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Dans MG, Piirainen H, Nguyen W, Khurana S, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Dawson AT, Das S, Parkyn Schneider M, Jonsdottir TK, Gabriela M, Gancheva MR, Tonkin CJ, Mollard V, Goodman CD, McFadden GI, Wilson DW, Rogers KL, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Sleebs BE, Kursula I, Gilson PR. Sulfonylpiperazine compounds prevent Plasmodium falciparum invasion of red blood cells through interference with actin-1/profilin dynamics. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002066. [PMID: 37053271 PMCID: PMC10128974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
With emerging resistance to frontline treatments, it is vital that new antimalarial drugs are identified to target Plasmodium falciparum. We have recently described a compound, MMV020291, as a specific inhibitor of red blood cell (RBC) invasion, and have generated analogues with improved potency. Here, we generated resistance to MMV020291 and performed whole genome sequencing of 3 MMV020291-resistant populations. This revealed 3 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in 2 genes; 2 in profilin (N154Y, K124N) and a third one in actin-1 (M356L). Using CRISPR-Cas9, we engineered these mutations into wild-type parasites, which rendered them resistant to MMV020291. We demonstrate that MMV020291 reduces actin polymerisation that is required by the merozoite stage parasites to invade RBCs. Additionally, the series inhibits the actin-1-dependent process of apicoplast segregation, leading to a delayed death phenotype. In vitro cosedimentation experiments using recombinant P. falciparum proteins indicate that potent MMV020291 analogues disrupt the formation of filamentous actin in the presence of profilin. Altogether, this study identifies the first compound series interfering with the actin-1/profilin interaction in P. falciparum and paves the way for future antimalarial development against the highly dynamic process of actin polymerisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G. Dans
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Henni Piirainen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - William Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sachin Khurana
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Somya Mehra
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Sujaan Das
- Ludwig Maximilian University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria R. Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Mollard
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Geoffrey I. McFadden
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Danny W. Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kelly L. Rogers
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alyssa E. Barry
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania F. de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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PbAP2-FG2 and PbAP2R-2 function together as a transcriptional repressor complex essential for Plasmodium female development. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1010890. [PMID: 36780562 PMCID: PMC9956629 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Gametocyte development is a critical step in the life cycle of Plasmodium. Despite the number of studies on gametocyte development that have been conducted, the molecular mechanisms regulating this process remain to be fully understood. This study investigates the functional roles of two female-specific transcriptional regulators, PbAP2-FG2 and PbAP2R-2, in P. berghei. Knockout of pbap2-fg2 or pbap2r-2 impairs female gametocyte development, resulting in developmental arrest during ookinete development. ChIP-seq analyses of these two factors indicated their colocalization on the genome, suggesting that they function as a complex. These analyses also revealed that their target genes contained a variety of genes, including both male and female-enriched genes. Moreover, differential expression analyses showed that these target genes were upregulated through the disruption of pbap2-fg2 or pbap2r-2, indicating that these two factors function as a transcriptional repressor complex in female gametocytes. Formation of a complex between PbAP2-FG2 and PbAP2R-2 was confirmed by RIME, a method that combines ChIP and MS analysis. In addition, the analysis identified a chromatin regulator PbMORC as an interaction partner of PbAP2-FG2. Comparative target analysis between PbAP2-FG2 and PbAP2-G demonstrated a significant overlap between their target genes, suggesting that repression of early gametocyte genes activated by PbAP2-G is one of the key roles for this female transcriptional repressor complex. Our results indicate that the PbAP2-FG2-PbAP2R-2 complex-mediated repression of the target genes supports the female differentiation from early gametocytes.
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Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum myosin B ATPase activity and structure in complex with the calmodulin-like domain of its light chain MLC-B. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102634. [PMID: 36273584 PMCID: PMC9692044 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102634] [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] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Myosin B (MyoB) is a class 14 myosin expressed in all invasive stages of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. It is not associated with the glideosome complex that drives motility and invasion of host cells. During red blood cell invasion, MyoB remains at the apical tip of the merozoite but is no longer observed once invasion is completed. MyoB is not essential for parasite survival, but when it is knocked out, merozoites are delayed in the initial stages of red blood cell invasion, giving rise to a growth defect that correlates with reduced invasion success. Therefore, further characterization is needed to understand how MyoB contributes to parasite invasion. Here, we have expressed and purified functional MyoB with the help of parasite-specific chaperones Hsp90 and Unc45, characterized its binding to actin and its known light chain MLC-B using biochemical and biophysical methods and determined its low-resolution structure in solution using small angle X-ray scattering. In addition to MLC-B, we found that four other putative regulatory light chains bind to the MyoB IQ2 motif in vitro. The purified recombinant MyoB adopted the overall shape of a myosin, exhibited actin-activated ATPase activity, and moved actin filaments in vitro. Additionally, we determined that the ADP release rate was faster than the ATP turnover number, and thus, does not appear to be rate limiting. This, together with the observed high affinity to actin and the specific localization of MyoB, may point toward a role in tethering and/or force sensing during early stages of invasion.
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Anam Z, Kumari G, Mukherjee S, Rex DAB, Biswas S, Maurya P, Ravikumar S, Gupta N, Kushawaha AK, Sah RK, Chaurasiya A, Singhal J, Singh N, Kaushik S, Prasad TSK, Pati S, Ranganathan A, Singh S. Complementary crosstalk between palmitoylation and phosphorylation events in MTIP regulates its role during Plasmodium falciparum invasion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:924424. [PMID: 36250062 PMCID: PMC9556994 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.924424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) including phosphorylation and palmitoylation have emerged as crucial biomolecular events that govern many cellular processes including functioning of motility- and invasion-associated proteins during Plasmodium falciparum invasion. However, no study has ever focused on understanding the possibility of a crosstalk between these two molecular events and its direct impact on preinvasion- and invasion-associated protein–protein interaction (PPI) network-based molecular machinery. Here, we used an integrated in silico analysis to enrich two different catalogues of proteins: (i) the first group defines the cumulative pool of phosphorylated and palmitoylated proteins, and (ii) the second group represents a common set of proteins predicted to have both phosphorylation and palmitoylation. Subsequent PPI analysis identified an important protein cluster comprising myosin A tail interacting protein (MTIP) as one of the hub proteins of the glideosome motor complex in P. falciparum, predicted to have dual modification with the possibility of a crosstalk between the same. Our findings suggested that blocking palmitoylation led to reduced phosphorylation and blocking phosphorylation led to abrogated palmitoylation of MTIP. As a result of the crosstalk between these biomolecular events, MTIP’s interaction with myosin A was found to be abrogated. Next, the crosstalk between phosphorylation and palmitoylation was confirmed at a global proteome level by click chemistry and the phenotypic effect of this crosstalk was observed via synergistic inhibition in P. falciparum invasion using checkerboard assay and isobologram method. Overall, our findings revealed, for the first time, an interdependence between two PTM types, their possible crosstalk, and its direct impact on MTIP-mediated invasion via glideosome assembly protein myosin A in P. falciparum. These insights can be exploited for futuristic drug discovery platforms targeting parasite molecular machinery for developing novel antimalarial therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zille Anam
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Geeta Kumari
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Soumyadeep Mukherjee
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Shreeja Biswas
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Preeti Maurya
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Susendaran Ravikumar
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nutan Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Raj Kumar Sah
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Ayushi Chaurasiya
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Jhalak Singhal
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Niharika Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Shikha Kaushik
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - T. S. Keshava Prasad
- Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Soumya Pati
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
- *Correspondence: Shailja Singh, ; Anand Ranganathan, ; Soumya Pati,
| | - Anand Ranganathan
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Shailja Singh, ; Anand Ranganathan, ; Soumya Pati,
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Shailja Singh, ; Anand Ranganathan, ; Soumya Pati,
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Narwal SK, Nayak B, Mehra P, Mishra S. Protein kinase 9 is not required for completion of the Plasmodium berghei life cycle. Microbiol Res 2022; 260:127051. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Qian P, Wang X, Zhong CQ, Wang J, Cai M, Nguitragool W, Li J, Cui H, Yuan J. Inner membrane complex proteomics reveals a palmitoylation regulation critical for intraerythrocytic development of malaria parasite. eLife 2022; 11:77447. [PMID: 35775739 PMCID: PMC9293000 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by infection of the erythrocytes by the parasites Plasmodium. Inside the erythrocytes, the parasites multiply via schizogony, an unconventional cell division mode. The inner membrane complex (IMC), an organelle located beneath the parasite plasma membrane, serving as the platform for protein anchorage, is essential for schizogony. So far, the complete repertoire of IMC proteins and their localization determinants remain unclear. Here we used biotin ligase (TurboID)-based proximity labeling to compile the proteome of the schizont IMC of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii. In total, 300 TurboID-interacting proteins were identified. 18 of 21 selected candidates were confirmed to localize in the IMC, indicating good reliability. In light of the existing palmitome of Plasmodium falciparum, 83 proteins of the P. yoelii IMC proteome are potentially palmitoylated. We further identified DHHC2 as the major resident palmitoyl-acyl-transferase of the IMC. Depletion of DHHC2 led to defective schizont segmentation and growth arrest both in vitro and in vivo. DHHC2 was found to palmitoylate two critical IMC proteins CDPK1 and GAP45 for their IMC localization. In summary, this study reports an inventory of new IMC proteins and demonstrates a central role of DHHC2 in governing the IMC localization of proteins during the schizont development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengge Qian
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chuan-Qi Zhong
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jiaxu Wang
- Xiamen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen, China
| | - Mengya Cai
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jian Li
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Huiting Cui
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Vahokoski J, Calder LJ, Lopez AJ, Molloy JE, Kursula I, Rosenthal PB. High-resolution structures of malaria parasite actomyosin and actin filaments. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010408. [PMID: 35377914 PMCID: PMC9037914 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is responsible for half a million deaths annually and poses a huge economic burden on the developing world. The mosquito-borne parasites (Plasmodium spp.) that cause the disease depend upon an unconventional actomyosin motor for both gliding motility and host cell invasion. The motor system, often referred to as the glideosome complex, remains to be understood in molecular terms and is an attractive target for new drugs that might block the infection pathway. Here, we present the high-resolution structure of the actomyosin motor complex from Plasmodium falciparum. The complex includes the malaria parasite actin filament (PfAct1) complexed with the class XIV myosin motor (PfMyoA) and its two associated light-chains. The high-resolution core structure reveals the PfAct1:PfMyoA interface in atomic detail, while at lower-resolution, we visualize the PfMyoA light-chain binding region, including the essential light chain (PfELC) and the myosin tail interacting protein (PfMTIP). Finally, we report a bare PfAct1 filament structure at improved resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lesley J. Calder
- Structural Biology of Cells and Viruses Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea J. Lopez
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Justin E. Molloy
- Structural Biology of Cells and Viruses Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Peter B. Rosenthal
- Structural Biology of Cells and Viruses Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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Kaur D, Agrahari M, Bhattacharya A, Bhattacharya S. The non-LTR retrotransposons of Entamoeba histolytica: genomic organization and biology. Mol Genet Genomics 2022; 297:1-18. [PMID: 34999963 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-021-01843-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Genome sequence analysis of Entamoeba species revealed various classes of transposable elements. While E. histolytica and E. dispar are rich in non-long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons, E. invadens contains predominantly DNA transposons. Non-LTR retrotransposons of E. histolytica constitute three families of long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs), and their short, nonautonomous partners, SINEs. They occupy ~ 11% of the genome. The EhLINE1/EhSINE1 family is the most abundant and best studied. EhLINE1 is 4.8 kb, with two ORFs that encode functions needed for retrotransposition. ORF1 codes for the nucleic acid-binding protein, and ORF2 has domains for reverse transcriptase (RT) and endonuclease (EN). Most copies of EhLINEs lack complete ORFs. ORF1p is expressed constitutively, but ORF2p is not detected. Retrotransposition could be demonstrated upon ectopic over expression of ORF2p, showing that retrotransposition machinery is functional. The newly retrotransposed sequences showed a high degree of recombination. In transcriptomic analysis, RNA-Seq reads were mapped to individual EhLINE1 copies. Although full-length copies were transcribed, no full-length 4.8 kb transcripts were seen. Rather, sense transcripts mapped to ORF1, RT and EN domains. Intriguingly, there was strong antisense transcription almost exclusively from the RT domain. These unique features of EhLINE1 could serve to attenuate retrotransposition in E. histolytica.
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Ferreira JL, Heincke D, Wichers JS, Liffner B, Wilson DW, Gilberger TW. The Dynamic Roles of the Inner Membrane Complex in the Multiple Stages of the Malaria Parasite. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:611801. [PMID: 33489940 PMCID: PMC7820811 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.611801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as human malaria parasites, have complex lifecycles encompassing multiple and diverse environmental niches. Invading, replicating, and escaping from different cell types, along with exploiting each intracellular niche, necessitate large and dynamic changes in parasite morphology and cellular architecture. The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a unique structural element that is intricately involved with these distinct morphological changes. The IMC is a double membrane organelle that forms de novo and is located beneath the plasma membrane of these single-celled organisms. In Plasmodium spp. parasites it has three major purposes: it confers stability and shape to the cell, functions as an important scaffolding compartment during the formation of daughter cells, and plays a major role in motility and invasion. Recent years have revealed greater insights into the architecture, protein composition and function of the IMC. Here, we discuss the multiple roles of the IMC in each parasite lifecycle stage as well as insights into its sub-compartmentalization, biogenesis, disassembly and regulation during stage conversion of P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie Liane Ferreira
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Heinrich Pette Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Experimentelle Virologie, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dorothee Heincke
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Stephan Wichers
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Liffner
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Danny W. Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tim-Wolf Gilberger
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Anam ZE, Joshi N, Gupta S, Yadav P, Chaurasiya A, Kahlon AK, Kaushik S, Munde M, Ranganathan A, Singh S. A De novo Peptide from a High Throughput Peptide Library Blocks Myosin A -MTIP Complex Formation in Plasmodium falciparum. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176158. [PMID: 32859024 PMCID: PMC7503848 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, through their motor machinery, produce the required propulsive force critical for host cell-entry. The conserved components of this so-called glideosome machinery are myosin A and myosin A Tail Interacting Protein (MTIP). MTIP tethers myosin A to the inner membrane complex of the parasite through 20 amino acid-long C-terminal end of myosin A that makes direct contacts with MTIP, allowing the invasion of Plasmodium falciparum in erythrocytes. Here, we discovered through screening a peptide library, a de-novo peptide ZA1 that binds the myosin A tail domain. We demonstrated that ZA1 bound strongly to myosin A tail and was able to disrupt the native myosin A tail MTIP complex both in vitro and in vivo. We then showed that a shortened peptide derived from ZA1, named ZA1S, was able to bind myosin A and block parasite invasion. Overall, our study identified a novel anti-malarial peptide that could be used in combination with other antimalarials for blocking the invasion of Plasmodium falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zill e Anam
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (Z.e.A.); (P.Y.); (A.C.); (A.K.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Nishant Joshi
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201304, India;
| | - Sakshi Gupta
- School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (S.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Preeti Yadav
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (Z.e.A.); (P.Y.); (A.C.); (A.K.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Ayushi Chaurasiya
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (Z.e.A.); (P.Y.); (A.C.); (A.K.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Amandeep Kaur Kahlon
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (Z.e.A.); (P.Y.); (A.C.); (A.K.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Shikha Kaushik
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (Z.e.A.); (P.Y.); (A.C.); (A.K.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Manoj Munde
- School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (S.G.); (M.M.)
| | - Anand Ranganathan
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (Z.e.A.); (P.Y.); (A.C.); (A.K.K.); (S.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India; (Z.e.A.); (P.Y.); (A.C.); (A.K.K.); (S.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.R.); (S.S.)
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Cheviet T, Wein S, Bourchenin G, Lagacherie M, Périgaud C, Cerdan R, Peyrottes S. β-Hydroxy- and β-Aminophosphonate Acyclonucleosides as Potent Inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum Growth. J Med Chem 2020; 63:8069-8087. [PMID: 32687714 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite of the genus Plasmodium, and the emergence of parasites resistant to all current antimalarial drugs highlights the urgency of having new classes of molecules. We developed an effective method for the synthesis of a series of β-modified acyclonucleoside phosphonate (ANP) derivatives, using commercially available and inexpensive materials (i.e., aspartic acid and purine heterocycles). Their biological evaluation in cell culture experiments and SAR revealed that the compounds' effectiveness depends on the presence of a hydroxyl group, the chain length (four carbons), and the nature of the nucleobase (guanine). The most active derivative inhibits the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro in the nanomolar range (IC50 = 74 nM) with high selectivity index (SI > 1350). This compound also showed remarkable in vivo activity in P. berghei-infected mice (ED50 ∼ 0.5 mg/kg) when administered by the ip route and is, although less efficient, still active via the oral route. It is the first ANP derivative with such potent antimalarial activity and therefore has considerable potential for development as a new antimalarial drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Cheviet
- Team Nucleosides & Phosphorylated Effectors, Institute for Biomolecules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 UM-CNRS-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, cc 1704, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Sharon Wein
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interactions (LPHI), UMR 5235 UM-CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Gabriel Bourchenin
- Team Nucleosides & Phosphorylated Effectors, Institute for Biomolecules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 UM-CNRS-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, cc 1704, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Manon Lagacherie
- Team Nucleosides & Phosphorylated Effectors, Institute for Biomolecules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 UM-CNRS-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, cc 1704, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Christian Périgaud
- Team Nucleosides & Phosphorylated Effectors, Institute for Biomolecules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 UM-CNRS-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, cc 1704, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Rachel Cerdan
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interactions (LPHI), UMR 5235 UM-CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Suzanne Peyrottes
- Team Nucleosides & Phosphorylated Effectors, Institute for Biomolecules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 UM-CNRS-ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, cc 1704, 34095 Montpellier, France
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12
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Saunders CN, Cota E, Baum J, Tate EW. Peptide Probes for Plasmodium falciparum MyoA Tail Interacting Protein (MTIP): Exploring the Druggability of the Malaria Parasite Motor Complex. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:1313-1320. [PMID: 32383851 PMCID: PMC7309260 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Malaria
remains an endemic tropical disease, and the emergence
of Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to current
front-line medicines means that new therapeutic targets are required.
The Plasmodium glideosome is a multiprotein complex
thought to be essential for efficient host red blood cell invasion.
At its core is a myosin motor, Myosin A (MyoA), which provides most
of the force required for parasite invasion. Here, we report the design
and development of improved peptide-based probes for the anchor point
of MyoA, the P. falciparum MyoA tail interacting
protein (PfMTIP). These probes combine low nanomolar
binding affinity with significantly enhanced cell penetration and
demonstrable competitive target engagement with native PfMTIP through a combination of Western blot and chemical proteomics.
These results provide new insights into the potential druggability
of the MTIP/MyoA interaction and a basis for the future design of
inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ernesto Cota
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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13
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Frénal K, Krishnan A, Soldati-Favre D. The Actomyosin Systems in Apicomplexa. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1239:331-354. [PMID: 32451865 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-38062-5_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The phylum of Apicomplexa groups obligate intracellular parasites that exhibit unique classes of unconventional myosin motors. These parasites also encode a limited repertoire of actins, actin-like proteins, actin-binding proteins and nucleators of filamentous actin (F-actin) that display atypical properties. In the last decade, significant progress has been made to visualize F-actin and to unravel the functional contribution of actomyosin systems in the biology of Toxoplasma and Plasmodium, the most genetically-tractable members of the phylum. In addition to assigning specific roles to each myosin, recent biochemical and structural studies have begun to uncover mechanistic insights into myosin function at the atomic level. In several instances, the myosin light chains associated with the myosin heavy chains have been identified, helping to understand the composition of the motor complexes and their mode of regulation. Moreover, the considerable advance in proteomic methodologies and especially in assignment of posttranslational modifications is offering a new dimension to our understanding of the regulation of actin dynamics and myosin function. Remarkably, the actomyosin system contributes to three major processes in Toxoplasma gondii: (i) organelle trafficking, positioning and inheritance, (ii) basal pole constriction and intravacuolar cell-cell communication and (iii) motility, invasion, and egress from infected cells. In this chapter, we summarize how the actomyosin system harnesses these key events to ensure successful completion of the parasite life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Frénal
- Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, University of Bordeaux and CNRS, Bordeaux Cedex, France. .,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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14
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Siden-Kiamos I, Goosmann C, Buscaglia CA, Brinkmann V, Matuschewski K, Montagna GN. Polarization of MTIP is a signature of gliding locomotion in Plasmodium ookinetes and sporozoites. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 235:111247. [PMID: 31874192 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.111247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gliding motility and cell invasion are essential for the successful transmission of Plasmodium parasites. These processes rely on an acto-myosin motor located underneath the parasite plasma membrane. The Myosin A-tail interacting protein (MTIP) connects the class XIV myosin A (MyoA) to the gliding-associated proteins and is essential for assembly of the motor at the inner membrane complex. Here, we assessed the subcellular localization of MTIP in Plasmodium berghei motile stages from wild-type parasites and mutants that lack MyoA or the small heat shock protein 20 (HSP20). We demonstrate that MTIP is recruited to the apical end of motile ookinetes independently of the presence of MyoA. We also show that infective sporozoites displayed a polarized MTIP distribution during gliding, and that this distribution was abrogated in mutant parasites with an aberrant locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Siden-Kiamos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas, 700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | | | - Carlos A Buscaglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas 'Dr Rodolfo Ugalde' (IIBio), UNSAM-CONICET, 1650 San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Volker Brinkmann
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Georgina N Montagna
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas 'Dr Rodolfo Ugalde' (IIBio), UNSAM-CONICET, 1650 San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 049032, SP, Brazil..
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15
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Morales L, Hernández P, Chaparro-Olaya J. Systematic Comparison of Strategies to Achieve Soluble Expression of Plasmodium falciparum Recombinant Proteins in E. coli. Mol Biotechnol 2018; 60:887-900. [PMID: 30259259 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-018-0125-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Constructs containing partial coding sequences of myosin A, myosin B, and glideosome-associated protein (50 kDa) of Plasmodium falciparum were used to challenge several strategies designed in order to improve the production and solubility of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Assays were carried out inducing expression in a late log phase culture, optimizing the inductor concentration, reducing the growth temperature for induced cultures, and supplementing additives in the lysis buffer. In addition, recombinant proteins were expressed as fusion proteins with three different tags (6His, GST, and MBP) in four different E. coli strains. We found that the only condition that consistently produced soluble proteins was the use of MBP as a fusion tag, which became a valuable tool for detecting the proteins used in this study and did not caused any interference in protein-protein interaction assays (Far Western Blot). Besides, we found that BL21-pG-KJE8 strain did not improve the solubility of any of the recombinant protein produced, while the BL21-CodonPlus(DE3)-RIL strain improved the expression of some of them independent of the rare codon content. Proteins with rare codons occurring at high frequencies (» 10%) were expressed efficiently in strains that do not supplement tRNAs for these triplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Morales
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Biología Molecular, Universidad El Bosque, Edificio O. Segundo piso, Avenida Cra. 9 No. 131 A - 02, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paula Hernández
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Biología Molecular, Universidad El Bosque, Edificio O. Segundo piso, Avenida Cra. 9 No. 131 A - 02, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jacqueline Chaparro-Olaya
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Biología Molecular, Universidad El Bosque, Edificio O. Segundo piso, Avenida Cra. 9 No. 131 A - 02, Bogotá, Colombia.
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16
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In vitro interaction between Plasmodium falciparum myosin B (PfMyoB) and myosin A tail interacting protein (MTIP). Parasitol Res 2018; 117:3437-3446. [PMID: 30094538 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6039-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum, are obligate intracellular organisms that utilize a strategy termed "gliding" to move and invade host cells, causing disease. Gliding is carried out by a protein complex known as the glideosome, which includes an actin-myosin motor. To date, six myosins have been identified in P. falciparum (PfMyoA, B, C, D, E, and F), but only the role of PfMyoA, the myosin of the glideosome that is involved in the process of red blood cell and mosquito cell invasion, has been established. Based on previous observations, we speculated that PfMyoA and PfMyoB may have similar or redundant functions. To test this hypothesis, we searched for in vitro interactions between PfMyoB and MTIP (myosin A tail interacting protein), the myosin light chain of PfMyoA. A set of differentially tagged PfMyoA, PfMyoB, and MTIP recombinant proteins was employed to specifically and simultaneously detect each myosin in competition assays and inhibition assays using specific peptides. MTIP potentially acts as the light chain of PfMyoB.
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17
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Abstract
Plasmodium species cause malaria by proliferating in human erythrocytes. Invasion of immunologically privileged erythrocytes provides a relatively protective niche as well as access to a rich source of nutrients. Plasmodium spp. target erythrocytes of different ages, but share a common mechanism of invasion. Specific engagement of erythrocyte receptors defines target cell tropism, activating downstream events and resulting in the physical penetration of the erythrocyte, powered by the parasite's actinomyosin-based motor. Here we review the latest in our understanding of the molecular composition of this highly complex and fascinating biological process.
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18
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Mueller C, Graindorge A, Soldati-Favre D. Functions of myosin motors tailored for parasitism. Curr Opin Microbiol 2017; 40:113-122. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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19
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Bookwalter CS, Tay CL, McCrorie R, Previs MJ, Lu H, Krementsova EB, Fagnant PM, Baum J, Trybus KM. Reconstitution of the core of the malaria parasite glideosome with recombinant Plasmodium class XIV myosin A and Plasmodium actin. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:19290-19303. [PMID: 28978649 PMCID: PMC5702669 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.813972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Motility of the apicomplexan malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is enabled by a multiprotein glideosome complex, whose core is the class XIV myosin motor, PfMyoA, and a divergent Plasmodium actin (PfAct1). Parasite motility is necessary for host-cell invasion and virulence, but studying its molecular basis has been hampered by unavailability of sufficient amounts of PfMyoA. Here, we expressed milligram quantities of functional full-length PfMyoA with the baculovirus/Sf9 cell expression system, which required a UCS (UNC-45/CRO1/She4p) family myosin chaperone from Plasmodium spp. In addition to the known light chain myosin tail interacting protein (MTIP), we identified an essential light chain (PfELC) that co-purified with PfMyoA isolated from parasite lysates. The speed at which PfMyoA moved actin was fastest with both light chains bound, consistent with the light chain–binding domain acting as a lever arm to amplify nucleotide-dependent motions in the motor domain. Surprisingly, PfELC binding to the heavy chain required that MTIP also be bound to the heavy chain, unlike MTIP that bound the heavy chain independently of PfELC. Neither the presence of calcium nor deletion of the MTIP N-terminal extension changed the speed of actin movement. Of note, PfMyoA moved filaments formed from Sf9 cell–expressed PfAct1 at the same speed as skeletal muscle actin. Duty ratio estimates suggested that as few as nine motors can power actin movement at maximal speed, a feature that may be necessitated by the dynamic nature of Plasmodium actin filaments in the parasite. In summary, we have reconstituted the essential core of the glideosome, enabling drug targeting of both of its core components to inhibit parasite invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol S Bookwalter
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405 and
| | - Chwen L Tay
- the Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Rama McCrorie
- the Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Previs
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405 and
| | - Hailong Lu
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405 and
| | - Elena B Krementsova
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405 and
| | - Patricia M Fagnant
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405 and
| | - Jake Baum
- the Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Kathleen M Trybus
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405 and
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20
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Green JL, Wall RJ, Vahokoski J, Yusuf NA, Ridzuan MAM, Stanway RR, Stock J, Knuepfer E, Brady D, Martin SR, Howell SA, Pires IP, Moon RW, Molloy JE, Kursula I, Tewari R, Holder AA. Compositional and expression analyses of the glideosome during the Plasmodium life cycle reveal an additional myosin light chain required for maximum motility. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:17857-17875. [PMID: 28893907 PMCID: PMC5663884 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.802769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Myosin A (MyoA) is a Class XIV myosin implicated in gliding motility and host cell and tissue invasion by malaria parasites. MyoA is part of a membrane-associated protein complex called the glideosome, which is essential for parasite motility and includes the MyoA light chain myosin tail domain-interacting protein (MTIP) and several glideosome-associated proteins (GAPs). However, most studies of MyoA have focused on single stages of the parasite life cycle. We examined MyoA expression throughout the Plasmodium berghei life cycle in both mammalian and insect hosts. In extracellular ookinetes, sporozoites, and merozoites, MyoA was located at the parasite periphery. In the sexual stages, zygote formation and initial ookinete differentiation precede MyoA synthesis and deposition, which occurred only in the developing protuberance. In developing intracellular asexual blood stages, MyoA was synthesized in mature schizonts and was located at the periphery of segmenting merozoites, where it remained throughout maturation, merozoite egress, and host cell invasion. Besides the known GAPs in the malaria parasite, the complex included GAP40, an additional myosin light chain designated essential light chain (ELC), and several other candidate components. This ELC bound the MyoA neck region adjacent to the MTIP-binding site, and both myosin light chains co-located to the glideosome. Co-expression of MyoA with its two light chains revealed that the presence of both light chains enhances MyoA-dependent actin motility. In conclusion, we have established a system to study the interplay and function of the three glideosome components, enabling the assessment of inhibitors that target this motor complex to block host cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard J Wall
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- the Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Rebecca R Stanway
- the Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, and
| | - Jessica Stock
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | | | - Declan Brady
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Isa P Pires
- the Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Justin E Molloy
- Single Molecule Enzymology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Inari Kursula
- the Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway.,the Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Rita Tewari
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
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21
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22
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Myosin B of Plasmodium falciparum (PfMyoB): in silico prediction of its three-dimensional structure and its possible interaction with MTIP. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:1373-1382. [PMID: 28265752 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5417-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The mobility and invasion strategy of Plasmodium falciparum is governed by a protein complex known as the glideosome, which contains an actin-myosin motor. It has been shown that myosin A of the parasite (PfMyoA) is the myosin of the glideosome, and the interaction of PfMyoA with myosin tail domain interacting protein (MTIP) determines its correct location and its ability to function in the complex. Because PfMyoA and myosin B of P. falciparum (PfMyoB) share high sequence identity, are both small proteins without a tail domain, belong to the class XIV myosins, and are expressed in late schizonts and merozoites, we suspect that these myosins may have similar or redundant functions. Therefore, this work examined the structural similarity between PfMyoA and PfMyoB and performed a molecular docking between PfMyoB and MTIP. Three-dimensional (3D) models obtained for PfMyoA and PfMyoB achieved high scores in the structural validation programs used, and their superimposition revealed high structural similarity, supporting the hypothesis of possible similar functions for these two proteins. The 3D interaction models obtained and energy values found suggested that interaction between PfMyoB and MTIP is possible. Given the apparent abundance of PfMyoA relative to PfMyoB in the parasite, we believe that the interaction between PfMyoB and MTIP would only be detectable in specific cellular environments because under normal circumstances, it would be masked by the interaction between PfMyoA and MTIP.
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23
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Yusuf NA, Green JL, Wall RJ, Knuepfer E, Moon RW, Schulte-Huxel C, Stanway RR, Martin SR, Howell SA, Douse CH, Cota E, Tate EW, Tewari R, Holder AA. The Plasmodium Class XIV Myosin, MyoB, Has a Distinct Subcellular Location in Invasive and Motile Stages of the Malaria Parasite and an Unusual Light Chain. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:12147-64. [PMID: 25802338 PMCID: PMC4424349 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.637694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Myosin B (MyoB) is one of the two short class XIV myosins encoded in the Plasmodium genome. Class XIV myosins are characterized by a catalytic "head," a modified "neck," and the absence of a "tail" region. Myosin A (MyoA), the other class XIV myosin in Plasmodium, has been established as a component of the glideosome complex important in motility and cell invasion, but MyoB is not well characterized. We analyzed the properties of MyoB using three parasite species as follows: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium berghei, and Plasmodium knowlesi. MyoB is expressed in all invasive stages (merozoites, ookinetes, and sporozoites) of the life cycle, and the protein is found in a discrete apical location in these polarized cells. In P. falciparum, MyoB is synthesized very late in schizogony/merogony, and its location in merozoites is distinct from, and anterior to, that of a range of known proteins present in the rhoptries, rhoptry neck or micronemes. Unlike MyoA, MyoB is not associated with glideosome complex proteins, including the MyoA light chain, myosin A tail domain-interacting protein (MTIP). A unique MyoB light chain (MLC-B) was identified that contains a calmodulin-like domain at the C terminus and an extended N-terminal region. MLC-B localizes to the same extreme apical pole in the cell as MyoB, and the two proteins form a complex. We propose that MLC-B is a MyoB-specific light chain, and for the short class XIV myosins that lack a tail region, the atypical myosin light chains may fulfill that role.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Richard J Wall
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG2 7UH, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Rebecca R Stanway
- the Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland, and
| | | | - Steven A Howell
- Molecular Structure, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher H Douse
- the Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ernesto Cota
- the Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Edward W Tate
- the Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Rita Tewari
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG2 7UH, United Kingdom
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24
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Flannery EL, McNamara CW, Kim SW, Kato TS, Li F, Teng CH, Gagaring K, Manary MJ, Barboa R, Meister S, Kuhen K, Vinetz JM, Chatterjee AK, Winzeler EA. Mutations in the P-type cation-transporter ATPase 4, PfATP4, mediate resistance to both aminopyrazole and spiroindolone antimalarials. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10:413-20. [PMID: 25322084 PMCID: PMC4340351 DOI: 10.1021/cb500616x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Aminopyrazoles are a new class of
antimalarial compounds identified
in a cellular antiparasitic screen with potent activity against Plasmodium falciparum asexual and sexual stage parasites.
To investigate their unknown mechanism of action and thus identify
their target, we cultured parasites in the presence of a representative
member of the aminopyrazole series, GNF-Pf4492, to select for resistance.
Whole genome sequencing of three resistant lines showed that each
had acquired independent mutations in a P-type cation-transporter
ATPase, PfATP4 (PF3D7_1211900), a protein implicated as the novel Plasmodium spp. target of another, structurally unrelated,
class of antimalarials called the spiroindolones and characterized
as an important sodium transporter of the cell. Similarly to the spiroindolones,
GNF-Pf4492 blocks parasite transmission to mosquitoes and disrupts
intracellular sodium homeostasis. Our data demonstrate that PfATP4
plays a critical role in cellular processes, can be inhibited by two
distinct antimalarial pharmacophores, and supports the recent observations
that PfATP4 is a critical antimalarial target.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Case W. McNamara
- The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | | | - Tomoyo Sakata Kato
- The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | | | | | - Kerstin Gagaring
- The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | | | - Rachel Barboa
- The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | | | - Kelli Kuhen
- The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | | | - Arnab K. Chatterjee
- The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California 92121, United States
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25
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Douse CH, Vrielink N, Wenlin Z, Cota E, Tate EW. Targeting a dynamic protein-protein interaction: fragment screening against the malaria myosin A motor complex. ChemMedChem 2015; 10:134-43. [PMID: 25367834 PMCID: PMC4506568 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201402357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Motility is a vital feature of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum, the apicomplexan parasite that causes human malaria. Processes such as host cell invasion are thought to be powered by a conserved actomyosin motor (containing myosin A or myoA), correct localization of which is dependent on a tight interaction with myosin A tail domain interacting protein (MTIP) at the inner membrane of the parasite. Although disruption of this protein-protein interaction represents an attractive means to investigate the putative roles of myoA-based motility and to inhibit the parasitic life cycle, no small molecules have been identified that bind to MTIP. Furthermore, it has not been possible to obtain a crystal structure of the free protein, which is highly dynamic and unstable in the absence of its natural myoA tail partner. Herein we report the de novo identification of the first molecules that bind to and stabilize MTIP via a fragment-based, integrated biophysical approach and structural investigations to examine the binding modes of hit compounds. The challenges of targeting such a dynamic system with traditional fragment screening workflows are addressed throughout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H Douse
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South KensingtonLondon SW7 2AZ (UK) E-mail:
- Centre for Structural Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College LondonSouth Kensington, London SW7 2AZ (UK)
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College LondonSouth Kensington, London SW7 2AZ (UK)
| | - Nina Vrielink
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South KensingtonLondon SW7 2AZ (UK) E-mail:
| | - Zhang Wenlin
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South KensingtonLondon SW7 2AZ (UK) E-mail:
| | - Ernesto Cota
- Centre for Structural Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College LondonSouth Kensington, London SW7 2AZ (UK)
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College LondonSouth Kensington, London SW7 2AZ (UK)
| | - Edward W Tate
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South KensingtonLondon SW7 2AZ (UK) E-mail:
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College LondonSouth Kensington, London SW7 2AZ (UK)
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26
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Kan A, Tan YH, Angrisano F, Hanssen E, Rogers KL, Whitehead L, Mollard VP, Cozijnsen A, Delves MJ, Crawford S, Sinden RE, McFadden GI, Leckie C, Bailey J, Baum J. Quantitative analysis of Plasmodium ookinete motion in three dimensions suggests a critical role for cell shape in the biomechanics of malaria parasite gliding motility. Cell Microbiol 2014; 16:734-50. [PMID: 24612056 PMCID: PMC4286792 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Motility is a fundamental part of cellular life and survival, including for Plasmodium parasites--single-celled protozoan pathogens responsible for human malaria. The motile life cycle forms achieve motility, called gliding, via the activity of an internal actomyosin motor. Although gliding is based on the well-studied system of actin and myosin, its core biomechanics are not completely understood. Currently accepted models suggest it results from a specifically organized cellular motor that produces a rearward directional force. When linked to surface-bound adhesins, this force is passaged to the cell posterior, propelling the parasite forwards. Gliding motility is observed in all three life cycle stages of Plasmodium: sporozoites, merozoites and ookinetes. However, it is only the ookinetes--formed inside the midgut of infected mosquitoes--that display continuous gliding without the necessity of host cell entry. This makes them ideal candidates for invasion-free biomechanical analysis. Here we apply a plate-based imaging approach to study ookinete motion in three-dimensional (3D) space to understand Plasmodium cell motility and how movement facilitates midgut colonization. Using single-cell tracking and numerical analysis of parasite motion in 3D, our analysis demonstrates that ookinetes move with a conserved left-handed helical trajectory. Investigation of cell morphology suggests this trajectory may be based on the ookinete subpellicular cytoskeleton, with complementary whole and subcellular electron microscopy showing that, like their motion paths, ookinetes share a conserved left-handed corkscrew shape and underlying twisted microtubular architecture. Through comparisons of 3D movement between wild-type ookinetes and a cytoskeleton-knockout mutant we demonstrate that perturbation of cell shape changes motion from helical to broadly linear. Therefore, while the precise linkages between cellular architecture and actomyosin motor organization remain unknown, our analysis suggests that the molecular basis of cell shape may, in addition to motor force, be a key adaptive strategy for malaria parasite dissemination and, as such, transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Kan
- Victoria Research Laboratory, National ICT Australia (NICTA), Department of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., 3010, Australia
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27
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Sebastian S, Brochet M, Collins MO, Schwach F, Jones ML, Goulding D, Rayner JC, Choudhary JS, Billker O. A Plasmodium calcium-dependent protein kinase controls zygote development and transmission by translationally activating repressed mRNAs. Cell Host Microbe 2013; 12:9-19. [PMID: 22817984 PMCID: PMC3414820 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2012.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2012] [Revised: 04/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play key regulatory roles in the life cycle of the malaria parasite, but in many cases their precise molecular functions are unknown. Using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, we show that CDPK1, which is known to be essential in the asexual blood stage of the parasite, is expressed in all life stages and is indispensable during the sexual mosquito life-cycle stages. Knockdown of CDPK1 in sexual stages resulted in developmentally arrested parasites and prevented mosquito transmission, and these effects were independent of the previously proposed function for CDPK1 in regulating parasite motility. In-depth translational and transcriptional profiling of arrested parasites revealed that CDPK1 translationally activates mRNA species in the developing zygote that in macrogametes remain repressed via their 3' and 5'UTRs. These findings indicate that CDPK1 is a multifunctional protein that translationally regulates mRNAs to ensure timely and stage-specific protein expression.
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28
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Douse CH, Green JL, Salgado PS, Simpson PJ, Thomas JC, Langsley G, Holder AA, Tate EW, Cota E. Regulation of the Plasmodium motor complex: phosphorylation of myosin A tail-interacting protein (MTIP) loosens its grip on MyoA. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:36968-77. [PMID: 22932904 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.379842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between the C-terminal tail of myosin A (MyoA) and its light chain, myosin A tail domain interacting protein (MTIP), is an essential feature of the conserved molecular machinery required for gliding motility and cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites. Recent data indicate that MTIP Ser-107 and/or Ser-108 are targeted for intracellular phosphorylation. Using an optimized MyoA tail peptide to reconstitute the complex, we show that this region of MTIP is an interaction hotspot using x-ray crystallography and NMR, and S107E and S108E mutants were generated to mimic the effect of phosphorylation. NMR relaxation experiments and other biophysical measurements indicate that the S108E mutation serves to break the tight clamp around the MyoA tail, whereas S107E has a smaller but measurable impact. These data are consistent with physical interactions observed between recombinant MTIP and native MyoA from Plasmodium falciparum lysates. Taken together these data support the notion that the conserved interactions between MTIP and MyoA may be specifically modulated by this post-translational modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H Douse
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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29
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Thomas DC, Ahmed A, Gilberger TW, Sharma P. Regulation of Plasmodium falciparum glideosome associated protein 45 (PfGAP45) phosphorylation. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35855. [PMID: 22558243 PMCID: PMC3338798 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The actomyosin motor complex of the glideosome provides the force needed by apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) to invade their host cells and for gliding motility of their motile forms. Glideosome Associated Protein 45 (PfGAP45) is an essential component of the glideosome complex as it facilitates anchoring and effective functioning of the motor. Dissection of events that regulate PfGAP45 may provide insights into how the motor and the glideosome operate. We found that PfGAP45 is phosphorylated in response to Phospholipase C (PLC) and calcium signaling. It is phosphorylated by P. falciparum kinases Protein Kinase B (PfPKB) and Calcium Dependent Protein Kinase 1 (PfCDPK1), which are calcium dependent enzymes, at S89, S103 and S149. The Phospholipase C pathway influenced the phosphorylation of S103 and S149. The phosphorylation of PfGAP45 at these sites is differentially regulated during parasite development. The localization of PfGAP45 and its association may be independent of the phosphorylation of these sites. PfGAP45 regulation in response to calcium fits in well with the previously described role of calcium in host cell invasion by malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Catherine Thomas
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Anwar Ahmed
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Tim Wolf Gilberger
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- M. G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Pushkar Sharma
- Eukaryotic Gene Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
- * E-mail:
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30
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Kono M, Herrmann S, Loughran NB, Cabrera A, Engelberg K, Lehmann C, Sinha D, Prinz B, Ruch U, Heussler V, Spielmann T, Parkinson J, Gilberger TW. Evolution and architecture of the inner membrane complex in asexual and sexual stages of the malaria parasite. Mol Biol Evol 2012; 29:2113-32. [PMID: 22389454 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/mss081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a unifying morphological feature of all alveolate organisms. It consists of flattened vesicles underlying the plasma membrane and is interconnected with the cytoskeleton. Depending on the ecological niche of the organisms, the function of the IMC ranges from a fundamental role as reinforcement system to more specialized roles in motility and cytokinesis. In this article, we present a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of IMC components, which exemplifies the adaptive nature of the IMCs' protein composition. Focusing on eight structurally distinct proteins in the most prominent "genus" of the Alveolata-the malaria parasite Plasmodium-we demonstrate that the level of conservation is reflected in phenotypic characteristics, accentuated in differential spatial-temporal patterns of these proteins in the motile stages of the parasite's life cycle. Colocalization studies with the centromere and the spindle apparatus reveal their discriminative biogenesis. We also reveal that the IMC is an essential structural compartment for the development of the sexual stages of Plasmodium, as it seems to drive the morphological changes of the parasite during the long and multistaged process of sexual differentiation. We further found a Plasmodium-specific IMC membrane matrix protein that highlights transversal structures in gametocytes, which could represent a genus-specific structural innovation required by Plasmodium. We conclude that the IMC has an additional role during sexual development supporting morphogenesis of the cell, which in addition to its functions in the asexual stages highlights the multifunctional nature of the IMC in the Plasmodium life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Kono
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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31
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Angrisano F, Riglar DT, Sturm A, Volz JC, Delves MJ, Zuccala ES, Turnbull L, Dekiwadia C, Olshina MA, Marapana DS, Wong W, Mollard V, Bradin CH, Tonkin CJ, Gunning PW, Ralph SA, Whitchurch CB, Sinden RE, Cowman AF, McFadden GI, Baum J. Spatial localisation of actin filaments across developmental stages of the malaria parasite. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32188. [PMID: 22389687 PMCID: PMC3289632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Accepted: 01/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Actin dynamics have been implicated in a variety of developmental processes during the malaria parasite lifecycle. Parasite motility, in particular, is thought to critically depend on an actomyosin motor located in the outer pellicle of the parasite cell. Efforts to understand the diverse roles actin plays have, however, been hampered by an inability to detect microfilaments under native conditions. To visualise the spatial dynamics of actin we generated a parasite-specific actin antibody that shows preferential recognition of filamentous actin and applied this tool to different lifecycle stages (merozoites, sporozoites and ookinetes) of the human and mouse malaria parasite species Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei along with tachyzoites from the related apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Actin filament distribution was found associated with three core compartments: the nuclear periphery, pellicular membranes of motile or invasive parasite forms and in a ring-like distribution at the tight junction during merozoite invasion of erythrocytes in both human and mouse malaria parasites. Localisation at the nuclear periphery is consistent with an emerging role of actin in facilitating parasite gene regulation. During invasion, we show that the actin ring at the parasite-host cell tight junction is dependent on dynamic filament turnover. Super-resolution imaging places this ring posterior to, and not concentric with, the junction marker rhoptry neck protein 4. This implies motor force relies on the engagement of dynamic microfilaments at zones of traction, though not necessarily directly through receptor-ligand interactions at sites of adhesion during invasion. Combined, these observations extend current understanding of the diverse roles actin plays in malaria parasite development and apicomplexan cell motility, in particular refining understanding on the linkage of the internal parasite gliding motor with the extra-cellular milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Angrisano
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David T. Riglar
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angelika Sturm
- School of Botany University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer C. Volz
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael J. Delves
- Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth S. Zuccala
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lynne Turnbull
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chaitali Dekiwadia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maya A. Olshina
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Danushka S. Marapana
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wilson Wong
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vanessa Mollard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare H. Bradin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher J. Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter W. Gunning
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stuart A. Ralph
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cynthia B. Whitchurch
- The ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robert E. Sinden
- School of Botany University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Geoffrey I. McFadden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
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32
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Bosch J, Paige MH, Vaidya AB, Bergman LW, Hol WGJ. Crystal structure of GAP50, the anchor of the invasion machinery in the inner membrane complex of Plasmodium falciparum. J Struct Biol 2012; 178:61-73. [PMID: 22387043 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2012.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2011] [Revised: 02/08/2012] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The glideosome associated protein GAP50 is an essential protein in apicomplexan parasites such as Plasmodium, Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium, several species of which are important human pathogens. The 44.6kDa protein is part of a multi-protein complex known as the invasion machinery or glideosome, which is required for cell invasion and substrate gliding motility empowered by an actin-myosin motor. GAP50 is anchored through its C-terminal transmembrane helix into the inner membrane complex and interacts via a short six residue C-terminal tail with other proteins of the invasion machinery in the pellicle of the parasite. In this paper we describe the 1.7Å resolution crystal structure of the soluble GAP50 domain from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The structure shows an αßßα fold with overall similarity to purple acid phosphatases with, however, little homology regarding the nature of the residues in the active site region of the latter enzyme. While purple acid phosphatases contain a phosphate bridged binuclear Fe-site coordinated by seven side chains with the Fe-ions 3.2Å apart, GAP50 in our crystals contains two cobalt ions each with one protein ligand and a distance between the Co(2+) ions of 18Å.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Bosch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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33
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Dearnley MK, Yeoman JA, Hanssen E, Kenny S, Turnbull L, Whitchurch CB, Tilley L, Dixon MWA. Origin, composition, organization and function of the inner membrane complex of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. J Cell Sci 2012; 125:2053-63. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.099002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The most virulent of the human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, undergoes a remarkable morphological transformation as it prepares itself for sexual reproduction and transmission via mosquitoes. Indeed P. falciparum is named for the unique falciform or crescent shape of the mature sexual stages. Once the metamorphosis is completed the mature gametocyte releases from sequestration sites and enters the circulation making it accessible to feeding mosquitoes. Early ultrastructural studies showed that gametocyte elongation is driven by the assembly of a system of flattened cisternal membrane compartments underneath the parasite plasma membrane and a supporting network of microtubules. Here we describe the molecular composition and origin of the sub-pellicular membrane complex, and show that it is analogous to the inner membrane complex, an organelle with structural and motor functions that is well conserved across the apicomplexa. We identify novel cross-linking elements that may help stabilize the inner membrane complex during gametocyte development. We show that changes in gametocyte morphology are associated with an increase in cellular deformability and postulate that this enables the gametocytes to circulate in the blood stream without being detected and removed by the mechanical filtering mechanisms in the host's spleen.
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34
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Farrow RE, Green J, Katsimitsoulia Z, Taylor WR, Holder AA, Molloy JE. The mechanism of erythrocyte invasion by the malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2011; 22:953-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2011.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 09/29/2011] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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35
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Kuss C, Gan CS, Gunalan K, Bozdech Z, Sze SK, Preiser PR. Quantitative proteomics reveals new insights into erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Cell Proteomics 2011; 11:M111.010645. [PMID: 22023809 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m111.010645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Differential expression of ligands in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum enables it to recognize different receptors on the erythrocyte surface, thereby providing alternative invasion pathways. Switching of invasion from using sialated to nonsialated erythrocyte receptors has been linked to the transcriptional activation of a single parasite ligand. We have used quantitative proteomics to show that in addition to this single known change, there are a significant number of changes in the expression of merozoite proteins that are regulated independent of transcription during invasion pathway switching. These results demonstrate a so far unrecognized mechanism by which the malaria parasite is able to adapt to variations in the host cell environment by post-transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kuss
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
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36
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Siden-Kiamos I, Ganter M, Kunze A, Hliscs M, Steinbüchel M, Mendoza J, Sinden RE, Louis C, Matuschewski K. Stage-specific depletion of myosin A supports an essential role in motility of malarial ookinetes. Cell Microbiol 2011; 13:1996-2006. [PMID: 21899701 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2011.01686.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Functional analysis of Plasmodium genes by classical reverse genetics is currently limited to mutants that are viable during erythrocytic schizogony, the pathogenic phase of the malaria parasite where transfection is performed. Here, we describe a conceptually simple experimental approach to study the function of genes essential to the asexual blood stages in a subsequent life cycle stage by a promoter-swap approach. As a proof of concept we targeted the unconventional class XIV myosin MyoA, which is known to be required for Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite locomotion and host cell invasion. By placing the corresponding Plasmodium berghei gene, PbMyoA, under the control of the apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) promoter, expression in blood stages is maintained but switched off during transmission to the insect vector, i.e. ookinetes. In those mutant ookinetes gliding motility is entirely abolished resulting in a complete block of life cycle progression in Anopheles mosquitoes. Similar approaches should permit the analysis of gene function in the mosquito forms that are shared with the erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Siden-Kiamos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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37
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Delmotte A, Tate EW, Yaliraki SN, Barahona M. Protein multi-scale organization through graph partitioning and robustness analysis: application to the myosin–myosin light chain interaction. Phys Biol 2011; 8:055010. [PMID: 21832797 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/8/5/055010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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38
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Frénal K, Polonais V, Marq JB, Stratmann R, Limenitakis J, Soldati-Favre D. Functional dissection of the apicomplexan glideosome molecular architecture. Cell Host Microbe 2011; 8:343-57. [PMID: 20951968 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2010.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2010] [Revised: 07/26/2010] [Accepted: 09/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The glideosome of apicomplexan parasites is an actin- and myosin-based machine located at the pellicle, between the plasma membrane (PM) and inner membrane complex (IMC), that powers parasite motility, migration, and host cell invasion and egress. It is composed of myosin A, its light chain MLC1, and two gliding-associated proteins, GAP50 and GAP45. We identify GAP40, a polytopic protein of the IMC, as an additional glideosome component and show that GAP45 is anchored to the PM and IMC via its N- and C-terminal extremities, respectively. While the C-terminal region of GAP45 recruits MLC1-MyoA to the IMC, the N-terminal acylation and coiled-coil domain preserve pellicle integrity during invasion. GAP45 is essential for gliding, invasion, and egress. The orthologous Plasmodium falciparum GAP45 can fulfill this dual function, as shown by transgenera complementation, whereas the coccidian GAP45 homolog (designated here as) GAP70 specifically recruits the glideosome to the apical cap of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Frénal
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Centre Medical Universitaire, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
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39
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Tracking Glideosome-associated protein 50 reveals the development and organization of the inner membrane complex of Plasmodium falciparum. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2011; 10:556-64. [PMID: 21239623 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00244-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The most deadly of the human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, has different stages specialized for invasion of hepatocytes, erythrocytes, and the mosquito gut wall. In each case, host cell invasion is powered by an actin-myosin motor complex that is linked to an inner membrane complex (IMC) via a membrane anchor called the glideosome-associated protein 50 (PfGAP50). We generated P. falciparum transfectants expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimeras of PfGAP50 (PfGAP50-GFP). Using immunoprecipitation and fluorescence photobleaching, we show that C-terminally tagged PfGAP50-GFP can form a complex with endogenous copies of the linker protein PfGAP45 and the myosin A tail domain-interacting protein (MTIP). Full-length PfGAP50-GFP is located in the endoplasmic reticulum in early-stage parasites and then redistributes to apical caps during the formation of daughter merozoites. In the final stage of schizogony, the PfGAP50-GFP profile extends further around the merozoite surface. Three-dimensional (3D) structured illumination microscopy reveals the early-stage IMC as a doubly punctured flat ellipsoid that separates to form claw-shaped apposed structures. A GFP fusion of PfGAP50 lacking the C-terminal membrane anchor is misdirected to the parasitophorous vacuole. Replacement of the acid phosphatase homology domain of PfGAP50 with GFP appears to allow correct trafficking of the chimera but confers a growth disadvantage.
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40
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Polonais V, Javier Foth B, Chinthalapudi K, Marq JB, Manstein DJ, Soldati-Favre D, Frénal K. Unusual anchor of a motor complex (MyoD-MLC2) to the plasma membrane of Toxoplasma gondii. Traffic 2011; 12:287-300. [PMID: 21143563 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2010.01148.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii possesses 11 rather atypical myosin heavy chains. The only myosin light chain described to date is MLC1, associated with myosin A, and contributing to gliding motility. In this study, we examined the repertoire of calmodulin-like proteins in Apicomplexans, identified six putative myosin light chains and determined their subcellular localization in T. gondii and Plasmodium falciparum. MLC2, only found in coccidians, is associated with myosin D via its calmodulin (CaM)-like domain and anchored to the plasma membrane of T. gondii via its N-terminal extension. Molecular modeling suggests that the MyoD-MLC2 complex is more compact than the reported structure of Plasmodium MyoA-myosin A tail-interacting protein (MTIP) complex. Anchorage of this MLC2 to the plasma membrane is likely governed by palmitoylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Polonais
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
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Kortagere S, Welsh WJ, Morrisey JM, Daly T, Ejigiri I, Sinnis P, Vaidya AB, Bergman LW. Structure-based design of novel small-molecule inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum. J Chem Inf Model 2010; 50:840-9. [PMID: 20426475 DOI: 10.1021/ci100039k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is endemic in most developing countries, with nearly 500 million cases estimated to occur each year. The need to design a new generation of antimalarial drugs that can combat the most drug-resistant forms of the malarial parasite is well recognized. In this study, we wanted to develop inhibitors of key proteins that form the invasion machinery of the malarial parasite. A critical feature of host-cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites is the interaction between the carboxy terminal tail of myosin A (MyoA) and the myosin tail interacting protein (MTIP). Using the cocrystal structure of the Plasmodium knowlesi MTIP and the MyoA tail peptide as input to the hybrid structure-based virtual screening approach, we identified a series of small molecules as having the potential to inhibit MTIP-MyoA interactions. Of the initial 15 compounds tested, a pyrazole-urea compound inhibited P. falciparum growth with an EC(50) value of 145 nM. We screened an additional 51 compounds belonging to the same chemical class and identified 8 compounds with EC(50) values less than 400 nM. Interestingly, the compounds appeared to act at several stages of the parasite's life cycle to block growth and development. The pyrazole-urea compounds identified in this study could be effective antimalarial agents because they competitively inhibit a key protein-protein interaction between MTIP and MyoA responsible for the gliding motility and the invasive features of the malarial parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Kortagere
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Kuehn A, Simon N, Pradel G. Family members stick together: multi-protein complexes of malaria parasites. Med Microbiol Immunol 2010; 199:209-26. [PMID: 20419315 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-010-0157-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Malaria parasites express a broad repertoire of proteins whose expression is tightly regulated depending on the life-cycle stage of the parasite and the environment of target organs in the respective host. Transmission of malaria parasites from the human to the anopheline mosquito is mediated by intraerythrocytic sexual stages, termed gametocytes, which circulate in the peripheral blood and are essential for the spread of the tropical disease. In Plasmodium falciparum, gametocytes express numerous extracellular proteins with adhesive motifs, which might mediate important interactions during transmission. Among these is a family of six secreted proteins with adhesive modules, termed PfCCp proteins, which are highly conserved throughout the apicomplexan clade. In P. falciparum, the proteins are expressed in the parasitophorous vacuole of gametocytes and are subsequently exposed on the surface of macrogametes during parasite reproduction in the mosquito midgut. One characteristic of the family is a co-dependent expression, such that loss of all six proteins occurs if expression of one member is disrupted via gene knockout. The six PfCCp proteins interact by adhesion domain-mediated binding and thus form complexes on the sexual stage surface having adhesive properties. To date, the PfCCp proteins represent the only protein family of the malaria parasite sexual stages that assembles to multimeric complexes, and only a small number of such protein complexes have so far been identified in other life-cycle stages of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kuehn
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, Building D15, Würzburg, Germany
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43
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Heaslip AT, Leung JM, Carey KL, Catti F, Warshaw DM, Westwood NJ, Ballif BA, Ward GE. A small-molecule inhibitor of T. gondii motility induces the posttranslational modification of myosin light chain-1 and inhibits myosin motor activity. PLoS Pathog 2010; 6:e1000720. [PMID: 20084115 PMCID: PMC2800044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2009] [Accepted: 12/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that enters cells by a process of active penetration. Host cell penetration and parasite motility are driven by a myosin motor complex consisting of four known proteins: TgMyoA, an unconventional Class XIV myosin; TgMLC1, a myosin light chain; and two membrane-associated proteins, TgGAP45 and TgGAP50. Little is known about how the activity of the myosin motor complex is regulated. Here, we show that treatment of parasites with a recently identified small-molecule inhibitor of invasion and motility results in a rapid and irreversible change in the electrophoretic mobility of TgMLC1. While the precise nature of the TgMLC1 modification has not yet been established, it was mapped to the peptide Val46-Arg59. To determine if the TgMLC1 modification is responsible for the motility defect observed in parasites after compound treatment, the activity of myosin motor complexes from control and compound-treated parasites was compared in an in vitro motility assay. TgMyoA motor complexes containing the modified TgMLC1 showed significantly decreased motor activity compared to control complexes. This change in motor activity likely accounts for the motility defects seen in the parasites after compound treatment and provides the first evidence, in any species, that the mechanical activity of Class XIV myosins can be modulated by posttranslational modifications to their associated light chains. Toxoplasma gondii and related parasites within the Phylum Apicomplexa are collectively responsible for a great deal of human disease and death worldwide. The ability of apicomplexan parasites to invade cells of their hosts, disseminate through tissues and cause disease depends critically on parasite motility. Motility is driven by a complex of proteins that is well conserved within the phylum; however, very little is known about how the unconventional myosin motor protein at the heart of this motility machinery is regulated. T. gondii serves as a powerful model system for studying apicomplexan motile mechanisms. We show here that a recently identified pharmacological inhibitor of T. gondii motility induces a posttranslational modification of TgMLC1, a protein that binds to the myosin motor protein, TgMyoA. The compound-induced modification of TgMLC1 is associated with a decrease in TgMyoA mechanical activity. These data provide the first glimpse into how TgMyoA is regulated and how a change in the activity of the T. gondii myosin motor complex can affect the motility and infectivity of this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoife T. Heaslip
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Jacqueline M. Leung
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Kimberly L. Carey
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Federica Catti
- School of Chemistry and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - David M. Warshaw
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Westwood
- School of Chemistry and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Bryan A. Ballif
- Department of Biology and Vermont Genetics Network Proteomics Facility, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Gary E. Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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44
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Thomas JC, Green JL, Howson RI, Simpson P, Moss DK, Martin SR, Holder AA, Cota E, Tate EW. Interaction and dynamics of the Plasmodium falciparum MTIP–MyoA complex, a key component of the invasion motor in the malaria parasite. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2010; 6:494-8. [DOI: 10.1039/b922093c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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45
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Lal K, Prieto JH, Bromley E, Sanderson SJ, Yates JR, Wastling JM, Tomley FM, Sinden RE. Characterisation of Plasmodium invasive organelles; an ookinete microneme proteome. Proteomics 2009; 9:1142-51. [PMID: 19206106 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200800404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Secretion of microneme proteins is essential to Plasmodium invasion but the molecular composition of these secretory organelles remains poorly defined. Here, we describe the first Plasmodium microneme proteome. Purification of micronemes by subcellular fractionation from cultured ookinetes was confirmed by enrichment of known micronemal proteins and electron microscopy. Quantitation of electron micrographs showed >14-fold microneme enrichment compared to the intact ookinete, such that micronemes comprised 85% of the identifiable organelles in the fraction. Gel LC-MS/MS of the most abundant protein constituents of the fraction identified three known micronemal proteins chitinase, CTRP, SOAP, together with protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) and HSP70. Highly sensitive MudPIT shotgun proteomics described a total of 345 proteins in the fraction. M1 aminopeptidase and PDI, the former a recognised target of drug development, were both shown to have a micronemal location by IFA. We further identified numerous proteins with established vesicle trafficking and signaling functions consistent with micronemes being part of a regulated secretory pathway. Previously uncharacterised proteins comprise the largest functional group of the microneme proteome and will include secreted proteins important to invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana Lal
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Imperial College London, UK.
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Agop-Nersesian C, Naissant B, Rached FB, Rauch M, Kretzschmar A, Thiberge S, Menard R, Ferguson DJP, Meissner M, Langsley G. Rab11A-controlled assembly of the inner membrane complex is required for completion of apicomplexan cytokinesis. PLoS Pathog 2009; 5:e1000270. [PMID: 19165333 PMCID: PMC2622761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2008] [Accepted: 12/15/2008] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The final step during cell division is the separation of daughter cells, a process that requires the coordinated delivery and assembly of new membrane to the cleavage furrow. While most eukaryotic cells replicate by binary fission, replication of apicomplexan parasites involves the assembly of daughters (merozoites/tachyzoites) within the mother cell, using the so-called Inner Membrane Complex (IMC) as a scaffold. After de novo synthesis of the IMC and biogenesis or segregation of new organelles, daughters bud out of the mother cell to invade new host cells. Here, we demonstrate that the final step in parasite cell division involves delivery of new plasma membrane to the daughter cells, in a process requiring functional Rab11A. Importantly, Rab11A can be found in association with Myosin-Tail-Interacting-Protein (MTIP), also known as Myosin Light Chain 1 (MLC1), a member of a 4-protein motor complex called the glideosome that is known to be crucial for parasite invasion of host cells. Ablation of Rab11A function results in daughter parasites having an incompletely formed IMC that leads to a block at a late stage of cell division. A similar defect is observed upon inducible expression of a myosin A tail-only mutant. We propose a model where Rab11A-mediated vesicular traffic driven by an MTIP-Myosin motor is necessary for IMC maturation and to deliver new plasma membrane to daughter cells in order to complete cell division. Apicomplexan parasites are unusual in that they replicate by assembling daughter parasites within the mother cell. This involves the ordered assembly of an Inner Membrane Complex (IMC), a scaffold consisting of flattened membrane cisternae and a subpellicular network made up of microtubules and scaffold proteins. The IMC begins to form at the onset of replication, but its maturation occurs at the final stage of cytokinesis (the last step during cell division) upon the addition of motor (glideosome) components such as GAP45 (Glideosome Associated Protein), Myosin A (MyoA), and Myosin-Tail-Interacting-Protein (MTIP, also known as Myosin Light Chain 1) that are necessary to drive the gliding motility required for parasite invasion. We demonstrate that Rab11A regulates not only delivery of new plasmamembrane to daughter cells, but, importantly, also correct IMC formation. We show that Rab11A physically interacts with MTIP/MLC1, implicating unconventional myosin(s) in both cytokinesis and IMC maturation, and, consistently, overexpression of a MyoA tail-only mutant generates a default similar to that which we observe upon Rab11A ablation. We propose a model where Rab11A-mediated vesicular traffic is required for the delivery of new plasma membrane to daughter cells and for the maturation of the IMC in order to complete cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Agop-Nersesian
- Hygieneinstitut, Department of Parasitology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bernina Naissant
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Comparative des Apicomplexes, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institut Cochin, Inserm U567, CNRS UMR 8104, Faculté de Médecine Paris V – Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Fathia Ben Rached
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Comparative des Apicomplexes, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institut Cochin, Inserm U567, CNRS UMR 8104, Faculté de Médecine Paris V – Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Manuel Rauch
- Hygieneinstitut, Department of Parasitology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angelika Kretzschmar
- Hygieneinstitut, Department of Parasitology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Thiberge
- Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Robert Menard
- Unité de Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - David J. P. Ferguson
- Nuffield Department of Pathology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Markus Meissner
- Hygieneinstitut, Department of Parasitology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail: (MM); (GL)
| | - Gordon Langsley
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Comparative des Apicomplexes, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institut Cochin, Inserm U567, CNRS UMR 8104, Faculté de Médecine Paris V – Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
- * E-mail: (MM); (GL)
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47
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The mechanism of pentabromopseudilin inhibition of myosin motor activity. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2009; 16:80-8. [PMID: 19122661 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2008] [Accepted: 12/02/2008] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We have identified pentabromopseudilin (PBP) as a potent inhibitor of myosin-dependent processes such as isometric tension development and unloaded shortening velocity. PBP-induced reductions in the rate constants for ATP binding, ATP hydrolysis and ADP dissociation extend the time required per myosin ATPase cycle in the absence and presence of actin. Additionally, coupling between the actin and nucleotide binding sites is reduced in the presence of the inhibitor. The selectivity of PBP differs from that observed with other myosin inhibitors. To elucidate the binding mode of PBP, we crystallized the Dictyostelium myosin-2 motor domain in the presence of Mg(2+)-ADP-meta-vanadate and PBP. The electron density for PBP is unambiguous and shows PBP to bind at a previously unknown allosteric site near the tip of the 50-kDa domain, at a distance of 16 A from the nucleotide binding site and 7.5 A away from the blebbistatin binding pocket.
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48
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Holder AA, Veigel C. Formin’ an invasion machine: actin polymerization in invading apicomplexans. Trends Parasitol 2009; 25:1-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2008.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2008] [Revised: 08/11/2008] [Accepted: 09/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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49
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Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites move and actively enter host cells by substrate-dependent gliding motility, an unusual form of eukaryotic locomotion that differs fundamentally from the motility of prokaryotic and viral pathogens. Recent research has uncovered some of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying parasite motility, transmigration, and cell invasion during life cycle progression. The gliding motor machinery is embedded between the plasma membrane and the inner membrane complex, a unique double membrane layer. It consists ofimmobilized unconventional myosins, short actin stubs, and TRAP-family invasins. Assembly of this motor machinery enables force generation between parasite cytoskeletal components and an extracellular substratum. Unique properties of the individual components suggest that the rational design of motility inhibitors may lead to new intervention strategies to combat some of the most devastating human and livestock diseases.
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50
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Green JL, Rees-Channer RR, Howell SA, Martin SR, Knuepfer E, Taylor HM, Grainger M, Holder AA. The motor complex of Plasmodium falciparum: phosphorylation by a calcium-dependent protein kinase. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:30980-9. [PMID: 18768477 PMCID: PMC2576532 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m803129200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2008] [Revised: 09/03/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) of Apicomplexan parasites are crucial for the survival of the parasite throughout its life cycle. CDPK1 is expressed in the asexual blood stages of the parasite, particularly late stage schizonts. We have identified two substrates of Plasmodium falciparum CDPK1: myosin A tail domain-interacting protein (MTIP) and glideosome-associated protein 45 (GAP45), both of which are components of the motor complex that generates the force required by the parasite to actively invade host cells. Indirect immunofluorescence shows that CDPK1 localizes to the periphery of P. falciparum merozoites and is therefore suitably located to act on MTIP and GAP45 at the inner membrane complex. A proportion of both GAP45 and MTIP is phosphorylated in schizonts, and we demonstrate that both proteins can be efficiently phosphorylated by CDPK1 in vitro. A primary phosphorylation of MTIP occurs at serine 47, whereas GAP45 is phosphorylated at two sites, one of which could also be detected in phosphopeptides purified from parasite lysates. Both CDPK1 activity and host cell invasion can be inhibited by the kinase inhibitor K252a, suggesting that CDPK1 is a suitable target for antimalarial drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith L Green
- Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
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