Kinetics of pyrophosphate-driven proton uptake by acidocalcisomes of Leptomonas wallacei

New insights into roles of acidocalcisomes and contractile vacuole complex in osmoregulation in protists

While free-living protists are usually subjected to hyposmotic environments, parasitic protists are also in contact with hyperosmotic habitats. Recent work in one of these parasites, Trypanosoma cruzi, has revealed that its contractile vacuole complex, which usually collects and expels excess water as a mechanism of regulatory volume decrease after hyposmotic stress, has also a role in cell shrinking when the cells are submitted to hyperosmotic stress. Trypanosomes also have an acidic calcium store rich in polyphosphate (polyP), named the acidocalcisome, which is involved in their response to osmotic stress. Here, we review newly emerging insights on the role of acidocalcisomes and the contractile vacuole complex in the cellular response to hyposmotic and hyperosmotic stresses. We also review the current state of knowledge on the composition of these organelles and their other roles in calcium homeostasis and protein trafficking.

Volutin granules of Eimeria parasites are acidic compartments and have physiological and structural characteristics similar to acidocalcisomes

The structural organization of parasites has been the subject of investigation by many groups and has lead to the identification of structures and metabolic pathways that may represent targets for anti-parasitic drugs. A specific group of organelles named acidocalcisomes has been identified in a number of organisms, including the apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma and Plasmodium, where they have been shown to be involved in cation homeostasis, polyphosphate metabolism, and osmoregulation. Their structural counterparts in the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria have not been fully characterized. In this work, the ultrastructural and chemical properties of acidocalcisomes in Eimeria were characterized. Electron microscopy analysis of Eimeria parasites showed the dense organelles called volutin granules similar to acidocalcisomes. Immunolocalization of the vacuolar proton pyrophosphatase, considered as a marker for acidocalcisomes, showed labeling in vesicles of size and distribution similar to the dense organelles seen by electron microscopy. Spectrophotometric measurements of the kinetics of proton uptake showed a vacuolar proton pyrophosphatase activity. X-ray mapping revealed significant amounts of Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, and Zn in their matrix. The results suggest that volutin granules of Eimeria parasites are acidic, dense organelles, and possess structural and chemical properties analogous to those of other acidocalcisomes, suggesting a similar functional role in these parasites.

Proton-pyrophosphatase and polyphosphate in acidocalcisome-like vesicles from oocytes and eggs of Periplaneta americana

Acidocalcisomes are acidic organelles containing large amounts of polyphosphate (poly P), a number of cations, and a variety of cation pumps in their limiting membrane. The vacuolar proton-pyrophosphatase (V-H(+)-PPase), a unique electrogenic proton-pump that couples pyrophosphate (PPi) hydrolysis to the active transport of protons across membranes, is commonly present in membranes of acidocalcisomes. In the course of insect oogenesis, a large amount of yolk protein is incorporated by the oocytes and stored in organelles called yolk granules (YGs). During embryogenesis, the content of these granules is degraded by acid hydrolases. These enzymes are activated by the acidification of the YG by a mechanism that is mediated by proton-pumps present in their membranes. In this work, we describe an H(+)-PPase activity in membrane fractions of oocytes and eggs of the domestic cockroach Periplaneta americana. The enzyme activity was optimum at pH around 7.0, and was dependent on Mg(2+) and inhibited by NaF, as well as by IDP and Ca(2+). Immunolocalization of the yolk preparation using antibodies against a conserved sequence of V-H(+)-PPases showed labeling of small vesicles, which also showed the presence of high concentrations of phosphorus, calcium and other elements, as revealed by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. In addition, poly P content was detected in ovaries and eggs and localized inside the yolk granules and the small vesicles. Altogether, our results provide evidence that numerous small vesicles of the eggs of P. americana present acidocalcisome-like characteristics. In addition, the possible role of these organelles during embryogenesis of this insect is discussed.

Sequence analysis and transcriptional profiling of two vacuolar H+ -pyrophosphatase isoforms in Vitis vinifera

Gene expression of grapevine vacuolar H(+)-pyrophosphatase (V-PPase EC 3.6.1.1.) during fruit ripening has previously been reported. Here we report on putative multiple V-PPase isoforms in grapevine. In this study a full-length cDNA sequence with an open reading frame of 2,295 nucleotides encoding a V-PPase gene (vpp2: acc. nr. AJ557256) was cloned. Sequence analyses of the deduced amino acid residues and RT-PCR experiments indicated that Vitis vinifera L. has at least two distinct isoforms of the V-PPase gene. Bioinformatic analyses of 13 V-PPase protein sequences revealed two highly conserved motifs associated with pyrophosphate (PPi) binding and response to stress, respectively. Both V-PPase isoforms were expressed at higher levels in the late post-véraison stage of grape berry ripening. Results also showed that the expression of grapevine V-PPase was induced by cold stress.