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Lihanová D, Lukáčová A, Beck T, Jedlička A, Vešelényiová D, Krajčovič J, Vesteg M. Versatile biotechnological applications of Euglena gracilis. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:133. [PMID: 36959517 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03585-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Euglena gracilis is a freshwater protist possessing secondary chloroplasts of green algal origin. Various physical factors (e.g. UV) and chemical compounds (e.g. antibiotics) cause the bleaching of E. gracilis cells-the loss of plastid genes leading to the permanent inability to photosynthesize. Bleaching can be prevented by antimutagens (i.e. lignin, vitamin C and selenium). Besides screening the mutagenic and antimutagenic activity of chemicals, E. gracilis is also a suitable model for studying the biological effects of many organic pollutants. Due to its capability of heavy metal sequestration, it can be used for bioremediation. E. gracilis has been successfully transformed, offering the possibility of genetic modifications for synthesizing compounds of biotechnological interest. The novel design of the "next generation" transgenic expression cassettes with respect to the specificities of euglenid gene expression is proposed. Moreover, E. gracilis is a natural source of commercially relevant bioproducts such as (pro)vitamins, wax esters, polyunsaturated fatty acids and paramylon (β-1,3-glucan). One of the highest limitations of large-scale cultivation of E. gracilis is its disability to synthesize essential vitamins B1 and B12. This disadvantage can be overcome by co-cultivation of E. gracilis with other microorganisms, which can synthesize sufficient amounts of these vitamins. Such co-cultures can be used for the effective accumulation and harvesting of Euglena biomass by bioflocculation.
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Grants
- VEGA 1/0694/2021 Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, and the Academy of Sciences
- VEGA 1/0694/2021 Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, and the Academy of Sciences
- VEGA 1/0694/2021 Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, and the Academy of Sciences
- VEGA 1/0694/2021 Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, and the Academy of Sciences
- VEGA 1/0694/2021 Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, and the Academy of Sciences
- VEGA 1/0694/2021 Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, and the Academy of Sciences
- VEGA 1/0694/2021 Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, and the Academy of Sciences
- ITMS 26210120024 European Regional Development Fund
- ITMS 26210120024 European Regional Development Fund
- ITMS 26210120024 European Regional Development Fund
- ITMS 26210120024 European Regional Development Fund
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Lihanová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Tajovského 40, 974 01, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Alexandra Lukáčová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Tajovského 40, 974 01, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Terézia Beck
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Tajovského 40, 974 01, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Andrej Jedlička
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, 917 01, Trnava, Slovakia
| | - Dominika Vešelényiová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, 917 01, Trnava, Slovakia
| | - Juraj Krajčovič
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, 917 01, Trnava, Slovakia
| | - Matej Vesteg
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Tajovského 40, 974 01, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia.
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Bandini G, Damerow S, Sempaio Guther ML, Guo H, Mehlert A, Paredes Franco JC, Beverley S, Ferguson MAJ. An essential, kinetoplastid-specific GDP-Fuc: β-D-Gal α-1,2-fucosyltransferase is located in the mitochondrion of Trypanosoma brucei. eLife 2021; 10:e70272. [PMID: 34410224 PMCID: PMC8439653 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fucose is a common component of eukaryotic cell-surface glycoconjugates, generally added by Golgi-resident fucosyltransferases. Whereas fucosylated glycoconjugates are rare in kinetoplastids, the biosynthesis of the nucleotide sugar GDP-Fuc has been shown to be essential in Trypanosoma brucei. Here we show that the single identifiable T. brucei fucosyltransferase (TbFUT1) is a GDP-Fuc: β-D-galactose α-1,2-fucosyltransferase with an apparent preference for a Galβ1,3GlcNAcβ1-O-R acceptor motif. Conditional null mutants of TbFUT1 demonstrated that it is essential for both the mammalian-infective bloodstream form and the insect vector-dwelling procyclic form. Unexpectedly, TbFUT1 was localized in the mitochondrion of T. brucei and found to be required for mitochondrial function in bloodstream form trypanosomes. Finally, the TbFUT1 gene was able to complement a Leishmania major mutant lacking the homologous fucosyltransferase gene (Guo et al., 2021). Together these results suggest that kinetoplastids possess an unusual, conserved and essential mitochondrial fucosyltransferase activity that may have therapeutic potential across trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bandini
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Damerow
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | - Maria Lucia Sempaio Guther
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | - Hongjie Guo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Angela Mehlert
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | - Jose Carlos Paredes Franco
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
| | - Stephen Beverley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Michael AJ Ferguson
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of DundeeDundeeUnited Kingdom
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Vesteg M, Hadariová L, Horváth A, Estraño CE, Schwartzbach SD, Krajčovič J. Comparative molecular cell biology of phototrophic euglenids and parasitic trypanosomatids sheds light on the ancestor of Euglenozoa. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1701-1721. [PMID: 31095885 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic trypanosomatids and phototrophic euglenids are among the most extensively studied euglenozoans. The phototrophic euglenid lineage arose relatively recently through secondary endosymbiosis between a phagotrophic euglenid and a prasinophyte green alga that evolved into the euglenid secondary chloroplast. The parasitic trypanosomatids (i.e. Trypanosoma spp. and Leishmania spp.) and the freshwater phototrophic euglenids (i.e. Euglena gracilis) are the most evolutionary distant lineages in the Euglenozoa phylogenetic tree. The molecular and cell biological traits they share can thus be considered as ancestral traits originating in the common euglenozoan ancestor. These euglenozoan ancestral traits include common mitochondrial presequence motifs, respiratory chain complexes containing various unique subunits, a unique ATP synthase structure, the absence of mitochondria-encoded transfer RNAs (tRNAs), a nucleus with a centrally positioned nucleolus, closed mitosis without dissolution of the nuclear membrane and nucleoli, a nuclear genome containing the unusual 'J' base (β-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethyluracil), processing of nucleus-encoded precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) via spliced-leader RNA (SL-RNA) trans-splicing, post-transcriptional gene silencing by the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway and the absence of transcriptional regulation of nuclear gene expression. Mitochondrial uridine insertion/deletion RNA editing directed by guide RNAs (gRNAs) evolved in the ancestor of the kinetoplastid lineage. The evolutionary origin of other molecular features known to be present only in either kinetoplastids (i.e. polycistronic transcripts, compaction of nuclear genomes) or euglenids (i.e. monocistronic transcripts, huge genomes, many nuclear cis-spliced introns, polyproteins) is unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matej Vesteg
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, 974 01, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Hadariová
- Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anton Horváth
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Carlos E Estraño
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152-3560, USA
| | - Steven D Schwartzbach
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152-3560, USA
| | - Juraj Krajčovič
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of ss. Cyril and Methodius, 917 01, Trnava, Slovakia
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Kuhaudomlarp S, Patron NJ, Henrissat B, Rejzek M, Saalbach G, Field RA. Identification of Euglena gracilis β-1,3-glucan phosphorylase and establishment of a new glycoside hydrolase (GH) family GH149. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:2865-2876. [PMID: 29317507 PMCID: PMC5827456 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.000936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycoside phosphorylases (EC 2.4.x.x) carry out the reversible phosphorolysis of glucan polymers, producing the corresponding sugar 1-phosphate and a shortened glycan chain. β-1,3-Glucan phosphorylase activities have been reported in the photosynthetic euglenozoan Euglena gracilis, but the cognate protein sequences have not been identified to date. Continuing our efforts to understand the glycobiology of E. gracilis, we identified a candidate phosphorylase sequence, designated EgP1, by proteomic analysis of an enriched cellular protein lysate. We expressed recombinant EgP1 in Escherichia coli and characterized it in vitro as a β-1,3-glucan phosphorylase. BLASTP identified several hundred EgP1 orthologs, most of which were from Gram-negative bacteria and had 37-91% sequence identity to EgP1. We heterologously expressed a bacterial metagenomic sequence, Pro_7066 in E. coli and confirmed it as a β-1,3-glucan phosphorylase, albeit with kinetics parameters distinct from those of EgP1. EgP1, Pro_7066, and their orthologs are classified as a new glycoside hydrolase (GH) family, designated GH149. Comparisons between GH94, EgP1, and Pro_7066 sequences revealed conservation of key amino acids required for the phosphorylase activity, suggesting a phosphorylase mechanism that is conserved between GH94 and GH149. We found bacterial GH149 genes in gene clusters containing sugar transporter and several other GH family genes, suggesting that bacterial GH149 proteins have roles in the degradation of complex carbohydrates. The Bacteroidetes GH149 genes located to previously identified polysaccharide utilization loci, implicated in the degradation of complex carbohydrates. In summary, we have identified a eukaryotic and a bacterial β-1,3-glucan phosphorylase and uncovered a new family of phosphorylases that we name GH149.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakonwan Kuhaudomlarp
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Patron
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, United Kingdom
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, Aix-Marseille University, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France; CNRS, UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France; Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Martin Rejzek
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Gerhard Saalbach
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Field
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom.
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Jardim A, Hardie DB, Boitz J, Borchers CH. Proteomic Profiling of Leishmania donovani Promastigote Subcellular Organelles. J Proteome Res 2018; 17:1194-1215. [PMID: 29332401 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To facilitate a greater understanding of the biological processes in the medically important Leishmania donovani parasite, a combination of differential and density-gradient ultracentrifugation techniques were used to achieve a comprehensive subcellular fractionation of the promastigote stage. An in-depth label-free proteomic LC-MS/MS analysis of the density gradients resulted in the identification of ∼50% of the Leishmania proteome (3883 proteins detected), which included ∼645 integral membrane proteins and 1737 uncharacterized proteins. Clustering and subcellular localization of proteins was based on a subset of training Leishmania proteins with known subcellular localizations that had been determined using biochemical, confocal microscopy, or immunoelectron microscopy approaches. This subcellular map will be a valuable resource that will help dissect the cell biology and metabolic processes associated with specific organelles of Leishmania and related kinetoplastids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Jardim
- Institute of Parasitology, Macdonald Campus, McGill University , 21111 Lakeshore Road, Saine-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Darryl B Hardie
- University of Victoria -Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre , #3101-4464 Markham Street, Vancouver Island Technology Park, Victoria, British Columbia V8Z7X8, Canada
| | - Jan Boitz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Christoph H Borchers
- University of Victoria -Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre , #3101-4464 Markham Street, Vancouver Island Technology Park, Victoria, British Columbia V8Z7X8, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina , 120 Mason Farm Road, Campus Box 7260 Third Floor, Genetic Medicine Building, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria , Petch Building, Room 270d, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.,Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University , 3755 Côte Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada.,Proteomics Centre, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University , 3755 Côte Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada
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Zimorski V, Rauch C, van Hellemond JJ, Tielens AGM, Martin WF. The Mitochondrion of Euglena gracilis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 979:19-37. [PMID: 28429315 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-54910-1_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In the presence of oxygen, Euglena gracilis mitochondria function much like mammalian mitochondria. Under anaerobiosis, E. gracilis mitochondria perform a malonyl-CoA independent synthesis of fatty acids leading to accumulation of wax esters, which serve as the sink for electrons stemming from glycolytic ATP synthesis and pyruvate oxidation. Some components (enzymes and cofactors) of Euglena's anaerobic energy metabolism are found among the anaerobic mitochondria of invertebrates, others are found among hydrogenosomes, the H2-producing anaerobic mitochondria of protists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Zimorski
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Cessa Rauch
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jaap J van Hellemond
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aloysius G M Tielens
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - William F Martin
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Ivanova IM, Nepogodiev SA, Saalbach G, O'Neill EC, Urbaniak MD, Ferguson MAJ, Gurcha SS, Besra GS, Field RA. Fluorescent mannosides serve as acceptor substrates for glycosyltransferase and sugar-1-phosphate transferase activities in Euglena gracilis membranes. Carbohydr Res 2016; 438:26-38. [PMID: 27960097 PMCID: PMC5240791 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2016.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic hexynyl α-D-mannopyranoside and its α-1,6-linked disaccharide counterpart were fluorescently labelled through CuAAC click chemistry with 3-azido-7-hydroxycoumarin. The resulting triazolyl-coumarin adducts, which were amenable to analysis by TLC, HPLC and mass spectrometry, proved to be acceptor substrates for α-1,6-ManT activities in mycobacterial membranes, as well as α- and β-GalT activities in trypanosomal membranes, benchmarking the potential of the fluorescent acceptor approach against earlier radiochemical assays. Following on to explore the glycobiology of the benign protozoan alga Euglena gracilis, α-1,3- and α-1,2-ManT activities were detected in membrane preparations, along with GlcT, Glc-P-T and GlcNAc-P-T activities. These studies serve to demonstrate the potential of readily accessible fluorescent glycans as substrates for exploring carbohydrate active enzymes. Assays for the analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes that rely upon fluorescent acceptor substrates are set out. New assays are validated by benchmarking against radiochemical work with known glycosyltransferase activities. The installation of a fluorophore on acceptor substrates was easily achieved through click chemistry. Fluorescence assays are used to discover GTs activities in Euglena gracilis microsomal membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina M Ivanova
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Sergey A Nepogodiev
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Gerhard Saalbach
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Ellis C O'Neill
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Michael D Urbaniak
- Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Furness Building, Lancaster LA1 4YG, UK; College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Sudagar S Gurcha
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Gurdyal S Besra
- School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Robert A Field
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
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Martínez-García M, Campos-Salinas J, Cabello-Donayre M, Pineda-Molina E, Gálvez FJ, Orrego LM, Sánchez-Cañete MP, Malagarie-Cazenave S, Koeller DM, Pérez-Victoria JM. LmABCB3, an atypical mitochondrial ABC transporter essential for Leishmania major virulence, acts in heme and cytosolic iron/sulfur clusters biogenesis. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:7. [PMID: 26728034 PMCID: PMC4700571 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1284-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mitochondria play essential biological functions including the synthesis and trafficking of porphyrins and iron/sulfur clusters (ISC), processes that in mammals involve the mitochondrial ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters ABCB6 and ABCB7, respectively. The mitochondrion of pathogenic protozoan parasites such as Leishmania is a promising goal for new therapeutic approaches. Leishmania infects human macrophages producing the neglected tropical disease known as leishmaniasis. Like most trypanosomatid parasites, Leishmania is auxotrophous for heme and must acquire porphyrins from the host. Methods LmABCB3, a new Leishmania major protein with significant sequence similarity to human ABCB6/ABCB7, was identified and characterized using bioinformatic tools. Fluorescent microscopy was used to determine its cellular localization, and its level of expression was modulated by molecular genetic techniques. Intracellular in vitro assays were used to demonstrate its role in amastigotes replication, and an in vivo mouse model was used to analyze its role in virulence. Functional characterization of LmABCB3 was carried out in Leishmania promastigotes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Structural analysis of LmABCB3 was performed using molecular modeling software. Results LmABCB3 is an atypical ABC half-transporter that has a unique N-terminal extension not found in any other known ABC protein. This extension is required to target LmABCB3 to the mitochondrion and includes a potential metal-binding domain. We have shown that LmABCB3 interacts with porphyrins and is required for the mitochondrial synthesis of heme from a host precursor. We also present data supporting a role for LmABCB3 in the biogenesis of cytosolic ISC, essential cofactors for cell viability in all three kingdoms of life. LmABCB3 fully complemented the severe growth defect shown in yeast lacking ATM1, an orthologue of human ABCB7 involved in exporting from the mitochondria a gluthatione-containing compound required for the generation of cytosolic ISC. Indeed, docking analyzes performed with a LmABCB3 structural model using trypanothione, the main thiol in this parasite, as a ligand showed how both, LmABCB3 and yeast ATM1, contain a similar thiol-binding pocket. Additionally, we show solid evidence suggesting that LmABCB3 is an essential gene as dominant negative inhibition of LmABCB3 is lethal for the parasite. Moreover, the abrogation of only one allele of the gene did not impede promastigote growth in axenic culture but prevented the replication of intracellular amastigotes and the virulence of the parasites in a mouse model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Conclusions Altogether our results present the previously undescribed LmABCB3 as an unusual mitochondrial ABC transporter essential for Leishmania survival through its role in the generation of heme and cytosolic ISC. Hence, LmABCB3 could represent a novel target to combat leishmaniasis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1284-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Martínez-García
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Jenny Campos-Salinas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - María Cabello-Donayre
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Estela Pineda-Molina
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Francisco J Gálvez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Lina M Orrego
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - María P Sánchez-Cañete
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | | | - David M Koeller
- Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - José M Pérez-Victoria
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Tamaki S, Maruta T, Sawa Y, Shigeoka S, Ishikawa T. Biochemical and physiological analyses of NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase isozymes in Euglena gracilis. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 236:29-36. [PMID: 26025518 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
At least four peroxiredoxins that are coupled with the thioredoxin (Trx) system have been shown to play a key role in redox metabolism in the unicellular phytoflagellate Euglena gracilis. In order to clarify Trx-mediated redox regulation in this alga, we herein identified three NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductases (NTRs) using a homologous search and characterized their enzymatic properties and physiological roles. Each Euglena NTR protein belonged to the small, large, and NTRC types, and were named EgNTR1, EgNTR2, and EgNTRC, respectively. EgNTR2 was phylogenetically different from the known NTRs in eukaryotic algae. EgNTR1 was predicted to be localized in mitochondria, EgNTR2 in the cytosol, and EgNTRC in plastids. The catalytic efficiency of EgNTR2 for NADPH was 30-46-fold higher than those of EgNTR1 and truncated form of EgNTRC, suggested that large type EgNTR2 reduced Trx more efficiently. The silencing of EgNTR2 gene expression resulted in significant growth inhibition and cell hypertrophy in Euglena cells. These results suggest that EgNTRs function in each cellular compartment and are physiologically important, particularly in the cytosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Tamaki
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane 690-8504, Japan
| | - Takanori Maruta
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane 690-8504, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Sawa
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane 690-8504, Japan
| | - Shigeru Shigeoka
- Department of Advanced Bioscience, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ishikawa
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane 690-8504, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan.
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Mantilla BS, Paes LS, Pral EMF, Martil DE, Thiemann OH, Fernández-Silva P, Bastos EL, Silber AM. Role of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase supports mitochondrial metabolism and host-cell invasion of Trypanosoma cruzi. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:7767-90. [PMID: 25623067 PMCID: PMC4367278 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.574525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Revised: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Proline is crucial for energizing critical events throughout the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. The proline breakdown pathway consists of two oxidation steps, both of which produce reducing equivalents as follows: the conversion of proline to Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C), and the subsequent conversion of P5C to glutamate. We have identified and characterized the Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase from T. cruzi (TcP5CDH) and report here on how this enzyme contributes to a central metabolic pathway in this parasite. Size-exclusion chromatography, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and small angle x-ray scattering analysis of TcP5CDH revealed an oligomeric state composed of two subunits of six protomers. TcP5CDH was found to complement a yeast strain deficient in PUT2 activity, confirming the enzyme's functional role; and the biochemical parameters (Km, kcat, and kcat/Km) of the recombinant TcP5CDH were determined, exhibiting values comparable with those from T. cruzi lysates. In addition, TcP5CDH exhibited mitochondrial staining during the main stages of the T. cruzi life cycle. mRNA and enzymatic activity levels indicated the up-regulation (6-fold change) of TcP5CDH during the infective stages of the parasite. The participation of P5C as an energy source was also demonstrated. Overall, we propose that this enzymatic step is crucial for the viability of both replicative and infective forms of T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian S Mantilla
- From the Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lisvane S Paes
- From the Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth M F Pral
- From the Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daiana E Martil
- the Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, and
| | - Otavio H Thiemann
- the Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, and
| | - Patricio Fernández-Silva
- the Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza Spain
| | - Erick L Bastos
- Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Fundamental, Universidade de São Paulo, 13560-590 São Paulo, Brazil, and
| | - Ariel M Silber
- From the Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil,
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11
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Characterization of oxidative phosphorylation enzymes inEuglena gracilisand its white mutant strainWgmZOflL. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:687-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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12
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Tamaki S, Maruta T, Sawa Y, Shigeoka S, Ishikawa T. Identification and functional analysis of peroxiredoxin isoforms in Euglena gracilis. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2014; 78:593-601. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2014.890037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Euglena gracilis lacks catalase and contains ascorbate peroxidase (APX) which is localized exclusively in the cytosol. Other enzymes that scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Euglena have not yet been identified; therefore, ROS metabolism, especially in organelles, remains unclear in Euglena. The full-length cDNAs of four Euglena peroxiredoxins (EgPrxs) were isolated in this study. EgPrx1 and -4 were predicted to be localized in the cytosol, and EgPrx2 and -3 in plastids and mitochondria, respectively. The catalytic efficiencies of recombinant EgPrxs were similar to those of plant thiol-peroxidases, but were markedly lower than those of APX from Euglena. However, transcript levels of EgPrx1, -2, and -3 were markedly higher than those of APX. The growth rate of Euglena cells, in which the expression of EgPrx1 and -4 was suppressed by gene silencing, was markedly reduced under normal conditions, indicating physiological significance of Prx proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Tamaki
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
| | - Takanori Maruta
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Sawa
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
| | - Shigeru Shigeoka
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Advanced Bioscience, Kinki University, Nara, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ishikawa
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
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13
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Singh K, Veluru NK, Trivedi V, Gupta CM, Sahasrabuddhe AA. An actin-like protein is involved in regulation of mitochondrial and flagellar functions as well as in intramacrophage survival of Leishmania donovani. Mol Microbiol 2014; 91:562-78. [PMID: 24354789 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Actin-related proteins are ubiquitous actin-like proteins that show high similarity with actin in terms of their amino acid sequence and three-dimensional structure. However, in lower eukaryotes, such as trypanosomatids, their functions have not yet been explored. Here, we show that a novel actin-related protein (ORF LmjF.13.0950) is localized mainly in the Leishmania mitochondrion. We further reveal that depletion of the intracellular levels of this protein leads to an appreciable decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential as well as in the ATP production, which appears to be accompanied with impairment in the flagellum assembly and motility. Additionally, we report that the mutants so generated fail to survive inside the mouse peritoneal macrophages. These abnormalities are, however, reversed by the episomal gene complementation. Our results, for the first time indicate that apart from their classical roles in the cytoplasm and nucleus, actin-related proteins may also regulate the mitochondrial function, and in case of Leishmania donovani they may also serve as the essential factor for their survival in the host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep Singh
- Molecular and Structural Biology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, PIN-226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Cavalier-Smith T. Symbiogenesis: Mechanisms, Evolutionary Consequences, and Systematic Implications. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2013. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110411-160320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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15
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Novel role of calmodulin in regulating protein transport to mitochondria in a unicellular eukaryote. Mol Cell Biol 2013; 33:4579-93. [PMID: 24043313 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00829-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lower eukaryotes like the kinetoplastid parasites are good models to study evolution of cellular pathways during steps to eukaryogenesis. In this study, a kinetoplastid parasite, Leishmania donovani, was used to understand the process of mitochondrial translocation of a nucleus-encoded mitochondrial protein, the mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase (mTXNPx). We report the presence of an N-terminal cleavable mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS) validated through deletion and grafting experiments. We also establish a novel finding of calmodulin (CaM) binding to the MTS of mTXNPx through specific residues. Mutation of CaM binding residues, keeping intact the residues involved in mitochondrial targeting and biochemical inhibition of CaM activity both in vitro and in vivo, prevented mitochondrial translocation. Through reconstituted import assays, we demonstrate obstruction of mitochondrial translocation either in the absence of CaM or Ca(2+) or in the presence of CaM inhibitors. We also demonstrate the prevention of temperature-driven mTXNPx aggregation in the presence of CaM. These findings establish the idea that CaM is required for the transport of the protein to mitochondria through maintenance of translocation competence posttranslation.
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Mach J, Poliak P, Matušková A, Žárský V, Janata J, Lukeš J, Tachezy J. An Advanced System of the Mitochondrial Processing Peptidase and Core Protein Family in Trypanosoma brucei and Multiple Origins of the Core I Subunit in Eukaryotes. Genome Biol Evol 2013; 5:860-75. [PMID: 23563972 PMCID: PMC3673636 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) consists of α and β subunits that catalyze the cleavage of N-terminal mitochondrial-targeting sequences (N-MTSs) and deliver preproteins to the mitochondria. In plants, both MPP subunits are associated with the respiratory complex bc1, which has been proposed to represent an ancestral form. Subsequent duplication of MPP subunits resulted in separate sets of genes encoding soluble MPP in the matrix and core proteins (cp1 and cp2) of the membrane-embedded bc1 complex. As only α-MPP was duplicated in Neurospora, its single β-MPP functions in both MPP and bc1 complexes. Herein, we investigated the MPP/core protein family and N-MTSs in the kinetoplastid Trypanosoma brucei, which is often considered one of the most ancient eukaryotes. Analysis of N-MTSs predicted in 336 mitochondrial proteins showed that trypanosomal N-MTSs were comparable with N-MTSs from other organisms. N-MTS cleavage is mediated by a standard heterodimeric MPP, which is present in the matrix of procyclic and bloodstream trypanosomes, and its expression is essential for the parasite. Distinct Genes encode cp1 and cp2, and in the bloodstream forms the expression of cp1 is downregulated along with the bc1 complex. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all eukaryotic lineages include members with a Neurospora-type MPP/core protein family, whereas cp1 evolved independently in metazoans, some fungi and kinetoplastids. Evolution of cp1 allowed the independent regulation of respiration and protein import, which is essential for the procyclic and bloodstream forms of T. brucei. These results indicate that T. brucei possesses a highly derived MPP/core protein family that likely evolved in response to its complex life cycle and does not appear to have an ancient character proposed earlier for this eukaryote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Mach
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Poliak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Budweis, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Matušková
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Žárský
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Janata
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Budweis, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Tachezy
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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