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Maldonado E, Canobra P, Oyarce M, Urbina F, Miralles VJ, Tapia JC, Castillo C, Solari A. In Vitro Identification of Phosphorylation Sites on TcPolβ by Protein Kinases TcCK1, TcCK2, TcAUK1, and TcPKC1 and Effect of Phorbol Ester on Activation by TcPKC of TcPolβ in Trypanosoma cruzi Epimastigotes. Microorganisms 2024; 12:907. [PMID: 38792752 PMCID: PMC11124317 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the single-flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects several million people worldwide. Understanding the signal transduction pathways involved in this parasite's growth, adaptation, and differentiation is crucial. Understanding the basic mechanisms of signal transduction in T. cruzi could help to develop new drugs to treat the disease caused by these protozoa. In the present work, we have demonstrated that Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) can quickly increase the levels of both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of T. cruzi DNA polymerase beta (TcPolβ) in tissue-cultured trypomastigotes. The in vitro phosphorylation sites on TcPolβ by protein kinases TcCK1, TcCK2, TcAUK1, and TcPKC1 have been identified by Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis and with antibodies against phosphor Ser-Thr-Tyr. MS analysis indicated that these protein kinases can phosphorylate Ser and Thr residues on several sites on TcPolβ. Unexpectedly, it was found that TcCK1 and TcPKC1 can phosphorylate a different Tyr residue on TcPolβ. By using a specific anti-phosphor Tyr monoclonal antibody, it was determined that TcCK1 can be in vitro autophosphorylated on Tyr residues. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) can activate the PKC to stimulate the TcPolβ phosphorylation and enzymatic activity in T. cruzi epimastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edio Maldonado
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Paz Canobra
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Matías Oyarce
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Fabiola Urbina
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Vicente J. Miralles
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, 46110 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Julio C. Tapia
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile;
| | - Aldo Solari
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
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Maldonado E, Rojas DA, Urbina F, Valenzuela-Pérez L, Castillo C, Solari A. Trypanosoma cruzi DNA Polymerase β Is Phosphorylated In Vivo and In Vitro by Protein Kinase C (PKC) and Casein Kinase 2 (CK2). Cells 2022; 11:cells11223693. [PMID: 36429121 PMCID: PMC9688435 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223693] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA polymerase β plays a fundamental role in the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi since it participates in the kinetoplast DNA repair and replication. This enzyme can be found in two forms in cell extracts of T. cruzi epimastigotes form. The H form is a phosphorylated form of DNA polymerase β, while the L form is not phosphorylated. The protein kinases which are able to in vivo phosphorylate DNA polymerase β have not been identified yet. In this work, we purified the H form of this DNA polymerase and identified the phosphorylation sites. DNA polymerase β is in vivo phosphorylated at several amino acid residues including Tyr35, Thr123, Thr137 and Ser286. Thr123 is phosphorylated by casein kinase 2 and Thr137 and Ser286 are phosphorylated by protein kinase C-like enzymes. Protein kinase C encoding genes were identified in T. cruzi, and those genes were cloned, expressed in bacteria and the recombinant protein was purified. It was found that T. cruzi possesses three different protein kinase C-like enzymes named TcPKC1, TcPKC2, and TcPKC3. Both TcPKC1 and TcPKC2 were able to in vitro phosphorylate recombinant DNA polymerase β, and in addition, TcPKC1 gets auto phosphorylated. Those proteins contain several regulatory domains at the N-terminus, which are predicted to bind phosphoinositols, and TcPKC1 contains a lipocalin domain at the C-terminus that might be able to bind free fatty acids. Tyr35 is phosphorylated by an unidentified protein kinase and considering that the T. cruzi genome does not contain Tyr kinase encoding genes, it is probable that Tyr35 could be phosphorylated by a dual protein kinase. Wee1 is a eukaryotic dual protein kinase involved in cell cycle regulation. We identified a Wee1 homolog in T. cruzi and the recombinant kinase was assayed using DNA polymerase β as a substrate. T. cruzi Wee1 was able to in vitro phosphorylate recombinant DNA polymerase β, although we were not able to demonstrate specific phosphorylation on Tyr35. Those results indicate that there exists a cell signaling pathway involving PKC-like kinases in T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edio Maldonado
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Diego A. Rojas
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICB), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 8910132, Chile
| | - Fabiola Urbina
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile
| | - Lucía Valenzuela-Pérez
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago 7500975, Chile
| | - Aldo Solari
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (A.S.)
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Maldonado E, Rojas DA, Urbina F, Solari A. T. cruzi DNA polymerase beta (Tcpolβ) is phosphorylated in vitro by CK1, CK2 and TcAUK1 leading to the potentiation of its DNA synthesis activity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009588. [PMID: 34260580 PMCID: PMC8312956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The unicellular protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is the causing agent of Chagas disease which affects several millions of people around the world. The components of the cell signaling pathways in this parasite have not been well studied yet, although its genome can encode several components able to transduce the signals, such as protein kinases and phosphatases. In a previous work we have found that DNA polymerase β (Tcpolβ) can be phosphorylated in vivo and this modification activates the synthesis activity of the enzyme. Tcpolβ is kinetoplast-located and is a key enzyme in the DNA base excision repair (BER) system. The polypeptide possesses several consensus phosphorylation sites for several protein kinases, however, a direct phosphorylation of those sites by specific kinases has not been reported yet. Tcpolβ has consensus phosphorylation sites for casein kinase 1 (CK1), casein kinase 2 (CK2) and aurora kinase (AUK). Genes encoding orthologues of those kinases exist in T. cruzi and we were able to identify the genes and to express them to investigate whether or no Tcpolβ could be a substrate for in vitro phosphorylation by those kinases. Both CK1 and TcAUK1 have auto-phosphorylation activities and they are able to phosphorylate Tcpolβ. CK2 cannot perform auto-phosphorylation of its subunits, however, it was able to phosphorylate Tcpolβ. Pharmacological inhibitors used to inhibit the homologous mammalian kinases can also inhibit the activity of T. cruzi kinases, although, at higher concentrations. The phosphorylation events carried out by those kinases can potentiate the DNA polymerase activity of Tcpolβ and it is discussed the role of the phosphorylation on the DNA polymerase and lyase activities of Tcpolβ. Taken altogether, indicates that CK1, CK2 and TcAUK1 can play an in vivo role regulating the function of Tcpolβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edio Maldonado
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail: (EM); (AS)
| | - Diego A. Rojas
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICB), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fabiola Urbina
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Aldo Solari
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail: (EM); (AS)
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Lander N, Chiurillo MA, Docampo R. Signaling pathways involved in environmental sensing in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:819-828. [PMID: 33034088 PMCID: PMC8032824 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a unicellular parasite and the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The parasite has a digenetic life cycle alternating between mammalian and insect hosts, where it faces a variety of environmental conditions to which it must adapt in order to survive. The adaptation to these changes is mediated by signaling pathways that coordinate the cellular responses to the new environmental settings. Major environmental changes include temperature, nutrient availability, ionic composition, pH, osmolarity, oxidative stress, contact with host cells and tissues, host immune response, and intracellular life. Some of the signaling pathways and second messengers potentially involved in the response to these changes have been elucidated in recent years and will be the subject of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Lander
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Miguel A. Chiurillo
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Roberto Docampo
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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Lysophosphatidylcholine triggers cell differentiation in the protozoan parasite Herpetomonas samuelpessoai through the CK2 pathway. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:108-117. [PMID: 31755068 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00135-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protozoa are distantly related to vertebrates but present some features of higher eukaryotes, making them good model systems for studying the evolution of basic processes such as the cell cycle. Herpetomonas samuelpessoai is a trypanosomatid parasite isolated from the hemipteran insect Zelus leucogrammus. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is implicated in the transmission and establishment of Chagas disease, whose etiological agent is Trypanosoma cruzi. LPC is synthesized by T. cruzi and its vectors, the hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma infestans. Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid with potent and diverse physiological and pathophysiological actions, is a powerful inducer of cell differentiation in Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum and T. cruzi. The enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the 2-ester bond of 3-sn-phosphoglyceride, transforming phosphatidylcholine (PC) into LPC. METHODS In this study, we evaluated cellular differentiation, PLA2 activity and protein kinase CK2 activity of H. samuelpessoai in the absence and in the presence of LPC and PAF. RESULTS We demonstrate that both PC and LPC promoted a twofold increase in the cellular differentiation of H. samuelpessoai, through CK2, with a concomitant inhibition of its cell growth. Intrinsic PLA2 most likely directs this process by converting PC into LPC. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the actions of LPC on H. samuelpessoai occur upon binding to a putative PAF receptor and that the protein kinase CK2 plays a major role in this process. Cartoon depicting a model for the synthesis and functions of LPC in Herpetomonas samuelpessoai, based upon our results regarding the role of LPC on the cell biology of Trypanosoma cruzi [28-32]. N nucleus, k kinetoplast, PC phosphatidylcholine, LPC lysophosphatidylcholine, PLA2 phospholipase A2, PAFR putative PAF receptor in trypanosomatids [65], CK2 protein kinase CK2 [16].
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Reprogramming of Trypanosoma cruzi metabolism triggered by parasite interaction with the host cell extracellular matrix. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007103. [PMID: 30726203 PMCID: PMC6380580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007103] [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] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, affects 8 million people predominantly living in socioeconomic underdeveloped areas. T. cruzi trypomastigotes (Ty), the classical infective stage, interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM), an obligatory step before invasion of almost all mammalian cells in different tissues. Here we have characterized the proteome and phosphoproteome of T. cruzi trypomastigotes upon interaction with ECM (MTy) and the data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD010970. Proteins involved with metabolic processes (such as the glycolytic pathway), kinases, flagellum and microtubule related proteins, transport-associated proteins and RNA/DNA binding elements are highly represented in the pool of proteins modified by phosphorylation. Further, important metabolic switches triggered by this interaction with ECM were indicated by decreases in the phosphorylation of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, phosphoglucomutase, phosphoglycerate kinase in MTy. Concomitantly, a decrease in the pyruvate and lactate and an increase of glucose and succinate contents were detected by GC-MS. These observations led us to focus on the changes in the glycolytic pathway upon binding of the parasite to the ECM. Inhibition of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities in MTy were observed and this correlated with the phosphorylation levels of the respective enzymes. Putative kinases involved in protein phosphorylation altered upon parasite incubation with ECM were suggested by in silico analysis. Taken together, our results show that in addition to cytoskeletal changes and protease activation, a reprogramming of the trypomastigote metabolism is triggered by the interaction of the parasite with the ECM prior to cell invasion and differentiation into amastigotes, the multiplicative intracellular stage of T. cruzi in the vertebrate host.
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Druggable Targets in Cyclic Nucleotide Signaling Pathways in Apicomplexan Parasites and Kinetoplastids against Disabling Protozoan Diseases in Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20010138. [PMID: 30609697 PMCID: PMC6337498 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell signaling in eukaryotes is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to respond and adapt to various environmental changes. In general, signal sensation is mediated by a receptor which transfers the signal to a cascade of effector proteins. The cyclic nucleotides 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are intracellular messengers mediating an extracellular stimulus to cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases driving a change in cell function. In apicomplexan parasites and kinetoplastids, which are responsible for a variety of neglected, tropical diseases, unique mechanisms of cyclic nucleotide signaling are currently identified. Collectively, cyclic nucleotides seem to be essential for parasitic proliferation and differentiation. However, there is no a genomic evidence for canonical G-proteins in these parasites while small GTPases and secondary effector proteins with structural differences to host orthologues occur. Database entries encoding G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are still without functional proof. Instead, signals from the parasite trigger GPCR-mediated signaling in the host during parasite invasion and egress. The role of cyclic nucleotide signaling in the absence of G-proteins and GPCRs, with a particular focus on small GTPases in pathogenesis, is reviewed here. Due to the absence of G-proteins, apicomplexan parasites and kinetoplastids may use small GTPases or their secondary effector proteins and host canonical G-proteins during infection. Thus, the feasibility of targeting cyclic nucleotide signaling pathways in these parasites, will be an enormous challenge for the identification of selective, pharmacological inhibitors since canonical host proteins also contribute to pathogenesis.
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Novel Therapeutic Targets for Human African Trypanosomiasis. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40506-017-0120-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Functional studies of TcRjl, a novel GTPase of Trypanosoma cruzi, reveals phenotypes related with MAPK activation during parasite differentiation and after heterologous expression in Drosophila model system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 467:115-20. [PMID: 26408905 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.09.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The life cycle of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi comprises rounds of proliferative cycles and differentiation in distinct host environments. Ras GTPases are molecular switches that play pivotal regulatory functions in cell fate. Rjl is a novel GTPase with unknown function. Herein we show that TcRjl blocks in vivo cell differentiation. The forced expression of TcRjl leads to changes in the overall tyrosine protein phosphorylation profile of parasites. TcRjl expressing parasites sustained DNA synthesis regardless the external stimuli for differentiation. Heterologous expression in the Drosophila melanogaster genetic system strongly suggests a role from TcRjl protein in RTK-dependent pathways and MAPK activation.
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Tagoe DNA, Kalejaiye TD, de Koning HP. The ever unfolding story of cAMP signaling in trypanosomatids: vive la difference! Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:185. [PMID: 26441645 PMCID: PMC4561360 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastids are unicellular, eukaryotic, flagellated protozoans containing the eponymous kinetoplast. Within this order, the family of trypanosomatids are responsible for some of the most serious human diseases, including Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei spp.), and leishmaniasis (Leishmania spp). Although cAMP is produced during the life cycle stages of these parasites, its signaling pathways are very different from those of mammals. The absence of G-protein-coupled receptors, the presence of structurally different adenylyl cyclases, the paucity of known cAMP effector proteins and the stringent need for regulation of cAMP in the small kinetoplastid cells all suggest a significantly different biochemical pathway and likely cell biology. However, each of the main kinetoplastid parasites express four class 1-type cyclic nucleotide-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEA-D), which have highly similar catalytic domains to that of human PDEs. To date, only TbrPDEB, expressed as two slightly different isoforms TbrPDEB1 and B2, has been found to be essential when ablated. Although the genomes contain reasonably well conserved genes for catalytic and regulatory domains of protein kinase A, these have been shown to have varied structural and functional roles in the different species. Recent discovery of a role of cAMP/AMP metabolism in a quorum-sensing signaling pathway in T. brucei, and the identification of downstream cAMP Response Proteins (CARPs) whose expression levels correlate with sensitivity to PDE inhibitors, suggests a complex signaling cascade. The interplay between the roles of these novel CARPs and the quorum-sensing signaling pathway on cell division and differentiation makes for intriguing cell biology and a new paradigm in cAMP signal transduction, as well as potential targets for trypanosomatid-specific cAMP pathway-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N A Tagoe
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow , Glasgow, UK ; Institute of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow, UK ; Department of Laboratory Technology, Division of Medical Laboratory Technology, University of Cape Coast , Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Titilola D Kalejaiye
- Institute of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow, UK
| | - Harry P de Koning
- Institute of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow, UK
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Makin L, Gluenz E. cAMP signalling in trypanosomatids: role in pathogenesis and as a drug target. Trends Parasitol 2015; 31:373-9. [PMID: 26004537 PMCID: PMC4534343 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Revised: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei adenylate cyclases are implicated in modulation of host immune response and social motility. First effectors downstream of cAMP signalling were identified in Trypanosoma cruzi and T. brucei. Crystal structures reveal a unique pocket in trypanosomatid phosphodiesterases. Trypanosomatid phosphodiesterase inhibitors are promising drug candidates.
Despite recent research linking cAMP signalling to virulence in trypanosomatids and detailed studies of trypanosomatid adenylyl cyclases (ACs) and phosphodiesterases (PDEs) since their discoveries 40 years ago, downstream components of the pathway and their biological functions have remained remarkably elusive. However, in recent years, significant discoveries have been made: a role for parasite ACs has been proposed in cytokinesis, evasion of the host immune response, and social motility. cAMP phosphodiesterases PDEB1 and PDEB2 were found to be essential for survival and virulence of Trypanosoma brucei and, in Trypanosoma cruzi, PDEC2 was shown to be required for normal osmoregulation. As we discuss here, these breakthroughs have led to an ongoing surge in the development of PDE inhibitors as lead compounds for trypanocidal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Makin
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Eva Gluenz
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Queiroz RML, Charneau S, Mandacaru SC, Schwämmle V, Lima BD, Roepstorff P, Ricart CAO. Quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi amastigogenesis. Mol Cell Proteomics 2014; 13:3457-72. [PMID: 25225356 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m114.040329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a tropical neglected disease endemic in Latin America caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite has four major life stages: epimastigote, metacyclic trypomastigote, bloodstream trypomastigote, and amastigote. The differentiation from infective trypomastigotes into replicative amastigotes, called amastigogenesis, takes place in vivo inside mammalian host cells after a period of incubation in an acidic phagolysosome. This differentiation process can be mimicked in vitro by incubating tissue-culture-derived trypomastigotes in acidic DMEM. Here we used this well-established differentiation protocol to perform a comprehensive quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of T. cruzi amastigogenesis. Samples from fully differentiated forms and two biologically relevant intermediate time points were Lys-C/trypsin digested, iTRAQ-labeled, and multiplexed. Subsequently, phosphopeptides were enriched using a TiO2 matrix. Non-phosphorylated peptides were fractionated via hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics procedures were used for protein and phosphopeptide quantitation, identification, and phosphorylation site assignment. We were able to identify regulated proteins and pathways involved in coordinating amastigogenesis. We also observed that a significant proportion of the regulated proteins were membrane proteins. Modulated phosphorylation events coordinated by protein kinases and phosphatases that are part of the signaling cascade induced by incubation in acidic medium were also evinced. To our knowledge, this work is the most comprehensive quantitative proteomics study of T. cruzi amastigogenesis, and these data will serve as a trustworthy basis for future studies, and possibly for new potential drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayner M L Queiroz
- From the ‡Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900 Brazil; §Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- From the ‡Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900 Brazil
| | - Samuel C Mandacaru
- From the ‡Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900 Brazil
| | - Veit Schwämmle
- §Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Beatriz D Lima
- From the ‡Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900 Brazil
| | - Peter Roepstorff
- §Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Carlos A O Ricart
- From the ‡Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900 Brazil;
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Motta MCM, Martins ACDA, de Souza SS, Catta-Preta CMC, Silva R, Klein CC, de Almeida LGP, de Lima Cunha O, Ciapina LP, Brocchi M, Colabardini AC, de Araujo Lima B, Machado CR, de Almeida Soares CM, Probst CM, de Menezes CBA, Thompson CE, Bartholomeu DC, Gradia DF, Pavoni DP, Grisard EC, Fantinatti-Garboggini F, Marchini FK, Rodrigues-Luiz GF, Wagner G, Goldman GH, Fietto JLR, Elias MC, Goldman MHS, Sagot MF, Pereira M, Stoco PH, de Mendonça-Neto RP, Teixeira SMR, Maciel TEF, de Oliveira Mendes TA, Ürményi TP, de Souza W, Schenkman S, de Vasconcelos ATR. Predicting the proteins of Angomonas deanei, Strigomonas culicis and their respective endosymbionts reveals new aspects of the trypanosomatidae family. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60209. [PMID: 23560078 PMCID: PMC3616161 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Endosymbiont-bearing trypanosomatids have been considered excellent models for the study of cell evolution because the host protozoan co-evolves with an intracellular bacterium in a mutualistic relationship. Such protozoa inhabit a single invertebrate host during their entire life cycle and exhibit special characteristics that group them in a particular phylogenetic cluster of the Trypanosomatidae family, thus classified as monoxenics. In an effort to better understand such symbiotic association, we used DNA pyrosequencing and a reference-guided assembly to generate reads that predicted 16,960 and 12,162 open reading frames (ORFs) in two symbiont-bearing trypanosomatids, Angomonas deanei (previously named as Crithidia deanei) and Strigomonas culicis (first known as Blastocrithidia culicis), respectively. Identification of each ORF was based primarily on TriTrypDB using tblastn, and each ORF was confirmed by employing getorf from EMBOSS and Newbler 2.6 when necessary. The monoxenic organisms revealed conserved housekeeping functions when compared to other trypanosomatids, especially compared with Leishmania major. However, major differences were found in ORFs corresponding to the cytoskeleton, the kinetoplast, and the paraflagellar structure. The monoxenic organisms also contain a large number of genes for cytosolic calpain-like and surface gp63 metalloproteases and a reduced number of compartmentalized cysteine proteases in comparison to other TriTryp organisms, reflecting adaptations to the presence of the symbiont. The assembled bacterial endosymbiont sequences exhibit a high A+T content with a total of 787 and 769 ORFs for the Angomonas deanei and Strigomonas culicis endosymbionts, respectively, and indicate that these organisms hold a common ancestor related to the Alcaligenaceae family. Importantly, both symbionts contain enzymes that complement essential host cell biosynthetic pathways, such as those for amino acid, lipid and purine/pyrimidine metabolism. These findings increase our understanding of the intricate symbiotic relationship between the bacterium and the trypanosomatid host and provide clues to better understand eukaryotic cell evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Machado Motta
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Allan Cezar de Azevedo Martins
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvana Sant’Anna de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Metabolismo Macromolecular Firmino Torres de Castro, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Moura Costa Catta-Preta
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rosane Silva
- Laboratório de Metabolismo Macromolecular Firmino Torres de Castro, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cecilia Coimbra Klein
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Laboratório de Bioinformática, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- BAMBOO Team, INRIA Grenoble-Rhône-Alpes, Villeurbanne, France
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Oberdan de Lima Cunha
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Laboratório de Bioinformática, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciane Prioli Ciapina
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Laboratório de Bioinformática, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Brocchi
- Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Colabardini
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna de Araujo Lima
- Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Renato Machado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Christian Macagnan Probst
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional, Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Claudia Beatriz Afonso de Menezes
- Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudia Elizabeth Thompson
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Laboratório de Bioinformática, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniela Fiori Gradia
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Daniela Parada Pavoni
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional, Instituto Carlos Chagas/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Edmundo C. Grisard
- Laboratórios de Protozoologia e de Bioinformática, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Fantinatti-Garboggini
- Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriela Flávia Rodrigues-Luiz
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Glauber Wagner
- Laboratórios de Protozoologia e de Bioinformática, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Henrique Goldman
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Lopes Rangel Fietto
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina Elias
- Laboratório Especial de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Helena S. Goldman
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marie-France Sagot
- BAMBOO Team, INRIA Grenoble-Rhône-Alpes, Villeurbanne, France
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Patrícia H. Stoco
- Laboratórios de Protozoologia e de Bioinformática, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Rondon Pessoa de Mendonça-Neto
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Santuza Maria Ribeiro Teixeira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Talles Eduardo Ferreira Maciel
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tiago Antônio de Oliveira Mendes
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Turán P. Ürményi
- Laboratório de Metabolismo Macromolecular Firmino Torres de Castro, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail: (ATRdV); (SS)
| | - Ana Tereza Ribeiro de Vasconcelos
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Laboratório de Bioinformática, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail: (ATRdV); (SS)
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14
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Mukherjee S, Sadekar N, Ashton AW, Huang H, Spray DC, Lisanti MP, Machado FS, Weiss LM, Tanowitz HB. Identification of a functional prostanoid-like receptor in the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:1417-25. [PMID: 23403991 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-3271-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi infection in humans and experimental animals causes Chagas disease which is often accompanied by myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, and vasculopathy. T. cruzi-derived thromboxane A2 (TXA2) modulates vasculopathy and other pathophysiological features of Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Here, we provide evidence that epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, and amastigotes of T. cruzi (Brazil and Tulahuen strains) express a biologically active prostanoid receptor (PR) that is responsive to TXA2 mimetics, e.g. IBOP. This putative receptor, TcPR, is mainly localized in the flagellar membrane of the parasites and shows a similar glycosylation pattern to that of bona fide thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptors obtained from human platelets. Furthermore, TXA2-PR signal transduction activates T. cruzi-specific MAPK pathways. While mammalian TP is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR); T. cruzi genome sequencing has not demonstrated any confirmed GPCRs in these parasites. Based on this genome sequencing it is likely that TcPR is unique in these protists with no counterpart in mammals. TXA2 is a potent vasoconstrictor which contributes to the pathogenesis of Chagasic cardiovascular disease. It may, however, also control parasite differentiation and proliferation in the infected host allowing the infection to progress to a chronic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shankar Mukherjee
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, USA.
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15
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Lountos GT, Tropea JE, Waugh DS. Structure of the Trypanosoma cruzi protein tyrosine phosphatase TcPTP1, a potential therapeutic target for Chagas' disease. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2013; 187:1-8. [PMID: 23137716 PMCID: PMC4197799 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Revised: 10/22/2012] [Accepted: 10/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Chagas' disease, a neglected tropical affliction transmitted by the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is prevalent in Latin America and affects nearly 18 million people worldwide, yet few approved drugs are available to treat the disease. Moreover, the currently available drugs exhibit severe toxicity or are poorly effective in the chronic phase of the disease. This limitation, along with the large population at risk, underscores the urgent need to discover new molecular targets and novel therapeutic agents. Recently, the T. cruzi protein tyrosine phosphatase TcPTP1 has been implicated in the cellular differentiation and infectivity of the parasite and is therefore a promising target for the design of novel anti-parasitic drugs. Here, we report the X-ray crystal structure of TcPTP1 refined to a resolution of 2.18 Å, which provides structural insights into the active site environment that can be used to initiate structure-based drug design efforts to develop specific TcPTP1 inhibitors. Potential strategies to develop such inhibitors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- George T. Lountos
- Basic Science Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Joseph E. Tropea
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - David S. Waugh
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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