1
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Koussis K, Haase S, Withers-Martinez C, Flynn HR, Kunzelmann S, Christodoulou E, Ibrahim F, Skehel M, Baker DA, Blackman MJ. Activation loop phosphorylation and cGMP saturation of PKG regulate egress of malaria parasites. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012360. [PMID: 38935780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) is the sole cGMP sensor in malaria parasites, acting as an essential signalling hub to govern key developmental processes throughout the parasite life cycle. Despite the importance of PKG in the clinically relevant asexual blood stages, many aspects of malarial PKG regulation, including the importance of phosphorylation, remain poorly understood. Here we use genetic and biochemical approaches to show that reduced cGMP binding to cyclic nucleotide binding domain B does not affect in vitro kinase activity but prevents parasite egress. Similarly, we show that phosphorylation of a key threonine residue (T695) in the activation loop is dispensable for kinase activity in vitro but is essential for in vivo PKG function, with loss of T695 phosphorylation leading to aberrant phosphorylation events across the parasite proteome and changes to the substrate specificity of PKG. Our findings indicate that Plasmodium PKG is uniquely regulated to transduce signals crucial for malaria parasite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Koussis
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Haase
- Host-Pathogen Interactions in Cryptosporidiosis Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Helen R Flynn
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Kunzelmann
- Structural Biology Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Evangelos Christodoulou
- Structural Biology Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fairouz Ibrahim
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Skehel
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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2
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Schwarzer E, Skorokhod O. Post-Translational Modifications of Proteins of Malaria Parasites during the Life Cycle. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6145. [PMID: 38892332 PMCID: PMC11173270 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are essential for regulating protein functions, influencing various fundamental processes in eukaryotes. These include, but are not limited to, cell signaling, protein trafficking, the epigenetic control of gene expression, and control of the cell cycle, as well as cell proliferation, differentiation, and interactions between cells. In this review, we discuss protein PTMs that play a key role in the malaria parasite biology and its pathogenesis. Phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, lipidation and lipoxidation, glycosylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation, nitrosylation and glutathionylation, all of which occur in malarial parasites, are reviewed. We provide information regarding the biological significance of these modifications along all phases of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium spp. Importantly, not only the parasite, but also the host and vector protein PTMs are often crucial for parasite growth and development. In addition to metabolic regulations, protein PTMs can result in epitopes that are able to elicit both innate and adaptive immune responses of the host or vector. We discuss some existing and prospective results from antimalarial drug discovery trials that target various PTM-related processes in the parasite or host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelin Schwarzer
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Oleksii Skorokhod
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina, 13, 10123 Turin, Italy
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3
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Guttery DS, Zeeshan M, Holder AA, Tewari R. The molecular mechanisms driving Plasmodium cell division. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:593-602. [PMID: 38563493 PMCID: PMC11088906 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Malaria, a vector borne disease, is a major global health and socioeconomic problem caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Plasmodium. The parasite alternates between mosquito vector and vertebrate host, with meiosis in the mosquito and proliferative mitotic cell division in both hosts. In the canonical eukaryotic model, cell division is either by open or closed mitosis and karyokinesis is followed by cytokinesis; whereas in Plasmodium closed mitosis is not directly accompanied by concomitant cell division. Key molecular players and regulatory mechanisms of this process have been identified, but the pivotal role of certain protein complexes and the post-translational modifications that modulate their actions are still to be deciphered. Here, we discuss recent evidence for the function of known proteins in Plasmodium cell division and processes that are potential novel targets for therapeutic intervention. We also identify key questions to open new and exciting research to understand divergent Plasmodium cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S. Guttery
- School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, U.K
| | - Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K
| | - Anthony A. Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, U.K
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K
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4
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Rawat RS, Gupta A, Antil N, Bhatnagar S, Singh M, Rawat A, Prasad TSK, Sharma P. Protein kinase PfPK2 mediated signalling is critical for host erythrocyte invasion by malaria parasite. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011770. [PMID: 37988347 PMCID: PMC10662742 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Signalling pathways in malaria parasite remain poorly defined and major reason for this is the lack of understanding of the function of majority of parasite protein kinases and phosphatases in parasite signalling and its biology. In the present study, we have elucidated the function of Protein Kinase 2 (PfPK2), which is known to be indispensable for the survival of human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We demonstrate that it is involved in the invasion of host erythrocytes, which is critical for establishing infection. In addition, PfPK2 may also be involved in the maturation of the parasite post-invasion. PfPK2 regulates the release of microneme proteins like Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1), which facilitates the formation of Tight Junction between the merozoite and host erythrocyte- a key step in the process of invasion. Comparative phosphoproteomics studies revealed that PfPK2 may be involved in regulation of several key proteins involved in invasion and signalling. Furthermore, PfPK2 regulates the generation of cGMP and the release of calcium in the parasite, which are key second messengers for the process of invasion. These and other studies have shed light on a novel signalling pathway in which PfPK2 acts as an upstream regulator of important cGMP-calcium signalling, which plays an important role in parasite invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Singh Rawat
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankit Gupta
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Neelam Antil
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
- Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, India
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Sonika Bhatnagar
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Monika Singh
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Akanksha Rawat
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - T. S. Keshava Prasad
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Pushkar Sharma
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
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5
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Guttery DS, Zeeshan M, Holder AA, Tromer EC, Tewari R. Meiosis in Plasmodium: how does it work? Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:812-821. [PMID: 37541799 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is sexual cell division, a process in eukaryotes whereby haploid gametes are produced. Compared to canonical model eukaryotes, meiosis in apicomplexan parasites appears to diverge from the process with respect to the molecular mechanisms involved; the biology of Plasmodium meiosis, and its regulation by means of post-translational modification, are largely unexplored. Here, we discuss the impact of technological advances in cell biology, evolutionary bioinformatics, and genome-wide functional studies on our understanding of meiosis in the Apicomplexa. These parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Eimeria spp., have significant socioeconomic impact on human and animal health. Understanding this key stage during the parasite's life cycle may well reveal attractive targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Guttery
- School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
| | - Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Anthony A Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Eelco C Tromer
- Cell Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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6
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Zeeshan M, Rea E, Abel S, Vukušić K, Markus R, Brady D, Eze A, Rashpa R, Balestra AC, Bottrill AR, Brochet M, Guttery DS, Tolić IM, Holder AA, Le Roch KG, Tromer EC, Tewari R. Plasmodium ARK2 and EB1 drive unconventional spindle dynamics, during chromosome segregation in sexual transmission stages. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5652. [PMID: 37704606 PMCID: PMC10499817 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41395-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Aurora family of kinases orchestrates chromosome segregation and cytokinesis during cell division, with precise spatiotemporal regulation of its catalytic activities by distinct protein scaffolds. Plasmodium spp., the causative agents of malaria, are unicellular eukaryotes with three unique and highly divergent aurora-related kinases (ARK1-3) that are essential for asexual cellular proliferation but lack most canonical scaffolds/activators. Here we investigate the role of ARK2 during sexual proliferation of the rodent malaria Plasmodium berghei, using a combination of super-resolution microscopy, mass spectrometry, and live-cell fluorescence imaging. We find that ARK2 is primarily located at spindle microtubules in the vicinity of kinetochores during both mitosis and meiosis. Interactomic and co-localisation studies reveal several putative ARK2-associated interactors including the microtubule-interacting protein EB1, together with MISFIT and Myosin-K, but no conserved eukaryotic scaffold proteins. Gene function studies indicate that ARK2 and EB1 are complementary in driving endomitotic division and thereby parasite transmission through the mosquito. This discovery underlines the flexibility of molecular networks to rewire and drive unconventional mechanisms of chromosome segregation in the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Edward Rea
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Kruno Vukušić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Robert Markus
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Antonius Eze
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Ravish Rashpa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Andrew R Bottrill
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Campus, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David S Guttery
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Iva M Tolić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anthony A Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Eelco C Tromer
- Cell Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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7
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Ouologuem DT, Dara A, Kone A, Ouattara A, Djimde AA. Plasmodium falciparum Development from Gametocyte to Oocyst: Insight from Functional Studies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1966. [PMID: 37630530 PMCID: PMC10460021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination may never succeed without the implementation of transmission-blocking strategies. The transmission of Plasmodium spp. parasites from the human host to the mosquito vector depends on circulating gametocytes in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host. Once ingested by the mosquito during blood meals, these sexual forms undergo a series of radical morphological and metabolic changes to survive and progress from the gut to the salivary glands, where they will be waiting to be injected into the vertebrate host. The design of effective transmission-blocking strategies requires a thorough understanding of all the mechanisms that drive the development of gametocytes, gametes, sexual reproduction, and subsequent differentiation within the mosquito. The drastic changes in Plasmodium falciparum shape and function throughout its life cycle rely on the tight regulation of stage-specific gene expression. This review outlines the mechanisms involved in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development in both the human and mosquito vector, and zygote to oocyst differentiation. Functional studies unravel mechanisms employed by P. falciparum to orchestrate the expression of stage-specific functional products required to succeed in its complex life cycle, thus providing us with potential targets for developing new therapeutics. These mechanisms are based on studies conducted with various Plasmodium species, including predominantly P. falciparum and the rodent malaria parasites P. berghei. However, the great potential of epigenetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genetic studies to improve the understanding of malaria as a disease remains partly untapped because of limitations in studies using human malaria parasites and field isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinkorma T. Ouologuem
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Antoine Dara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Aminatou Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdoulaye A. Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
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8
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Morano AA, Rudlaff RM, Dvorin JD. A PPP-type pseudophosphatase is required for the maintenance of basal complex integrity in Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3916. [PMID: 37400439 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39435-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During its asexual blood stage, P. falciparum replicates via schizogony, wherein dozens of daughter cells are formed within a single parent. The basal complex, a contractile ring that separates daughter cells, is critical for schizogony. In this study, we identify a Plasmodium basal complex protein essential for basal complex maintenance. Using multiple microscopy techniques, we demonstrate that PfPPP8 is required for uniform basal complex expansion and maintenance of its integrity. We characterize PfPPP8 as the founding member of a novel family of pseudophosphatases with homologs in other Apicomplexan parasites. By co-immunoprecipitation, we identify two additional new basal complex proteins. We characterize the unique temporal localizations of these new basal complex proteins (late-arriving) and of PfPPP8 (early-departing). In this work, we identify a novel basal complex protein, determine its specific role in segmentation, identify a new pseudophosphatase family, and establish that the P. falciparum basal complex is a dynamic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Morano
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rachel M Rudlaff
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Dvorin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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9
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Wenz C, Simon CS, Romão TP, Stürmer VS, Machado M, Klages N, Klemmer A, Voß Y, Ganter M, Brochet M, Guizetti J. An Sfi1-like centrin-interacting centriolar plaque protein affects nuclear microtubule homeostasis. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011325. [PMID: 37130129 PMCID: PMC10180636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites achieve rapid proliferation in human blood through multiple rounds of asynchronous nuclear division followed by daughter cell formation. Nuclear divisions critically depend on the centriolar plaque, which organizes intranuclear spindle microtubules. The centriolar plaque consists of an extranuclear compartment, which is connected via a nuclear pore-like structure to a chromatin-free intranuclear compartment. Composition and function of this non-canonical centrosome remain largely elusive. Centrins, which reside in the extranuclear part, are among the very few centrosomal proteins conserved in Plasmodium falciparum. Here we identify a novel centrin-interacting centriolar plaque protein. Conditional knock down of this Sfi1-like protein (PfSlp) caused a growth delay in blood stages, which correlated with a reduced number of daughter cells. Surprisingly, intranuclear tubulin abundance was significantly increased, which raises the hypothesis that the centriolar plaque might be implicated in regulating tubulin levels. Disruption of tubulin homeostasis caused excess microtubules and aberrant mitotic spindles. Time-lapse microscopy revealed that this prevented or delayed mitotic spindle extension but did not significantly interfere with DNA replication. Our study thereby identifies a novel extranuclear centriolar plaque factor and establishes a functional link to the intranuclear compartment of this divergent eukaryotic centrosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Wenz
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Marta Machado
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Natacha Klages
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anja Klemmer
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannik Voß
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Ganter
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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10
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Zeeshan M, Rea E, Abel S, Vukušić K, Markus R, Brady D, Eze A, Rashpa R, Balestra AC, Bottrill AR, Brochet M, Guttery DS, Tolić IM, Holder AA, Le Roch KG, Tromer EC, Tewari R. Plasmodium ARK2-EB1 axis drives the unconventional spindle dynamics, scaffold formation and chromosome segregation of sexual transmission stages. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2539372. [PMID: 36798191 PMCID: PMC9934748 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2539372/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms of cell division are remarkably diverse, suggesting the underlying molecular networks among eukaryotes differ extensively. The Aurora family of kinases orchestrates the process of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis during cell division through precise spatiotemporal regulation of their catalytic activities by distinct scaffolds. Plasmodium spp., the causative agents of malaria, are unicellular eukaryotes that have three divergent aurora-related kinases (ARKs) and lack most canonical scaffolds/activators. The parasite uses unconventional modes of chromosome segregation during endomitosis and meiosis in sexual transmission stages within mosquito host. This includes a rapid threefold genome replication from 1N to 8N with successive cycles of closed mitosis, spindle formation and chromosome segregation within eight minutes (termed male gametogony). Kinome studies had previously suggested likely essential functions for all three Plasmodium ARKs during asexual mitotic cycles; however, little is known about their location, function, or their scaffolding molecules during unconventional sexual proliferative stages. Using a combination of super-resolution microscopy, mass spectrometry, omics and live-cell fluorescence imaging, we set out to investigate the contribution of the atypical Aurora paralog ARK2 to proliferative sexual stages using rodent malaria model Plasmodium berghei. We find that ARK2 primarily localises to the spindle apparatus associated with kinetochores during both mitosis and meiosis. Interactomics and co-localisation studies reveal a unique ARK2 scaffold at the spindle including the microtubule plus end-binding protein EB1 and lacking some other conserved molecules. Gene function studies indicate complementary functions of ARK2 and EB1 in driving endomitotic divisions and thereby parasite transmission. Our discovery of a novel Aurora spindle scaffold underlines the emerging flexibility of molecular networks to rewire and drive unconventional mechanisms of chromosome segregation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Edward Rea
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, USA
| | - Kruno Vukušić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Robert Markus
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Antonius Eze
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Ravish Rashpa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Andrew R. Bottrill
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Campus, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David S. Guttery
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Iva M. Tolić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anthony A. Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Karine G. Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, USA
| | - Eelco C. Tromer
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Cell Biochemistry, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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11
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Zeeshan M, Rea E, Abel S, Vukušić K, Markus R, Brady D, Eze A, Raspa R, Balestra A, Bottrill AR, Brochet M, Guttery DS, Tolić IM, Holder AA, Roch KGL, Tromer EC, Tewari R. Plasmodium ARK2-EB1 axis drives the unconventional spindle dynamics, scaffold formation and chromosome segregation of sexual transmission stages. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.29.526106. [PMID: 36778504 PMCID: PMC9915484 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.29.526106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms of cell division are remarkably diverse, suggesting the underlying molecular networks among eukaryotes differ extensively. The Aurora family of kinases orchestrates the process of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis during cell division through precise spatiotemporal regulation of their catalytic activities by distinct scaffolds. Plasmodium spp., the causative agents of malaria, are unicellular eukaryotes that have three divergent aurora-related kinases (ARKs) and lack most canonical scaffolds/activators. The parasite uses unconventional modes of chromosome segregation during endomitosis and meiosis in sexual transmission stages within mosquito host. This includes a rapid threefold genome replication from 1N to 8N with successive cycles of closed mitosis, spindle formation and chromosome segregation within eight minutes (termed male gametogony). Kinome studies had previously suggested likely essential functions for all three Plasmodium ARKs during asexual mitotic cycles; however, little is known about their location, function, or their scaffolding molecules during unconventional sexual proliferative stages. Using a combination of super-resolution microscopy, mass spectrometry, and live-cell fluorescence imaging, we set out to investigate the role of the atypical Aurora paralog ARK2 to proliferative sexual stages using rodent malaria model Plasmodium berghei . We find that ARK2 primarily localises to the spindle apparatus in the vicinity of kinetochores during both mitosis and meiosis. Interactomics and co-localisation studies reveal a unique ARK2 scaffold at the spindle including the microtubule plus end-binding protein EB1, lacking conserved Aurora scaffold proteins. Gene function studies indicate complementary functions of ARK2 and EB1 in driving endomitotic divisions and thereby parasite transmission. Our discovery of a novel Aurora kinase spindle scaffold underlines the emerging flexibility of molecular networks to rewire and drive unconventional mechanisms of chromosome segregation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium .
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12
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Electron transfer in protein modifications: from detection to imaging. Sci China Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11426-022-1417-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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13
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PfSRPK1 Regulates Asexual Blood Stage Schizogony and Is Essential for Male Gamete Formation. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0214122. [PMID: 36094218 PMCID: PMC9602455 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02141-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine/arginine-rich protein kinases (SRPKs) are cell cycle-regulated serine/threonine protein kinases and are important regulators of splicing factors. In this study, we functionally characterize SRPK1 of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. P. falciparum SRPK1 (PfSRPK1) was expressed in asexual blood-stage and sexual-stage gametocytes. Pfsrpk1- parasites formed asexual schizonts that generated far fewer merozoites than wild-type parasites, causing reduced replication rates. Pfsrpk1- parasites also showed a severe defect in the differentiation of male gametes, causing a complete block in parasite transmission to mosquitoes. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of wild-type PfNF54 and Pfsrpk1- stage V gametocytes suggested a role for PfSRPK1 in regulating transcript splicing and transcript abundance of genes coding for (i) microtubule/cilium morphogenesis-related proteins, (ii) proteins involved in cyclic nucleotide metabolic processes, (iii) proteins involved in signaling such as PfMAP2, (iv) lipid metabolism enzymes, (v) proteins of osmophilic bodies, and (vi) crystalloid components. Our study reveals an essential role for PfSRPK1 in parasite cell morphogenesis and suggests this kinase as a target to prevent malaria transmission from humans to mosquitoes. IMPORTANCE Plasmodium sexual stages represent a critical bottleneck in the parasite life cycle. Gametocytes taken up in an infectious blood meal by female anopheline mosquito get activated to form gametes and fuse to form short-lived zygotes, which transform into ookinetes to infect mosquitoes. In the present study, we demonstrate that PfSRPK1 is important for merozoite formation and critical for male gametogenesis and is involved in transcript homeostasis for numerous parasite genes. Targeting PfSRPK1 and its downstream pathways may reduce parasite replication and help achieve effective malaria transmission-blocking strategies.
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14
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Guttery DS, Zeeshan M, Ferguson DJP, Holder AA, Tewari R. Division and Transmission: Malaria Parasite Development in the Mosquito. Annu Rev Microbiol 2022; 76:113-134. [PMID: 35609946 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041320-010046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The malaria parasite life cycle alternates between two hosts: a vertebrate and the female Anopheles mosquito vector. Cell division, proliferation, and invasion are essential for parasite development, transmission, and survival. Most research has focused on Plasmodium development in the vertebrate, which causes disease; however, knowledge of malaria parasite development in the mosquito (the sexual and transmission stages) is now rapidly accumulating, gathered largely through investigation of the rodent malaria model, with Plasmodium berghei. In this review, we discuss the seminal genome-wide screens that have uncovered key regulators of cell proliferation, invasion, and transmission during Plasmodium sexual development. Our focus is on the roles of transcription factors, reversible protein phosphorylation, and molecular motors. We also emphasize the still-unanswered important questions around key pathways in cell division during the vector transmission stages and how they may be targeted in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Guttery
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; ,
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom;
| | - Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; ,
| | - David J P Ferguson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony A Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom;
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; ,
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15
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Walsh D, Katris NJ, Sheiner L, Botté CY. Toxoplasma metabolic flexibility in different growth conditions. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:775-790. [PMID: 35718642 PMCID: PMC10506913 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites have complex metabolic networks that coordinate acquisition of metabolites by de novo synthesis and by scavenging from the host. Toxoplasma gondii has a wide host range and may rely on the flexibility of this metabolic network. Currently, the literature categorizes genes as essential or dispensable according to their dispensability for parasite survival under nutrient-replete in vitro conditions. However, recent studies revealed correlations between medium composition and gene essentiality. Therefore, nutrient availability in the host environment likely determines the requirement of metabolic pathways, which may redefine priorities for drug target identification in a clinical setting. Here we review the recent work characterizing some of the major Toxoplasma metabolic pathways and their functional adaptation to host nutrient content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Walsh
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nicholas J Katris
- ApicoLipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France
| | - Lilach Sheiner
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Cyrille Y Botté
- ApicoLipid Team, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, Grenoble, France.
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16
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Tewari R. Rita Tewari: malaria parasite cell division. Life Sci Alliance 2022. [PMCID: PMC9438801 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Interview with Rita Tewari Rita Tewari is a Professor of Parasite Cell Biology at The University of Nottingham, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. We asked her about her recent paper published in Life Science Alliance (LSA) and her experience in science thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Tewari
- University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
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17
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Counihan NA, Chernih HC, de Koning-Ward TF. Post-translational lipid modifications in Plasmodium parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 69:102196. [PMID: 36037636 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Most eukaryotic proteins undergo post-translational modifications (PTMs) that significantly alter protein properties, regulate diverse cellular processes and increase proteome complexity. Among these PTMs, lipidation plays a unique and key role in subcellular trafficking, signalling and membrane association of proteins through altering substrate function, and hydrophobicity via the addition and removal of lipid groups. Three prevalent classes of lipid modifications in Plasmodium parasites include prenylation, myristoylation, and palmitoylation that are important for regulating parasite-specific molecular processes. The enzymes that catalyse these lipid attachments have also been explored as potential drug targets for antimalarial development. In this review, we discuss these lipidation processes in Plasmodium spp. and the methodologies that have been used to identify these modifications in the deadliest species of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. We also discuss the development status of inhibitors that block these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A Counihan
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hope C Chernih
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
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18
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The Plasmodium falciparum Nuclear Protein Phosphatase NIF4 Is Required for Efficient Merozoite Invasion and Regulates Artemisinin Sensitivity. mBio 2022; 13:e0189722. [PMID: 35938722 PMCID: PMC9426563 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01897-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum has been associated with a mutation in the NLI-interacting factor-like phosphatase PfNIF4, in addition to the mutations in the Kelch13 protein as the major determinant. We found that PfNIF4 was predominantly expressed at the schizont stage and localized in the nuclei of the parasite. To elucidate the functions of PfNIF4 in P. falciparum, we performed PfNIF4 knockdown (KD) using the inducible ribozyme system. PfNIF4 KD attenuated merozoite invasion and affected gametocytogenesis. PfNIF4 KD parasites also showed significantly increased in vitro susceptibility to artemisinins. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis revealed that PfNIF4 KD led to the downregulation of gene categories involved in invasion and artemisinin resistance (e.g., mitochondrial function, membrane, and Kelch13 interactome) at the trophozoite and/or schizont stage. Consistent with PfNIF4 being a protein phosphatase, PfNIF4 KD resulted in an overall upregulation of the phosphoproteome of infected erythrocytes. Quantitative phosphoproteomic profiling identified a set of PfNIF4-regulated phosphoproteins with functional similarity to FCP1 substrates, particularly proteins involved in chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation. Specifically, we observed increased phosphorylation of Ser2/5 of the tandem repeats in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) upon PfNIF4 KD. Furthermore, using the TurboID-based proteomic approach, we identified that PfNIF4 interacted with the RNAPII components, AP2-domain transcription factors, and chromatin-modifiers and binders. These findings suggest that PfNIF4 may act as the RNAPII CTD phosphatase, regulating the expression of general and parasite-specific cellular pathways during the blood-stage development.
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Jia X, Liu F, Bai J, Zhang Y, Cui L, Cao Y, Luo E. Phosphatase inhibitors BVT-948 and alexidine dihydrochloride inhibit sexual development of the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022; 19:81-88. [PMID: 35792443 PMCID: PMC9260261 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background With the emergence of resistance to front-line antimalarials, there is an urgent need to develop new medicines, including those targeting sexual development. This study aimed to assess the activity of a panel of phosphatase inhibitors against the sexual development of Plasmodium berghei and evaluate their potential as transmission-blocking agents. Methods Twenty-five compounds were screened for transmission-blocking activity in vitro using the P. berghei ookinete culture assay. The inhibitory effects on male gametogenesis, gamete-ookinete, and zygote-ookinete formation were evaluated. The transmission-blocking activity of two compounds was evaluated using an in vivo mosquito feeding assay. Their cytotoxic effects were assessed on the human cell line HepG2. Results Twelve compounds inhibited P. berghei ookinete formation with an IC50 < 10 μM. Two compounds, BVT-948 and alexidine dihydrochloride, significantly inhibited different developmental stages from gametogenesis through ookinete maturation. They also showed a substantial in vivo transmission-blocking activity by the mosquito feeding assay. Conclusions Some phosphatase inhibitors effectively inhibited Plasmodium sexual development and exhibited evident transmission-blocking activity, suggesting that phosphatases are valid targets for antimalarial development. BVT-948 and alexidine·2HCl inhibit sexual developmental stages of Plasmodium. BVT-948 and alexidine·2HCl show a substantial transmission-blocking activity. BVT-948 and alexidine·2HCl show a relatively low cytotoxicity to HepG2 cells. Phosphatases are valid targets for antimalarial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xitong Jia
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
| | - Jie Bai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
| | - Yongzhe Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China; Department of Nephrology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 304, Tampa, FL, 33612-9415, USA
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China.
| | - Enjie Luo
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China.
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20
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Fréville A, Gnangnon B, Tremp AZ, De Witte C, Cailliau K, Martoriati A, Aliouat EM, Fernandes P, Chhuon C, Silvie O, Marion S, Guerrera IC, Dessens JT, Pierrot C, Khalife J. Plasmodium berghei leucine-rich repeat protein 1 downregulates protein phosphatase 1 activity and is required for efficient oocyst development. Open Biol 2022; 12:220015. [PMID: 35920043 PMCID: PMC9346556 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) is a key enzyme for Plasmodium development. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying its regulation remain to be deciphered. Here, we report the functional characterization of the Plasmodium berghei leucine-rich repeat protein 1 (PbLRR1), an orthologue of SDS22, one of the most ancient and conserved PP1 interactors. Our study shows that PbLRR1 is expressed during intra-erythrocytic development of the parasite, and up to the zygote stage in mosquitoes. PbLRR1 can be found in complex with PbPP1 in both asexual and sexual stages and inhibits its phosphatase activity. Genetic analysis demonstrates that PbLRR1 depletion adversely affects the development of oocysts. PbLRR1 interactome analysis associated with phospho-proteomics studies identifies several novel putative PbLRR1/PbPP1 partners. Some of these partners have previously been characterized as essential for the parasite sexual development. Interestingly, and for the first time, Inhibitor 3 (I3), a well-known and direct interactant of Plasmodium PP1, was found to be drastically hypophosphorylated in PbLRR1-depleted parasites. These data, along with the detection of I3 with PP1 in the LRR1 interactome, strongly suggest that the phosphorylation status of PbI3 is under the control of the PP1-LRR1 complex and could contribute (in)directly to oocyst development. This study provides new insights into previously unrecognized PbPP1 fine regulation of Plasmodium oocyst development through its interaction with PbLRR1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Fréville
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Bénédicte Gnangnon
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Annie Z. Tremp
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, UK
| | - Caroline De Witte
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576-UGSF-Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Alain Martoriati
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576-UGSF-Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - El Moukthar Aliouat
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Priyanka Fernandes
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Cerina Chhuon
- Proteomics platform 3P5-Necker, Université Paris Descartes - Structure Fédérative de Recherche Necker, INSERM US24/CNRS UMS3633, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Silvie
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Sabrina Marion
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Ida Chiara Guerrera
- Proteomics platform 3P5-Necker, Université Paris Descartes - Structure Fédérative de Recherche Necker, INSERM US24/CNRS UMS3633, Paris, France
| | - Johannes T. Dessens
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, UK
| | - Christine Pierrot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Jamal Khalife
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019—UMR 9017—CIIL—Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
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PfARID Regulates P. falciparum Malaria Parasite Male Gametogenesis and Female Fertility and Is Critical for Parasite Transmission to the Mosquito Vector. mBio 2022; 13:e0057822. [PMID: 35638735 PMCID: PMC9239086 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00578-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction of Plasmodium falciparum parasites is critical to the spread of malaria in the human population. The factors that regulate gene expression underlying formation of fertilization-competent gametes, however, remain unknown. Here, we report that P. falciparum expresses a protein with an AT-rich interaction domain (ARID) which, in other organisms, is part of chromatin remodeling complexes. P. falciparum ARID (PfARID) localized to the parasite nucleus and is critical for the formation of male gametes and fertility of female gametes. PfARID gene deletion (Pfarid–) gametocytes showed downregulation of gene expression important for gametogenesis, antigenic variation, and cell signaling and for parasite development in the mosquito. Our study identifies PfARID as a critical nuclear protein involved in regulating the gene expression landscape of mature gametocytes. This establishes fertility and also prepares the parasite for postfertilization events that are essential for infection of the mosquito vector.
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22
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Dash M, Sachdeva S, Bansal A, Sinha A. Gametogenesis in Plasmodium: Delving Deeper to Connect the Dots. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:877907. [PMID: 35782151 PMCID: PMC9241518 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.877907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the coming decades, eliminating malaria is the foremost goal of many tropical countries. Transmission control, along with an accurate and timely diagnosis of malaria, effective treatment and prevention are the different aspects that need to be met synchronously to accomplish the goal. The current review is focused on one of these aspects i.e., transmission control, by looking deeper into the event called gametogenesis. In the Plasmodium life cycle, gametocytes are the first life forms of the sexual phase. The transmission of the parasite and the disease is critically dependent on the number, viability and sex ratio of mature gametocytes and their further development inside mosquito vectors. Gametogenesis, the process of conversion of gametocytes into viable gametes, takes place inside the mosquito midgut, and is a tightly regulated event with fast and multiple rounds of DNA replication and diverse cellular changes going on within a short period. Interrupting the gametocyte-gamete transition is ought to restrict the successful transmission and progression of the disease and hence an area worth exploring for designing transmission-blocking strategies. This review summarizes an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of the biochemical and physiological mechanism of gametogenesis in Plasmodium, which could be targeted to control parasite and malaria transmission. This review also raises certain key questions regarding gametogenesis biology in Plasmodium and brings out gaps that still accompany in understanding the spectacular process of gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoswini Dash
- Parasite Host Biology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- Central Molecular Laboratory, Govind Ballabh (GB) Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Sherry Sachdeva
- Parasite Host Biology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Abhisheka Bansal
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Abhinav Sinha
- Parasite Host Biology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Abhinav Sinha,
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Fréville A, Gnangnon B, Khelifa AS, Gissot M, Khalife J, Pierrot C. Deciphering the Role of Protein Phosphatases in Apicomplexa: The Future of Innovative Therapeutics? Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030585. [PMID: 35336160 PMCID: PMC8949495 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites belonging to the Apicomplexa phylum still represent a major public health and world-wide socioeconomic burden that is greatly amplified by the spread of resistances against known therapeutic drugs. Therefore, it is essential to provide the scientific and medical communities with innovative strategies specifically targeting these organisms. In this review, we present an overview of the diversity of the phosphatome as well as the variety of functions that phosphatases display throughout the Apicomplexan parasites’ life cycles. We also discuss how this diversity could be used for the design of innovative and specific new drugs/therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Fréville
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (C.P.)
| | - Bénédicte Gnangnon
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Communicable Diseases Dynamics, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Asma S. Khelifa
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
| | - Mathieu Gissot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
| | - Jamal Khalife
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
| | - Christine Pierrot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR 9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (B.G.); (A.S.K.); (M.G.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (C.P.)
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24
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Baindara P, Agrawal S, Franco OL. Host-directed therapies for malaria and tuberculosis: common infection strategies and repurposed drugs. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2022; 20:849-869. [DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2022.2044794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Piyush Baindara
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Sonali Agrawal
- Immunology Division, ICMR-National JALMA Institute for Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - O. L. Franco
- Proteomics Analysis and Biochemical Center, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil; S-Inova Biotech, Catholic University Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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25
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Tomasina R, González FC, Francia ME. Structural and Functional Insights into the Microtubule Organizing Centers of Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2503. [PMID: 34946106 PMCID: PMC8705618 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) perform critical cellular tasks by nucleating, stabilizing, and anchoring microtubule's minus ends. These capacities impact tremendously a wide array of cellular functions ranging from ascribing cell shape to orchestrating cell division and generating motile structures, among others. The phylum Apicomplexa comprises over 6000 single-celled obligate intracellular parasitic species. Many of the apicomplexan are well known pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii and the Plasmodium species, causative agents of toxoplasmosis and malaria, respectively. Microtubule organization in these parasites is critical for organizing the cortical cytoskeleton, enabling host cell penetration and the positioning of large organelles, driving cell division and directing the formation of flagella in sexual life stages. Apicomplexans are a prime example of MTOC diversity displaying multiple functional and structural MTOCs combinations within a single species. This diversity can only be fully understood in light of each organism's specific MT nucleation requirements and their evolutionary history. Insight into apicomplexan MTOCs had traditionally been limited to classical ultrastructural work by transmission electron microscopy. However, in the past few years, a large body of molecular insight has emerged. In this work we describe the latest insights into nuclear MTOC biology in two major human and animal disease causing Apicomplexans: Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro Tomasina
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; (R.T.); (F.C.G.)
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Fabiana C. González
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; (R.T.); (F.C.G.)
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Maria E. Francia
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; (R.T.); (F.C.G.)
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
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26
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Johnson N, Philip N. Beyond phosphorylation: Putative roles of post-translational modifications in Plasmodium sexual stages. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 245:111406. [PMID: 34324911 PMCID: PMC8505795 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) allow proteins to regulate their structure, localisation and function in response to cell intrinsic and environmental signals. The diversity and number of modifications on proteins increase the complexity of cellular proteomes by orders of magnitude. Several proteomic and molecular studies have revealed an abundance of PTMs in malaria parasite proteome, where mediators of PTMs play crucial roles in parasite pathogenesis and transmission. In this article, we discuss recent findings in asexual stages of ten diverse PTMs and investigate whether these proteins are expressed in sexual stages. We discovered 25-50 % of proteins exhibiting post-translational modifications in asexual stages are also expressed in sexual stage gametocytes. Moreover we analyse the function of the modified proteins shared with the gametocyte proteome and try to encourage the scientific community to investigate the roles of diverse PTMs beyond phosphorylation in sexual stages which could not only reveal unique aspects of parasite biology, but also uncover new avenues for transmission blocking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nila Johnson
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Nisha Philip
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK.
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27
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Protein phosphatase 1 regulates atypical mitotic and meiotic division in Plasmodium sexual stages. Commun Biol 2021; 4:760. [PMID: 34145386 PMCID: PMC8213788 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02273-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PP1 is a conserved eukaryotic serine/threonine phosphatase that regulates many aspects of mitosis and meiosis, often working in concert with other phosphatases, such as CDC14 and CDC25. The proliferative stages of the malaria parasite life cycle include sexual development within the mosquito vector, with male gamete formation characterized by an atypical rapid mitosis, consisting of three rounds of DNA synthesis, successive spindle formation with clustered kinetochores, and a meiotic stage during zygote to ookinete development following fertilization. It is unclear how PP1 is involved in these unusual processes. Using real-time live-cell and ultrastructural imaging, conditional gene knockdown, RNA-seq and proteomic approaches, we show that Plasmodium PP1 is implicated in both mitotic exit and, potentially, establishing cell polarity during zygote development in the mosquito midgut, suggesting that small molecule inhibitors of PP1 should be explored for blocking parasite transmission.
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Pandey R, Gupta P, Mohmmed A, Malhotra P, Gupta D. A Plasmodium falciparum protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor identified from the ChEMBL-NTD database blocks parasite growth. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:1921-1929. [PMID: 33934569 PMCID: PMC8255846 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Post‐translational modifications, especially reversible phosphorylation, are among the most common mechanisms that regulate protein function and biological processes in Plasmodium species. Of the Plasmodium phosphatases, phosphatase of regenerating liver (PfPRL) is secreted and is an essential phosphatase. Here, we expressed PfPRL in a heterologous expression system, and then purified and characterized its phosphatase activity. We found that Novartis_003209, a previously identified inhibitor, inhibited the PfPRL phosphatase activity of recombinant PfPRL and blocked in vitro parasite growth in a dose‐dependent manner. Further, in silico docking analysis of Novartis_003209 with all four P. falciparum tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) demonstrated that Novartis_003209 is a Plasmodium PTP inhibitor. Overall, our results identify a scaffold as a potential starting point to design a PTP‐specific inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Pandey
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Priya Gupta
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Asif Mohmmed
- Parasite Cell Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Pawan Malhotra
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Dinesh Gupta
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
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29
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Mukherjee P, Burgio G, Heitlinger E. Dual RNA Sequencing Meta-analysis in Plasmodium Infection Identifies Host-Parasite Interactions. mSystems 2021; 6:e00182-21. [PMID: 33879496 PMCID: PMC8546971 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00182-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dual RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) is the simultaneous transcriptomic analysis of interacting symbionts, for example, in malaria. Potential cross-species interactions identified by correlated gene expression might highlight interlinked signaling, metabolic, or gene regulatory pathways in addition to physically interacting proteins. Often, malaria studies address one of the interacting organisms-host or parasite-rendering the other "contamination." Here we perform a meta-analysis using such studies for cross-species expression analysis. We screened experiments for gene expression from host and Plasmodium. Out of 171 studies in Homo sapiens, Macaca mulatta, and Mus musculus, we identified 63 potential studies containing host and parasite data. While 16 studies (1,950 samples) explicitly performed dual RNA-Seq, 47 (1,398 samples) originally focused on one organism. We found 915 experimental replicates from 20 blood studies to be suitable for coexpression analysis and used orthologs for meta-analysis across different host-parasite systems. Centrality metrics from the derived gene expression networks correlated with gene essentiality in the parasites. We found indications of host immune response to elements of the Plasmodium protein degradation system, an antimalarial drug target. We identified well-studied immune responses in the host with our coexpression networks, as our approach recovers known broad processes interlinked between hosts and parasites in addition to individual host and parasite protein associations. The set of core interactions represents commonalities between human malaria and its model systems for prioritization in laboratory experiments. Our approach might also allow insights into the transferability of model systems for different pathways in malaria studies.IMPORTANCE Malaria still causes about 400,000 deaths a year and is one of the most studied infectious diseases. The disease is studied in mice and monkeys as lab models to derive potential therapeutic intervention in human malaria. Interactions between Plasmodium spp. and its hosts are either conserved across different host-parasite systems or idiosyncratic to those systems. Here we use correlation of gene expression from different RNA-Seq studies to infer common host-parasite interactions across human, mouse, and monkey studies. First, we find a set of very conserved interactors, worth further scrutiny in focused laboratory experiments. Second, this work might help assess to which extent experiments and knowledge on different pathways can be transferred from models to humans for potential therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parnika Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Gaétan Burgio
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Emanuel Heitlinger
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Berlin, Germany
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30
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Glucose-mediated proliferation of a gut commensal bacterium promotes Plasmodium infection by increasing mosquito midgut pH. Cell Rep 2021; 35:108992. [PMID: 33882310 PMCID: PMC8116483 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-nectar-derived sugar is the major energy source for mosquitoes, but its influence on vector competence for malaria parasites remains unclear. Here, we show that Plasmodium berghei infection of Anopheles stephensi results in global metabolome changes, with the most significant impact on glucose metabolism. Feeding on glucose or trehalose (the main hemolymph sugars) renders the mosquito more susceptible to Plasmodium infection by alkalizing the mosquito midgut. The glucose/trehalose diets promote proliferation of a commensal bacterium, Asaia bogorensis, that remodels glucose metabolism in a way that increases midgut pH, thereby promoting Plasmodium gametogenesis. We also demonstrate that the sugar composition from different natural plant nectars influences A. bogorensis growth, resulting in a greater permissiveness to Plasmodium. Altogether, our results demonstrate that dietary glucose is an important determinant of mosquito vector competency for Plasmodium, further highlighting a key role for mosquito-microbiota interactions in regulating the development of the malaria parasite.
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31
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Ukegbu CV, Christophides GK, Vlachou D. Identification of Three Novel Plasmodium Factors Involved in Ookinete to Oocyst Developmental Transition. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:634273. [PMID: 33791240 PMCID: PMC8005625 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.634273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. The numbers of new malaria cases and deaths have been stable in the last years despite intense efforts for disease elimination, highlighting the need for new approaches to stop disease transmission. Further understanding of the parasite transmission biology could provide a framework for the development of such approaches. We phenotypically and functionally characterized three novel genes, PIMMS01, PIMMS57, and PIMMS22, using targeted disruption of their orthologs in the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. PIMMS01 and PIMMS57 are specifically and highly expressed in ookinetes, while PIMMS22 transcription starts already in gametocytes and peaks in sporozoites. All three genes show strong phenotypes associated with the ookinete to oocyst transition, as their disruption leads to very low numbers of oocysts and complete abolishment of transmission. PIMMS22 has a secondary essential function in the oocyst. Our results enrich the molecular understanding of the parasite-vector interactions and identify PIMMS01, PIMMS57, and PIMMS22 as new targets of transmission blocking interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiamaka V Ukegbu
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Dina Vlachou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
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32
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Liu F, Yang F, Wang Y, Hong M, Zheng W, Min H, Li D, Jin Y, Tsuboi T, Cui L, Cao Y. A conserved malaria parasite antigen Pb22 plays a critical role in male gametogenesis in Plasmodium berghei. Cell Microbiol 2020; 23:e13294. [PMID: 33222390 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gametogenesis, the formation of gametes from gametocytes, an essential step for malaria parasite transmission, is targeted by transmission-blocking drugs and vaccines. We identified a conserved protein (PBANKA_0305900) in Plasmodium berghei, which encodes a protein of 22 kDa (thus named Pb22) and is expressed in both asexual stages and gametocytes. Its homologues are present in all Plasmodium species and its closely related, Hepatocystis, but not in other apicomplexans. Pb22 protein was localised in the cytosols of schizonts, as well as male and female gametocytes. During gamete-to-ookinete development, Pb22 became localised on the plasma membranes of gametes and ookinetes. Compared to the wild-type (WT) parasites, P. berghei with pb22 knockout (KO) showed a significant reduction in exflagellation (~89%) of male gametocytes and ookinete number (~97%) during in vitro ookinete culture. Mosquito feeding assays showed that ookinete and oocyst formation of the pb22-KO line in mosquito midguts was almost completely abolished. These defects were rescued in parasites where pb22 was restored. Cross-fertilisation experiments with parasite lines defective in either male or female gametes confirmed that the defects in the pb22-KO line were restricted to the male gametes, whereas female gametes in the pb22-KO line were fertile at the WT level. Detailed analysis of male gametogenesis showed that 30% of the male gametocytes in the pb22-KO line failed to assemble the axonemes, whereas ~48.9% of the male gametocytes formed flagella but failed to egress from the host erythrocyte. To explore its transmission-blocking potential, recombinant Pb22 (rPb22) was expressed and used to immunise mice. in vitro assays showed that the rPb22-antisera significantly inhibited exflagellation by ~64.8% and ookinete formation by ~93.4%. Mosquitoes after feeding on rPb22-immunised mice also showed significant decreases in infection prevalence (83.3-93.3%) and oocyst density (93.5-99.6%). Further studies of the Pb22 orthologues in human malaria parasites are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yaru Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Minsheng Hong
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wenqi Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolian Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Hui Min
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Danni Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ying Jin
- Division of Administration, Liaoning Research Institute of Family Planning, Shenyang, China
| | - Takafumi Tsuboi
- Division of Malaria Research, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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MRE11 Is Crucial for Malaria Parasite Transmission and Its Absence Affects Expression of Interconnected Networks of Key Genes Essential for Life. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122590. [PMID: 33287434 PMCID: PMC7761864 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The meiotic recombination 11 protein (MRE11) plays a key role in DNA damage response and maintenance of genome stability. However, little is known about its function during development of the malaria parasite Plasmodium. Here, we present a functional, ultrastructural and transcriptomic analysis of Plasmodium parasites lacking MRE11 during its life cycle in both mammalian and mosquito vector hosts. Genetic disruption of Plasmodium berghei mre11 (PbMRE11) results in significant retardation of oocyst development in the mosquito midgut associated with cytoplasmic and nuclear degeneration, along with concomitant ablation of sporogony and subsequent parasite transmission. Further, absence of PbMRE11 results in significant transcriptional downregulation of genes involved in key interconnected biological processes that are fundamental to all eukaryotic life including ribonucleoprotein biogenesis, spliceosome function and iron-sulfur cluster assembly. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive functional analysis of MRE11's role in Plasmodium development during the mosquito stages and offers a potential target for therapeutic intervention during malaria parasite transmission.
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34
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Guttery DS, Pandey R, Ferguson DJ, Wall RJ, Brady D, Gupta D, Holder AA, Tewari R. Plasmodium DEH is ER-localized and crucial for oocyst mitotic division during malaria transmission. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:e202000879. [PMID: 33106323 PMCID: PMC7652392 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells use fatty acids (FAs) for membrane biosynthesis, energy storage, and the generation of signaling molecules. 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase-DEH-is a key component of very long chain fatty acid synthesis. Here, we further characterized in-depth the location and function of DEH, applying in silico analysis, live cell imaging, reverse genetics, and ultrastructure analysis using the mouse malaria model Plasmodium berghei DEH is evolutionarily conserved across eukaryotes, with a single DEH in Plasmodium spp. and up to three orthologs in the other eukaryotes studied. DEH-GFP live-cell imaging showed strong GFP fluorescence throughout the life-cycle, with areas of localized expression in the cytoplasm and a circular ring pattern around the nucleus that colocalized with ER markers. Δdeh mutants showed a small but significant reduction in oocyst size compared with WT controls from day 10 postinfection onwards, and endomitotic cell division and sporogony were completely ablated, blocking parasite transmission from mosquito to vertebrate host. Ultrastructure analysis confirmed degeneration of Δdeh oocysts, and a complete lack of sporozoite budding. Overall, DEH is evolutionarily conserved, localizes to the ER, and plays a crucial role in sporogony.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Guttery
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- The Leicester Cancer Research Centre, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Rajan Pandey
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India
| | - David Jp Ferguson
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Science, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard J Wall
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Dinesh Gupta
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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35
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Brochet M, Balestra AC, Brusini L. cGMP homeostasis in malaria parasites-The key to perceiving and integrating environmental changes during transmission to the mosquito. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:829-838. [PMID: 33112460 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites are transmitted from humans to mosquitoes when developmentally arrested gametocytes are taken up by a female Anopheles during a blood meal. The changes in environment from human to mosquito activate gametogenesis, including a drop in temperature, a rise in pH, and a mosquito-derived molecule, xanthurenic acid. Signaling receptors have not been identified in malaria parasites but mounting evidence indicates that cGMP homeostasis is key to sensing extracellular cues in gametocytes. Low levels of cGMP maintained by phosphodiesterases prevent precocious activation of gametocytes in the human blood. Upon ingestion, initiation of gametogenesis depends on the activation of a hybrid guanylyl cyclase/P4-ATPase. Elevated cGMP levels lead to the rapid mobilization of intracellular calcium that relies upon the activation of both cGMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphoinositide phospholipase C. Once calcium is released, a cascade of phosphorylation events mediated by calcium-dependent protein kinases and phosphatases regulates the cellular processes required for gamete formation. cGMP signaling also triggers timely egress from the host cell at other life cycle stages of malaria parasites and in Toxoplasma gondii, a related apicomplexan parasite. This suggests that cGMP signaling is a versatile platform transducing external cues into calcium signals at important decision points in the life cycle of apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélia C Balestra
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Brusini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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36
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Zeeshan M, Brady D, Stanway RR, Moores CA, Holder AA, Tewari R. Plasmodium berghei Kinesin-5 Associates With the Spindle Apparatus During Cell Division and Is Important for Efficient Production of Infectious Sporozoites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:583812. [PMID: 33154955 PMCID: PMC7591757 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.583812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinesin-5 motors play essential roles in spindle apparatus assembly during cell division, by generating forces to establish and maintain the spindle bipolarity essential for proper chromosome segregation. Kinesin-5 is largely conserved structurally and functionally in model eukaryotes, but its role is unknown in the Plasmodium parasite, an evolutionarily divergent organism with several atypical features of both mitotic and meiotic cell division. We have investigated the function and subcellular location of kinesin-5 during cell division throughout the Plasmodium berghei life cycle. Deletion of kinesin-5 had little visible effect at any proliferative stage except sporozoite production in oocysts, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of motile sporozoites in mosquito salivary glands, which were able to infect a new vertebrate host. Live-cell imaging showed kinesin-5-GFP located on the spindle and at spindle poles during both atypical mitosis and meiosis. Fixed-cell immunofluorescence assays revealed kinesin-5 co-localized with α-tubulin and centrin-2 and a partial overlap with kinetochore marker NDC80 during early blood stage schizogony. Dual-color live-cell imaging showed that kinesin-5 is closely associated with NDC80 during male gametogony, but not with kinesin-8B, a marker of the basal body and axonemes of the forming flagella. Treatment of gametocytes with microtubule-specific inhibitors confirmed kinesin-5 association with nuclear spindles and not cytoplasmic axonemal microtubules. Altogether, our results demonstrate that kinesin-5 is associated with the spindle apparatus, expressed in proliferating parasite stages, and important for efficient production of infectious sporozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Carolyn A. Moores
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony A. Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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37
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Khalife J, Fréville A, Gnangnon B, Pierrot C. The Multifaceted Role of Protein Phosphatase 1 in Plasmodium. Trends Parasitol 2020; 37:154-164. [PMID: 33036936 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) forms a wide range of Ser/Thr-specific phosphatase holoenzymes which contain one catalytic subunit (PP1c), present in all eukaryotic cells, associated with variable subunits known as regulatory proteins. It has recently been shown that regulators take a leading role in the organization and the control of PP1 functions. Many studies have addressed the role of these regulators in diverse organisms, including humans, and investigated their link to diseases. In this review we summarize recent advances on the role of PP1c in Plasmodium, its interactome and regulators. As a proof of concept, peptides interfering with the regulator binding capacity of PP1c were shown to inhibit the growth of P. falciparum, suggesting their potential as drug precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal Khalife
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Biology of Apicomplexan Parasites, UMR 9017 CNRS, U1019 INSERM, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France.
| | - Aline Fréville
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Biology of Apicomplexan Parasites, UMR 9017 CNRS, U1019 INSERM, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Bénédicte Gnangnon
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Biology of Apicomplexan Parasites, UMR 9017 CNRS, U1019 INSERM, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Christine Pierrot
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Biology of Apicomplexan Parasites, UMR 9017 CNRS, U1019 INSERM, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
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Vanaerschot M, Murithi JM, Pasaje CFA, Ghidelli-Disse S, Dwomoh L, Bird M, Spottiswoode N, Mittal N, Arendse LB, Owen ES, Wicht KJ, Siciliano G, Bösche M, Yeo T, Kumar TRS, Mok S, Carpenter EF, Giddins MJ, Sanz O, Ottilie S, Alano P, Chibale K, Llinás M, Uhlemann AC, Delves M, Tobin AB, Doerig C, Winzeler EA, Lee MCS, Niles JC, Fidock DA. Inhibition of Resistance-Refractory P. falciparum Kinase PKG Delivers Prophylactic, Blood Stage, and Transmission-Blocking Antiplasmodial Activity. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:806-816.e8. [PMID: 32359426 PMCID: PMC7369637 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The search for antimalarial chemotypes with modes of action unrelated to existing drugs has intensified with the recent failure of first-line therapies across Southeast Asia. Here, we show that the trisubstituted imidazole MMV030084 potently inhibits hepatocyte invasion by Plasmodium sporozoites, merozoite egress from asexual blood stage schizonts, and male gamete exflagellation. Metabolomic, phosphoproteomic, and chemoproteomic studies, validated with conditional knockdown parasites, molecular docking, and recombinant kinase assays, identified cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) as the primary target of MMV030084. PKG is known to play essential roles in Plasmodium invasion of and egress from host cells, matching MMV030084's activity profile. Resistance selections and gene editing identified tyrosine kinase-like protein 3 as a low-level resistance mediator for PKG inhibitors, while PKG itself never mutated under pressure. These studies highlight PKG as a resistance-refractory antimalarial target throughout the Plasmodium life cycle and promote MMV030084 as a promising Plasmodium PKG-targeting chemotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Vanaerschot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - James M Murithi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Charisse Flerida A Pasaje
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Louis Dwomoh
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK, Scotland
| | - Megan Bird
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Natasha Spottiswoode
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lauren B Arendse
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry & Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Edward S Owen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA; Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Kathryn J Wicht
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Giulia Siciliano
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Markus Bösche
- Cellzome GmbH, GlaxoSmithKline, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - T R Santha Kumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Emma F Carpenter
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Marla J Giddins
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Olalla Sanz
- Diseases of the Developing World Global Health Pharma Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, 28760 Tres Cantos, Spain
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Pietro Alano
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry & Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA; Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Anne-Catrin Uhlemann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Michael Delves
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK, Scotland
| | - Christian Doerig
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora VIC 3083, Australia
| | | | - Marcus C S Lee
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Paul AS, Miliu A, Paulo JA, Goldberg JM, Bonilla AM, Berry L, Seveno M, Braun-Breton C, Kosber AL, Elsworth B, Arriola JSN, Lebrun M, Gygi SP, Lamarque MH, Duraisingh MT. Co-option of Plasmodium falciparum PP1 for egress from host erythrocytes. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3532. [PMID: 32669539 PMCID: PMC7363832 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17306-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Asexual proliferation of the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria follows a developmental program that alternates non-canonical intraerythrocytic replication with dissemination to new host cells. We carried out a functional analysis of the Plasmodium falciparum homolog of Protein Phosphatase 1 (PfPP1), a universally conserved cell cycle factor in eukaryotes, to investigate regulation of parasite proliferation. PfPP1 is indeed required for efficient replication, but is absolutely essential for egress of parasites from host red blood cells. By phosphoproteomic and chemical-genetic analysis, we isolate two functional targets of PfPP1 for egress: a HECT E3 protein-ubiquitin ligase; and GCα, a fusion protein composed of a guanylyl cyclase and a phospholipid transporter domain. We hypothesize that PfPP1 regulates lipid sensing by GCα and find that phosphatidylcholine stimulates PfPP1-dependent egress. PfPP1 acts as a key regulator that integrates multiple cell-intrinsic pathways with external signals to direct parasite egress from host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya S Paul
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra Miliu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Goldberg
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Arianna M Bonilla
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Laurence Berry
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Seveno
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Catherine Braun-Breton
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Aziz L Kosber
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Brendan Elsworth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Jose S N Arriola
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Maryse Lebrun
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Mauld H Lamarque
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France.
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA.
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40
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Stanway RR, Bushell E, Chiappino-Pepe A, Roques M, Sanderson T, Franke-Fayard B, Caldelari R, Golomingi M, Nyonda M, Pandey V, Schwach F, Chevalley S, Ramesar J, Metcalf T, Herd C, Burda PC, Rayner JC, Soldati-Favre D, Janse CJ, Hatzimanikatis V, Billker O, Heussler VT. Genome-Scale Identification of Essential Metabolic Processes for Targeting the Plasmodium Liver Stage. Cell 2020; 179:1112-1128.e26. [PMID: 31730853 PMCID: PMC6904910 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium gene functions in mosquito and liver stages remain poorly characterized due to limitations in the throughput of phenotyping at these stages. To fill this gap, we followed more than 1,300 barcoded P. berghei mutants through the life cycle. We discover 461 genes required for efficient parasite transmission to mosquitoes through the liver stage and back into the bloodstream of mice. We analyze the screen in the context of genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic data by building a thermodynamic model of P. berghei liver-stage metabolism, which shows a major reprogramming of parasite metabolism to achieve rapid growth in the liver. We identify seven metabolic subsystems that become essential at the liver stages compared with asexual blood stages: type II fatty acid synthesis and elongation (FAE), tricarboxylic acid, amino sugar, heme, lipoate, and shikimate metabolism. Selected predictions from the model are individually validated in single mutants to provide future targets for drug development. 1,342 barcoded P. berghei knockout (KO) mutants analyzed for stage-specific phenotypes Life-stage-specific metabolic models reveal reprogramming of cellular function High agreement between blood/liver stage metabolic models and genetic screening data Essential metabolic pathways for parasite development and mechanistic origin revealed
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca R Stanway
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Ellen Bushell
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden
| | - Anush Chiappino-Pepe
- Laboratory of Computational Systems Biotechnology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Magali Roques
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Theo Sanderson
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Reto Caldelari
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | | | - Mary Nyonda
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Vikash Pandey
- Laboratory of Computational Systems Biotechnology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland; Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden
| | - Frank Schwach
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Séverine Chevalley
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Jai Ramesar
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Metcalf
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Colin Herd
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Paul-Christian Burda
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg 20359, Germany
| | - Julian C Rayner
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2, 0XY, UK
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Chris J Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden 2333ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Vassily Hatzimanikatis
- Laboratory of Computational Systems Biotechnology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Billker
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK; Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden.
| | - Volker T Heussler
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
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41
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Pandey R, Abel S, Boucher M, Wall RJ, Zeeshan M, Rea E, Freville A, Lu XM, Brady D, Daniel E, Stanway RR, Wheatley S, Batugedara G, Hollin T, Bottrill AR, Gupta D, Holder AA, Le Roch KG, Tewari R. Plasmodium Condensin Core Subunits SMC2/SMC4 Mediate Atypical Mitosis and Are Essential for Parasite Proliferation and Transmission. Cell Rep 2020; 30:1883-1897.e6. [PMID: 32049018 PMCID: PMC7016506 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Condensin is a multi-subunit protein complex regulating chromosome condensation and segregation during cell division. In Plasmodium spp., the causative agent of malaria, cell division is atypical and the role of condensin is unclear. Here we examine the role of SMC2 and SMC4, the core subunits of condensin, during endomitosis in schizogony and endoreduplication in male gametogenesis. During early schizogony, SMC2/SMC4 localize to a distinct focus, identified as the centromeres by NDC80 fluorescence and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analyses, but do not form condensin I or II complexes. In mature schizonts and during male gametogenesis, there is a diffuse SMC2/SMC4 distribution on chromosomes and in the nucleus, and both condensin I and condensin II complexes form at these stages. Knockdown of smc2 and smc4 gene expression reveals essential roles in parasite proliferation and transmission. The condensin core subunits (SMC2/SMC4) form different complexes and may have distinct functions at various stages of the parasite life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Pandey
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Matthew Boucher
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Richard J Wall
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Edward Rea
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Aline Freville
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Xueqing Maggie Lu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Emilie Daniel
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Rebecca R Stanway
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Sally Wheatley
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Gayani Batugedara
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Thomas Hollin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Andrew R Bottrill
- School of Life Sciences, Gibbet Hill Campus, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Dinesh Gupta
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Anthony A Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
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42
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Unuma T, Tsuda N, Sakai Y, Kamaishi T, Sawaguchi S, Itoh N, Yamano K. Coccidian Parasite in Sea Cucumber ( Apostichopus japonicus) Ovaries. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2020; 238:64-71. [PMID: 32163726 DOI: 10.1086/707807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigated an unknown ellipsoidal body that is sometimes found in the ovaries of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. Its external morphology, comprising an ellipsoidal dark central body (about 150 µm in length) and a surrounding transparent layer (about 50 µm in thickness), resembled that of a protozoan cyst, particularly an oocyst. Histological observations of the developing A. japonicus ovaries clarified that a small mass of organisms appeared in the cytoplasm of young oocytes, proliferated in these cells through budding, became rod shaped and arranged radially, and, finally, formed an outer layer. These processes were considered to be the formation of a cyst by a protozoan parasite. The small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene was amplified from the DNA extracted from unknown ellipsoidal bodies by using polymerase chain reaction with universal primers for eukaryote 18S rRNA. The determined sequence was not identical to any of the known sequences in DNA databases, but it clustered in a clade of coccidian species belonging to Eucoccidiorida in phylogenetic analyses. From these results, we concluded that the unknown ellipsoidal body is a cyst (possibly an oocyst) of a coccidian parasite (order Eucoccidiorida) that is formed in the A. japonicus oocyte, though its lower taxonomic position is uncertain. In a survey of the gonads of wild A. japonicus at Esashi, Hokkaido, during the reproductive season, these cysts were detected in more than 50% of females but were never found in males. We consider that the cysts of this parasite can only be formed in A. japonicus ovaries.
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Hammarton TC. Who Needs a Contractile Actomyosin Ring? The Plethora of Alternative Ways to Divide a Protozoan Parasite. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:397. [PMID: 31824870 PMCID: PMC6881465 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokinesis, or the division of the cytoplasm, following the end of mitosis or meiosis, is accomplished in animal cells, fungi, and amoebae, by the constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring, comprising filamentous actin, myosin II, and associated proteins. However, despite this being the best-studied mode of cytokinesis, it is restricted to the Opisthokonta and Amoebozoa, since members of other evolutionary supergroups lack myosin II and must, therefore, employ different mechanisms. In particular, parasitic protozoa, many of which cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans and animals as well as considerable economic losses, employ a wide diversity of mechanisms to divide, few, if any, of which involve myosin II. In some cases, cell division is not only myosin II-independent, but actin-independent too. Mechanisms employed range from primitive mechanical cell rupture (cytofission), to motility- and/or microtubule remodeling-dependent mechanisms, to budding involving the constriction of divergent contractile rings, to hijacking host cell division machinery, with some species able to utilize multiple mechanisms. Here, I review current knowledge of cytokinesis mechanisms and their molecular control in mammalian-infective parasitic protozoa from the Excavata, Alveolata, and Amoebozoa supergroups, highlighting their often-underappreciated diversity and complexity. Billions of people and animals across the world are at risk from these pathogens, for which vaccines and/or optimal treatments are often not available. Exploiting the divergent cell division machinery in these parasites may provide new avenues for the treatment of protozoal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tansy C Hammarton
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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44
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Zeeshan M, Shilliday F, Liu T, Abel S, Mourier T, Ferguson DJP, Rea E, Stanway RR, Roques M, Williams D, Daniel E, Brady D, Roberts AJ, Holder AA, Pain A, Le Roch KG, Moores CA, Tewari R. Plasmodium kinesin-8X associates with mitotic spindles and is essential for oocyst development during parasite proliferation and transmission. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008048. [PMID: 31600347 PMCID: PMC6786531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinesin-8 proteins are microtubule motors that are often involved in regulation of mitotic spindle length and chromosome alignment. They move towards the plus ends of spindle microtubules and regulate the dynamics of these ends due, at least in some species, to their microtubule depolymerization activity. Plasmodium spp. exhibit an atypical endomitotic cell division in which chromosome condensation and spindle dynamics in the different proliferative stages are not well understood. Genome-wide shared orthology analysis of Plasmodium spp. revealed the presence of two kinesin-8 motor proteins, kinesin-8X and kinesin-8B. Here we studied the biochemical properties of kinesin-8X and its role in parasite proliferation. In vitro, kinesin-8X has motility and depolymerization activities like other kinesin-8 motors. To understand the role of Plasmodium kinesin-8X in cell division, we used fluorescence-tagging and live cell imaging to define its location, and gene targeting to analyse its function, during all proliferative stages of the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei life cycle. The results revealed a spatio-temporal involvement of kinesin-8X in spindle dynamics and an association with both mitotic and meiotic spindles and the putative microtubule organising centre (MTOC). Deletion of the kinesin-8X gene revealed a defect in oocyst development, confirmed by ultrastructural studies, suggesting that this protein is required for oocyst development and sporogony. Transcriptome analysis of Δkinesin-8X gametocytes revealed modulated expression of genes involved mainly in microtubule-based processes, chromosome organisation and the regulation of gene expression, supporting a role for kinesin-8X in cell division. Kinesin-8X is thus required for parasite proliferation within the mosquito and for transmission to the vertebrate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Shilliday
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tianyang Liu
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Tobias Mourier
- Biological Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - David J. P. Ferguson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Science, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Edward Rea
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Magali Roques
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Desiree Williams
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Emilie Daniel
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony J. Roberts
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony A. Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arnab Pain
- Biological Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (GI-CoRE), Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Karine G. Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Carolyn A. Moores
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Liu F, Liu Q, Yu C, Zhao Y, Wu Y, Min H, Qiu Y, Jin Y, Miao J, Cui L, Cao Y. An MFS-Domain Protein Pb115 Plays a Critical Role in Gamete Fertilization of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium berghei. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2193. [PMID: 31616399 PMCID: PMC6764285 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is an essential process in the Plasmodium life cycle and a vulnerable step for blocking transmission from the human host to mosquitoes. In this study, we characterized the functions of a conserved cell membrane protein P115 in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Pb115 was expressed in both asexual stages (schizonts) and sexual stages (gametocytes, gametes, and ookinetes), and was localized on the plasma membrane of gametes and ookinetes. In P. berghei, genetic deletion of Pb115 (Δpb115) did not affect asexual multiplication, nor did it affect gametocyte development or exflagellation of the male gametocytes. However, mosquitoes fed on Δpb115-infected mice showed 74% reduction in the prevalence of infection and 96.5% reduction in oocyst density compared to those fed on wild-type P. berghei-infected mice. The Δpb115 parasites showed significant defects in the interactions between the male and female gametes, and as a result, very few zygotes were formed in ookinete cultures. Cross fertilization with the male-defective Δpbs48/45 line and the female-defective Δpfs47 line further indicated that the fertilization defects of the Δpb115 lines were present in both male and female gametes. We evaluated the transmission-blocking potential of Pb115 by immunization of mice with a recombinant Pb115 fragment. In vivo mosquito feeding assay showed Pb115 immunization conferred modest, but significant transmission reducing activity with 44% reduction in infection prevalence and 39% reduction in oocyst density. Our results described functional characterization of a conserved membrane protein as a fertility factor in Plasmodium and demonstrated transmission-blocking potential of this antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qingyang Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chunyun Yu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yudi Wu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hui Min
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Yue Qiu
- The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ying Jin
- Liaoning Research Institute of Family Planning, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Miao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Zeeshan M, Ferguson DJ, Abel S, Burrrell A, Rea E, Brady D, Daniel E, Delves M, Vaughan S, Holder AA, Le Roch KG, Moores CA, Tewari R. Kinesin-8B controls basal body function and flagellum formation and is key to malaria transmission. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:e201900488. [PMID: 31409625 PMCID: PMC6696982 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic flagella are conserved microtubule-based organelles that drive cell motility. Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, has a single flagellate stage: the male gamete in the mosquito. Three rounds of endomitotic division in male gametocyte together with an unusual mode of flagellum assembly rapidly produce eight motile gametes. These processes are tightly coordinated, but their regulation is poorly understood. To understand this important developmental stage, we studied the function and location of the microtubule-based motor kinesin-8B, using gene-targeting, electron microscopy, and live cell imaging. Deletion of the kinesin-8B gene showed no effect on mitosis but disrupted 9+2 axoneme assembly and flagellum formation during male gamete development and also completely ablated parasite transmission. Live cell imaging showed that kinesin-8B-GFP did not co-localise with kinetochores in the nucleus but instead revealed a dynamic, cytoplasmic localisation with the basal bodies and the assembling axoneme during flagellum formation. We, thus, uncovered an unexpected role for kinesin-8B in parasite flagellum formation that is vital for the parasite life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zeeshan
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - David Jp Ferguson
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Science, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Alana Burrrell
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Science, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Edward Rea
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Emilie Daniel
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Michael Delves
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel, London, UK
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Science, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Anthony A Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn A Moores
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, UK
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Zhu X, Sun L, He Y, Wei H, Hong M, Liu F, Liu Q, Cao Y, Cui L. Plasmodium berghei serine/threonine protein phosphatase PP5 plays a critical role in male gamete fertility. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:685-695. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Essential role of GEXP15, a specific Protein Phosphatase type 1 partner, in Plasmodium berghei in asexual erythrocytic proliferation and transmission. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007973. [PMID: 31348803 PMCID: PMC6685639 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential and distinct functions of Protein Phosphatase type 1 (PP1) catalytic subunit in eukaryotes are exclusively achieved through its interaction with a myriad of regulatory partners. In this work, we report the molecular and functional characterization of Gametocyte EXported Protein 15 (GEXP15), a Plasmodium specific protein, as a regulator of PP1. In vitro interaction studies demonstrated that GEXP15 physically interacts with PP1 through the RVxF binding motif in P. berghei. Functional assays showed that GEXP15 was able to increase PP1 activity and the mutation of the RVxF motif completely abolished this regulation. Immunoprecipitation assays of tagged GEXP15 or PP1 in P. berghei followed by immunoblot or mass spectrometry analyses confirmed their interaction and showed that they are present both in schizont and gametocyte stages in shared protein complexes involved in the spliceosome and proteasome pathways and known to play essential role in parasite development. Phenotypic analysis of viable GEXP15 deficient P. berghei blood parasites showed that they were unable to develop lethal infection in BALB/c mice or to establish experimental cerebral malaria in C57BL/6 mice. Further, although deficient parasites produced gametocytes they did not produce any oocysts/sporozoites indicating a high fitness cost in the mosquito. Global proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of GEXP15 deficient schizonts revealed a profound defect with a significant decrease in the abundance and an impact on phosphorylation status of proteins involved in regulation of gene expression or invasion. Moreover, depletion of GEXP15 seemed to impact mainly the abundance of some specific proteins of female gametocytes. Our study provides the first insight into the contribution of a PP1 regulator to Plasmodium virulence and suggests that GEXP15 affects both the asexual and sexual life cycle. In the absence of an effective vaccine and the emerging resistance to artemisinin combination therapy, malaria is still a significant threat to human health. Increasing our understanding of the specific mechanisms of the biology of Plasmodium is essential to propose new strategies to control this infection. Here, we demonstrated that GEXP15, a specific protein in Plasmodium, was able to interact with the Protein Phosphatase 1 and regulate its activity. We showed that both proteins are implicated in common protein complexes involved in the mRNA splicing and proteasome pathways. We reported that the deletion of GEXP15 leads to a loss of parasite virulence during asexual stages and a total abolishment of the capacity of deficient parasites to develop in the mosquito. We also found that this deletion affects both protein phosphorylation status and significantly decreases the expression of essential proteins in schizont and gametocyte stages. This study characterizes for the first time a novel molecular pathway through the control of PP1 by an essential and specific Plasmodium regulator, which may contribute to the discovery of new therapeutic targets to control malaria.
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Plasmodium pseudo-Tyrosine Kinase-like binds PP1 and SERA5 and is exported to host erythrocytes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8120. [PMID: 31148576 PMCID: PMC6544628 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44542-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudokinases play key roles in many biological processes but they are poorly understood compared to active kinases. Eight putative pseudokinases have been predicted in Plasmodium species. We selected the unique pseudokinase belonging to tyrosine kinase like (TKL) family for detailed structural and functional analysis in P. falciparum and P. berghei. The primary structure of PfpTKL lacks residues critical for kinase activity, supporting its annotation as a pseudokinase. The recombinant pTKL pseudokinase domain was able to bind ATP, but lacked catalytic activity as predicted. The sterile alpha motif (SAM) and RVxF motifs of PfpTKL were found to interact with the P. falciparum proteins serine repeat antigen 5 (SERA5) and protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) respectively, suggesting that pTKL has a scaffolding role. Furthermore, we found that PP1c activity in a heterologous model was modulated in an RVxF-dependent manner. During the trophozoite stages, PbpTKL was exported to infected erythrocytes where it formed complexes with proteins involved in cytoskeletal organization or host cell maturation and homeostasis. Finally, genetic analysis demonstrated that viable strains obtained by genomic deletion or knocking down PbpTKL did not affect the course of parasite intra-erythrocytic development or gametocyte emergence, indicating functional redundancy during these parasite stages.
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Roques M, Stanway RR, Rea EI, Markus R, Brady D, Holder AA, Guttery DS, Tewari R. Plasmodium centrin PbCEN-4 localizes to the putative MTOC and is dispensable for malaria parasite proliferation. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.036822. [PMID: 30541825 PMCID: PMC6361220 DOI: 10.1242/bio.036822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Centrins are calmodulin-like phosphoproteins present in the centrosome and play an active role in the duplication, separation and organization of centrosomal structures such as the microtubule-organizing centre (MTOC) during mitosis. They are also major components of the basal body of flagella and cilia. In Plasmodium spp., the parasite that causes malaria, mitosis is closed during asexual replication and the MTOC is embedded within the intact nuclear membrane. The MTOC has been named the centriolar plaque and is similar to the spindle pole body in yeast. In all phases of asexual replication, repeated rounds of nuclear division precede cell division. However, our knowledge of the location and function of centrins during this process is limited. Previous studies have identified four putative centrins in the human parasite Plasmodiumfalciparum. We report here the cellular localization of an alveolate-specific centrin (PbCEN-4) during the atypical cell division of asexual replicative stages, using live cell imaging with the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei as a model system. We show that this centrin forms a multi-protein complex with other centrins, but is dispensable for parasite proliferation. Summary: This study examines the localization of malaria parasite centrin PbCEN4 at the parasite MTOC during closed endomitosis and shows it to be dispensable for proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Roques
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Rebecca R Stanway
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Edward I Rea
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Robert Markus
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Declan Brady
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | | | - David S Guttery
- The Leicester Cancer Research Centre, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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