tachyzoites. A deficiency of this PP2A holoenzyme complex (PP2Acα-B'/PR61) in T. gondii knockouts results in the abnormal accumulation of polysaccharides and the disruption of energy metabolism, suppressing their growth and virulence. These findings provide novel insights into cell metabolism and identify a potential target for an intervention against a T. gondii acute infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxiu Zhao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yue Shi
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya, China
| | - Xueqiu Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yimin Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lingtao Pan
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhendong Du
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hongchao Sun
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Guangxu Ma
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aifang Du
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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Ferreira AF, Santiago J, Silva JV, Oliveira PF, Fardilha M. PP1, PP2A and PP2B Interplay in the Regulation of Sperm Motility: Lessons from Protein Phosphatase Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315235. [PMID: 36499559 PMCID: PMC9737803 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Male fertility relies on the ability of spermatozoa to fertilize the egg in the female reproductive tract (FRT). Spermatozoa acquire activated motility during epididymal maturation; however, to be capable of fertilization, they must achieve hyperactivated motility in the FRT. Extensive research found that three protein phosphatases (PPs) are crucial to sperm motility regulation, the sperm-specific protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) isoform gamma 2 (PP1γ2), protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) and protein phosphatase type 2B (PP2B). Studies have reported that PP activity decreases during epididymal maturation, whereas protein kinase activity increases, which appears to be a requirement for motility acquisition. An interplay between these PPs has been extensively investigated; however, many specific interactions and some inconsistencies remain to be elucidated. The study of PPs significantly advanced following the identification of naturally occurring toxins, including calyculin A, okadaic acid, cyclosporin, endothall and deltamethrin, which are powerful and specific PP inhibitors. This review aims to overview the protein phosphorylation-dependent biochemical pathways underlying sperm motility acquisition and hyperactivation, followed by a discussion of the PP inhibitors that allowed advances in the current knowledge of these pathways. Since male infertility cases still attain alarming numbers, additional research on the topic is required, particularly using other PP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana F. Ferreira
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Santiago
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana V. Silva
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pedro F. Oliveira
- QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-918-143-947
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Fréville A, Gnangnon B, Khelifa AS, Gissot M, Khalife J, Pierrot C. Deciphering the Role of Protein Phosphatases in Apicomplexa: The Future of Innovative Therapeutics? Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030585. [PMID: 35336160 PMCID: PMC8949495 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites belonging to the Apicomplexa phylum still represent a major public health and world-wide socioeconomic burden that is greatly amplified by the spread of resistances against known therapeutic drugs. Therefore, it is essential to provide the scientific and medical communities with innovative strategies specifically targeting these organisms. In this review, we present an overview of the diversity of the phosphatome as well as the variety of functions that phosphatases display throughout the Apicomplexan parasites’ life cycles. We also discuss how this diversity could be used for the design of innovative and specific new drugs/therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Fréville
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (C.P.)
| | - Bénédicte Gnangnon
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Communicable Diseases Dynamics, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Asma S. Khelifa
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
| | - Mathieu Gissot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
| | - Jamal Khalife
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
| | - Christine Pierrot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (C.P.)
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Synthesis, functional proteomics and biological evaluation of new 5-pyrazolyl ureas as potential anti-angiogenic compounds. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 226:113872. [PMID: 34600191 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Based on biological results of previous synthesized pyrazolyl ureas able to interfere with angiogenesis process, we planned and synthesized the new benzyl-urea derivatives 2-4; some of them showed an interesting anti-proliferative profile and particularly 4e potently inhibited HUVEC proliferation. To shed light on the mechanism of action of 4e, its interactome has been deeply inspected to identify the most prominent protein partners, mainly taking into account kinome and phosphatome, through drug affinity responsive target stability experiments, followed by targeted limited proteolysis analysis. From these studies, PP1γ emerged as the most reliable 4e potential target in HUVEC. Molecular docking simulations on PP1γ were carried out to predict 4e binding mode. To assess its potential anti-angiogenic effect, 4e was tested in vitro to verify interference on kinase and phosphate activities. Overall, our results evidenced for 4e an interesting anti-angiogenic action, probably due to its action at intracellular level on PP1γ signalling pathways.
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