1
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Romagnoli BAA, Lucena ACR, Freire ER, Munhoz da Rocha IF, Alves LR, Goldenberg S. TcZC3HTTP, a regulatory element that contributes to Trypanosoma cruzi cell proliferation. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0288023. [PMID: 38270449 PMCID: PMC10913370 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02880-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression is a critical process for adapting to and surviving Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite with a complex life cycle. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key players in this regulation, forming ribonucleoprotein complexes (messenger ribonucleoproteins) and RNA granules that control transcript stability, localization, degradation, and translation modulation. Understanding the specific roles of individual RBPs is crucial for unraveling the details of this regulatory network. In this study, we generated null mutants of the TcZC3HTTP gene, a specific RBP in the Trypanosoma family characterized by a C3H zinc finger and a DNAJ domain associated with RNA and protein binding, respectively. Through cell growth assays, we demonstrated that the absence of TcZC3HTTP or the expression of an additional tagged version impacted epimastigote growth, indicating its contribution to cell proliferation. TcZC3HTTP was found to associate with mRNAs involved in cell cycle and division in epimastigotes, while in nutritionally stressed parasites it exhibited associations with mRNAs coding for other RBPs and rRNA. Furthermore, our analysis identified that TcZC3HTTP protein partners were different during normal growth conditions compared to starvation conditions, with the latter showing enrichment of ribosomal proteins and other RBPs. Therefore, this study provides insights into TcZC3HTTP's role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression during normal growth and nutritional stress in T. cruzi, uncovering its versatile functions in different cellular contexts.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding how Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, regulates gene expression is crucial for developing targeted interventions. In this study, we investigated the role of TcZC3HTTP, an RNA-binding protein, in post-transcriptional regulation. Our findings demonstrate that TcZC3HTTP is relevant for the growth and proliferation of epimastigotes, a stage of the parasite's life cycle. We identified its associations with specific mRNAs involved in cell cycle and division and its interactions with enzymes and other RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) under normal and starvation conditions. These insights shed light on the regulatory network underlying gene expression in T. cruzi and reveal the multifaceted functions of RBPs in this parasite. Such knowledge enhances our understanding of the parasite's biology and opens avenues for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting post-transcriptional gene regulation in T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aline Castro Rodrigues Lucena
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Eden Ribeiro Freire
- Gene Expression Regulation Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Lysangela Ronalte. Alves
- Gene Expression Regulation Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Disease and Immunity, CHU de Quebec Research Center, University Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Samuel Goldenberg
- Gene Expression Regulation Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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2
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Welsh CL, Madan LK. Allostery in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases is Enabled by Divergent Dynamics. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1331-1346. [PMID: 38346324 PMCID: PMC11144062 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Dynamics-driven allostery provides important insights into the working mechanics of proteins, especially enzymes. In this study, we employ this paradigm to answer a basic question: in enzyme superfamilies, where the catalytic mechanism, active sites, and protein fold are conserved, what accounts for the difference in the catalytic prowess of the individual members? We show that when subtle changes in sequence do not translate to changes in structure, they do translate to changes in dynamics. We use sequentially diverse PTP1B, TbPTP1, and YopH as representatives of the conserved protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily. Using amino acid network analysis of group behavior (community analysis) and influential node dominance on networks (eigenvector centrality), we explain the dynamic basis of the catalytic variations seen between the three proteins. Importantly, we explain how a dynamics-based blueprint makes PTP1B amenable to allosteric control and how the same is abstracted in TbPTP1 and YopH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin L Welsh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
| | - Lalima K Madan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
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3
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Porta EO, Gao L, Denny PW, Steel PG, Kalesh K. Inhibition of HSP90 distinctively modulates the global phosphoproteome of Leishmania mexicana developmental stages. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0296023. [PMID: 37905935 PMCID: PMC10715028 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02960-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In the unicellular parasites Leishmania spp., the etiological agents of leishmaniasis, a complex infectious disease that affects 98 countries in 5 continents, chemical inhibition of HSP90 protein leads to differentiation from promastigote to amastigote stage. Recent studies indicate potential role for protein phosphorylation in the life cycle control of Leishmania. Also, recent studies suggest a fundamentally important role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in regulating the downstream effects of the HSP90 inhibition in Leishmania. Phosphorylation-dephosphorylation dynamics of RBPs in higher eukaryotes serves as an important on/off switch to regulate RNA processing and decay in response to extracellular signals and cell cycle check points. In the current study, using a combination of highly sensitive TMT labeling-based quantitative proteomic MS and robust phosphoproteome enrichment, we show for the first time that HSP90 inhibition distinctively modulates global protein phosphorylation landscapes in the different life cycle stages of Leishmania, shedding light into a crucial role of the posttranslational modification in the differentiation of the parasite under HSP90 inhibition stress. We measured changes in phosphorylation of many RBPs and signaling proteins including protein kinases upon HSP90 inhibition in the therapeutically relevant amastigote stage. This work provides insights into the importance of HSP90-mediated protein cross-talks and regulation of phosphorylation in Leishmania, thus significantly expanding our knowledge of the posttranslational modification in Leishmania biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liqian Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Paul W. Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick G. Steel
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Karunakaran Kalesh
- School of Health and Life Sciences,Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
- National Horizons Centre, Darlington, United Kingdom
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4
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Welsh CL, Madan LK. Allostery in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases is Enabled by Divergent Dynamics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.23.550226. [PMID: 37547015 PMCID: PMC10402003 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.23.550226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Dynamics-driven allostery provides important insights into the working mechanics of proteins, especially enzymes. In this study we employ this paradigm to answer a basic question: in enzyme superfamilies where the catalytic mechanism, active sites and protein fold are conserved, what accounts for the difference in the catalytic prowess of the individual members? We show that when subtle changes in sequence do not translate to changes in structure, they do translate to changes in dynamics. We use sequentially diverse PTP1B, TbPTP1, and YopH as the representatives of the conserved Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTP) superfamily. Using amino acid network analysis of group behavior (community analysis) and influential node dominance on networks (eigenvector centrality), we explain the dynamic basis of catalytic variations seen between the three proteins. Importantly, we explain how a dynamics-based blueprint makes PTP1B amenable to allosteric control and how the same is abstracted in TbPTP1 and YopH.
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5
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Gutierrez Guarnizo SA, Tikhonova EB, Karamyshev AL, Muskus CE, Karamysheva ZN. Translational reprogramming as a driver of antimony-drug resistance in Leishmania. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2605. [PMID: 37147291 PMCID: PMC10163012 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38221-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania is a unicellular protozoan that has a limited transcriptional control and mostly uses post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, although the molecular mechanisms of the process are still poorly understood. Treatments of leishmaniasis, pathologies associated with Leishmania infections, are limited due to drug resistance. Here, we report dramatic differences in mRNA translation in antimony drug-resistant and sensitive strains at the full translatome level. The major differences (2431 differentially translated transcripts) were demonstrated in the absence of the drug pressure supporting that complex preemptive adaptations are needed to efficiently compensate for the loss of biological fitness once they are exposed to the antimony. In contrast, drug-resistant parasites exposed to antimony activated a highly selective translation of only 156 transcripts. This selective mRNA translation is associated with surface protein rearrangement, optimized energy metabolism, amastins upregulation, and improved antioxidant response. We propose a novel model that establishes translational control as a major driver of antimony-resistant phenotypes in Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneider Alexander Gutierrez Guarnizo
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, 79430, USA
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Antioquia. Medellín, Medellín, 050010, Colombia
| | - Elena B Tikhonova
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, 79430, USA
| | - Andrey L Karamyshev
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, 79430, USA.
| | - Carlos E Muskus
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Antioquia. Medellín, Medellín, 050010, Colombia.
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6
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Sending the message: specialized RNA export mechanisms in trypanosomes. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:854-867. [PMID: 36028415 PMCID: PMC9894534 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.07.008] [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: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Export of RNA from the nucleus is essential for all eukaryotic cells and has emerged as a major step in the control of gene expression. mRNA molecules are required to complete a complex series of processing events and pass a quality control system to protect the cytoplasm from the translation of aberrant proteins. Many of these events are highly conserved across eukaryotes, reflecting their ancient origin, but significant deviation from a canonical pathway as described from animals and fungi has emerged in the trypanosomatids. With significant implications for the mechanisms that control gene expression and hence differentiation, responses to altered environments and fitness as a parasite, these deviations may also reveal additional, previously unsuspected, mRNA export pathways.
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7
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Ambaru B, Gangadharan GM, Subramanya HS, Gupta CM. Profilin is involved in G1 to S phase progression and mitotic spindle orientation during Leishmania donovani cell division cycle. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265692. [PMID: 35316283 PMCID: PMC8939790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Profilin is a multi-ligand binding protein, which is a key regulator of actin dynamics and involved in regulating several cellular functions. It is present in all eukaryotes, including trypanosomatids such as Leishmania. However, not much is known about its functions in these organisms. Our earlier studies have shown that Leishmania parasites express a single homologue of profilin (LdPfn) that binds actin, phosphoinositides and poly- L- proline motives, and depletion of its intracellular pool to 50%of normal levels affects the cell growth and intracellular trafficking. Here, we show, employing affinity pull-down and mass spectroscopy, that LdPfn interacted with a large number of proteins, including those involved in mRNA processing and protein translation initiation, such as eIF4A1. Further, we reveal, using mRNA Seq analysis, that depletion of LdPfn in Leishmania cells (LdPfn+/-) resulted in significantly reduced expression of genes which encode proteins involved in cell cycle regulation, mRNA translation initiation, nucleosides and amino acids transport. In addition, we show that in LdPfn+/- cells, cellular levels of eIF4A1 protein were significantly decreased, and during their cell division cycle, G1-to-S phase progression was delayed and orientation of mitotic spindle altered. These changes were, however, reversed to normal by episomal expression of GFP-LdPfn in LdPfn+/- cells. Taken together, our results indicate that profilin is involved in regulation of G1-to-S phase progression and mitotic spindle orientation in Leishmania cell cycle, perhaps through its interaction with elF4A1 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bindu Ambaru
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | | | | | - Chhitar M. Gupta
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- * E-mail:
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8
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Kalesh K, Wei W, Mantilla BS, Roumeliotis TI, Choudhary J, Denny PW. Transcriptome-Wide Identification of Coding and Noncoding RNA-Binding Proteins Defines the Comprehensive RNA Interactome of Leishmania mexicana. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0242221. [PMID: 35138191 PMCID: PMC8826732 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02422-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteomic profiling of RNA-binding proteins in Leishmania is currently limited to polyadenylated mRNA-binding proteins, leaving proteins that interact with nonadenylated RNAs, including noncoding RNAs and pre-mRNAs, unidentified. Using a combination of unbiased orthogonal organic phase separation methodology and tandem mass tag-labeling-based high resolution quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry, we robustly identified 2,417 RNA-binding proteins, including 1289 putative novel non-poly(A)-RNA-binding proteins across the two main Leishmania life cycle stages. Eight out of 20 Leishmania deubiquitinases, including the recently characterized L. mexicana DUB2 with an elaborate RNA-binding protein interactome were exclusively identified in the non-poly(A)-RNA-interactome. Additionally, an increased representation of WD40 repeat domains were observed in the Leishmania non-poly(A)-RNA-interactome, thus uncovering potential involvement of this protein domain in RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania. We also characterize the protein-bound RNAs using RNA-sequencing and show that in addition to protein coding transcripts ncRNAs are also enriched in the protein-RNA interactome. Differential gene expression analysis revealed enrichment of 142 out of 195 total L. mexicana protein kinase genes in the protein-RNA-interactome, suggesting important role of protein-RNA interactions in the regulation of the Leishmania protein kinome. Additionally, we characterize the quantitative changes in RNA-protein interactions in hundreds of Leishmania proteins following inhibition of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). Our results show that the Hsp90 inhibition in Leishmania causes widespread disruption of RNA-protein interactions in ribosomal proteins, proteasomal proteins and translation factors in both life cycle stages, suggesting downstream effect of the inhibition on protein synthesis and degradation pathways in Leishmania. This study defines the comprehensive RNA interactome of Leishmania and provides in-depth insight into the widespread involvement of RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania biology. IMPORTANCE Advances in proteomics and mass spectrometry have revealed the mRNA-binding proteins in many eukaryotic organisms, including the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp., the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a major infectious disease in over 90 tropical and subtropical countries. However, in addition to mRNAs, which constitute only 2 to 5% of the total transcripts, many types of non-coding RNAs participate in crucial biological processes. In Leishmania, RNA-binding proteins serve as primary gene regulators. Therefore, transcriptome-wide identification of RNA-binding proteins is necessary for deciphering the distinctive posttranscriptional mechanisms of gene regulation in Leishmania. Using a combination of highly efficient orthogonal organic phase separation method and tandem mass tag-labeling-based quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry, we provide unprecedented comprehensive molecular definition of the total RNA interactome across the two main Leishmania life cycle stages. In addition, we characterize for the first time the quantitative changes in RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania following inhibition of heat shock protein 90, shedding light into hitherto unknown large-scale downstream molecular effect of the protein inhibition in the parasite. This work provides insight into the importance of total RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania, thus significantly expanding our knowledge of the emergence of RNA-protein interactions in Leishmania biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wenbin Wei
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Brian S. Mantilla
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jyoti Choudhary
- Functional Proteomics Group, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul W. Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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9
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Sharma A, Alajangi HK, Pisignano G, Sood V, Singh G, Barnwal RP. RNA thermometers and other regulatory elements: Diversity and importance in bacterial pathogenesis. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2022; 13:e1711. [PMID: 35037405 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Survival of microorganisms depends to a large extent on environmental conditions and the occupied host. By adopting specific strategies, microorganisms can thrive in the surrounding environment and, at the same time, preserve their viability. Evading the host defenses requires several mechanisms compatible with the host survival which include the production of RNA thermometers to regulate the expression of genes responsible for heat or cold shock as well as of those involved in virulence. Microorganisms have developed a variety of molecules in response to the environmental changes in temperature and even more specifically to the host they invade. Among all, RNA-based regulatory mechanisms are the most common ones, highlighting the importance of such molecules in gene expression control and novel drug development by suitable structure-based alterations. This article is categorized under: RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics and Chemistry RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.,University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Hema Kumari Alajangi
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.,University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Vikas Sood
- Department of Biochemistry, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Gurpal Singh
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
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10
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Inoue AH, Domingues PF, Serpeloni M, Hiraiwa PM, Vidal NM, Butterfield ER, del Pino RC, Ludwig A, Boehm C, Field MC, Ávila AR. Proteomics uncovers novel components of an interactive protein network supporting RNA export in trypanosomes. Mol Cell Proteomics 2022; 21:100208. [PMID: 35091090 PMCID: PMC8938319 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In trypanosomatids, transcription is polycistronic and all mRNAs are processed by trans-splicing, with export mediated by noncanonical mechanisms. Although mRNA export is central to gene regulation and expression, few orthologs of proteins involved in mRNA export in higher eukaryotes are detectable in trypanosome genomes, necessitating direct identification of protein components. We previously described conserved mRNA export pathway components in Trypanosoma cruzi, including orthologs of Sub2, a component of the TREX complex, and eIF4AIII (previously Hel45), a core component of the exon junction complex (EJC). Here, we searched for protein interactors of both proteins using cryomilling and mass spectrometry. Significant overlap between TcSub2 and TceIF4AIII-interacting protein cohorts suggests that both proteins associate with similar machinery. We identified several interactions with conserved core components of the EJC and multiple additional complexes, together with proteins specific to trypanosomatids. Additional immunoisolations of kinetoplastid-specific proteins both validated and extended the superinteractome, which is capable of supporting RNA processing from splicing through to nuclear export and cytoplasmic events. We also suggest that only proteomics is powerful enough to uncover the high connectivity between multiple aspects of mRNA metabolism and to uncover kinetoplastid-specific components that create a unique amalgam to support trypanosome mRNA maturation. Gene expression in trypanosomes is mediated by noncanonical mechanisms. Trypanosome mRNA nuclear export system comprises unique proteins to kinetoplastids. The present work highlights an amalgam of kinetoplastid-specific and conserved components. Our data support a highly coupled mRNA maturation pathway.
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11
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Briggs EM, Warren FSL, Matthews KR, McCulloch R, Otto TD. Application of single-cell transcriptomics to kinetoplastid research. Parasitology 2021; 148:1223-1236. [PMID: 33678213 PMCID: PMC8311972 DOI: 10.1017/s003118202100041x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Kinetoplastid parasites are responsible for both human and animal diseases across the globe where they have a great impact on health and economic well-being. Many species and life cycle stages are difficult to study due to limitations in isolation and culture, as well as to their existence as heterogeneous populations in hosts and vectors. Single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) has the capacity to overcome many of these difficulties, and can be leveraged to disentangle heterogeneous populations, highlight genes crucial for propagation through the life cycle, and enable detailed analysis of host–parasite interactions. Here, we provide a review of studies that have applied scRNA-seq to protozoan parasites so far. In addition, we provide an overview of sample preparation and technology choice considerations when planning scRNA-seq experiments, as well as challenges faced when analysing the large amounts of data generated. Finally, we highlight areas of kinetoplastid research that could benefit from scRNA-seq technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M. Briggs
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Felix S. L. Warren
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Keith R. Matthews
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Richard McCulloch
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas D. Otto
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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12
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Cruz-Saavedra L, Vallejo GA, Guhl F, Messenger LA, Ramírez JD. Transcriptional remodeling during metacyclogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi I. Virulence 2021; 11:969-980. [PMID: 32715914 PMCID: PMC7549971 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1797274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Metacyclogenesis is one of the most important processes in the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi. In this stage, noninfective epimastigotes become infective metacyclic trypomastigotes. However, the transcriptomic changes that occur during this transformation remain uncertain. Illumina RNA-sequencing of epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes belonging to T. cruzi DTU I was undertaken. Sequencing reads were aligned and mapped against the reference genome, differentially expressed genes between the two life cycle stages were identified, and metabolic pathways were reconstructed. Gene expression differed significantly between epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes. The cellular pathways that were mostly downregulated during metacyclogenesis involved glucose energy metabolism (glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation), amino acid metabolism, and DNA replication. By contrast, the processes where an increase in gene expression was observed included those related to autophagy (particularly Atg7 and Atg8 transcripts), corroborating its importance during metacyclogenesis, endocytosis, by an increase in the expression of the AP-2 complex subunit alpha, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and meiosis. Study findings indicate that in T. cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes, metabolic processes are decreased, and expression of genes involved in specific cell cycle processes is increased to facilitate transformation to this infective stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissa Cruz-Saavedra
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario , Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gustavo A Vallejo
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima , Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Felipe Guhl
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes , Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Juan David Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario , Bogotá, Colombia
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13
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Kulkarni S, Rubio MAT, Hegedűsová E, Ross RL, Limbach PA, Alfonzo JD, Paris Z. Preferential import of queuosine-modified tRNAs into Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrion is critical for organellar protein synthesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:8247-8260. [PMID: 34244755 PMCID: PMC8373054 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are key players in protein synthesis. To be fully active, tRNAs undergo extensive post-transcriptional modifications, including queuosine (Q), a hypermodified 7-deaza-guanosine present in the anticodon of several tRNAs in bacteria and eukarya. Here, molecular and biochemical approaches revealed that in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, Q-containing tRNAs have a preference for the U-ending codons for asparagine, aspartate, tyrosine and histidine, analogous to what has been described in other systems. However, since a lack of tRNA genes in T. brucei mitochondria makes it essential to import a complete set from the cytoplasm, we surprisingly found that Q-modified tRNAs are preferentially imported over their unmodified counterparts. In turn, their absence from mitochondria has a pronounced effect on organellar translation and affects function. Although Q modification in T. brucei is globally important for codon selection, it is more so for mitochondrial protein synthesis. These results provide a unique example of the combined regulatory effect of codon usage and wobble modifications on protein synthesis; all driven by tRNA intracellular transport dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Kulkarni
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Mary Anne T Rubio
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Microbiology and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Eva Hegedűsová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Robert L Ross
- Metabolomics Mass Spectrometry Core, Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Patrick A Limbach
- Rieveschl Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Juan D Alfonzo
- Department of Microbiology and The Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zdeněk Paris
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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14
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Davies C, Ooi CP, Sioutas G, Hall BS, Sidhu H, Butter F, Alsford S, Wickstead B, Rudenko G. TbSAP is a novel chromatin protein repressing metacyclic variant surface glycoprotein expression sites in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:3242-3262. [PMID: 33660774 PMCID: PMC8034637 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei is a unicellular eukaryote, which relies on a protective variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat for survival in the mammalian host. A single trypanosome has >2000 VSG genes and pseudogenes of which only one is expressed from one of ∼15 telomeric bloodstream form expression sites (BESs). Infectious metacyclic trypanosomes present within the tsetse fly vector also express VSG from a separate set of telomeric metacyclic ESs (MESs). All MESs are silenced in bloodstream form T. brucei. As very little is known about how this is mediated, we performed a whole genome RNAi library screen to identify MES repressors. This allowed us to identify a novel SAP domain containing DNA binding protein which we called TbSAP. TbSAP is enriched at the nuclear periphery and binds both MESs and BESs. Knockdown of TbSAP in bloodstream form trypanosomes did not result in cells becoming more ‘metacyclic-like'. Instead, there was extensive global upregulation of transcripts including MES VSGs, VSGs within the silent VSG arrays as well as genes immediately downstream of BES promoters. TbSAP therefore appears to be a novel chromatin protein playing an important role in silencing the extensive VSG repertoire of bloodstream form T. brucei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carys Davies
- Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Cher-Pheng Ooi
- Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Georgios Sioutas
- Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Belinda S Hall
- Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Haneesh Sidhu
- Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sam Alsford
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Bill Wickstead
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Gloria Rudenko
- Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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15
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Hernández-Alvarez L, Oliveira AB, Hernández-González JE, Chahine J, Pascutti PG, de Araujo AS, de Souza FP. Computational study on the allosteric mechanism of Leishmania major IF4E-1 by 4E-interacting protein-1: Unravelling the determinants of m 7GTP cap recognition. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2027-2044. [PMID: 33995900 PMCID: PMC8085901 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Atomistic details on perturbations induced by Lm4E-IP1 binding are described. The modulation of LmIF4E-1 affinity for the cap is confirmed by energetic analyses. Signaling paths between the allosteric and othosteric sites of LmIF4E-1 are predicted. Lm4E-IP1 binding increases the side-chain entropy of W83 and R172 of LmIF4E-1. A mechanism of dynamic allostery is proposed for the regulation mediated by Lm4E-IP1.
During their life cycle, Leishmania parasites display a fine-tuned regulation of the mRNA translation through the differential expression of isoforms of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (LeishIF4Es). The interaction between allosteric modulators such as 4E-interacting proteins (4E-IPs) and LeishIF4E affects the affinity of this initiation factor for the mRNA cap. Here, several computational approaches were employed to elucidate the molecular bases of the previously-reported allosteric modulation in L. major exerted by 4E-IP1 (Lm4E-IP1) on eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E 1 (LmIF4E-1). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and accurate binding free energy calculations (ΔGbind) were combined with network-based modeling of residue-residue correlations. We also describe the differences in internal motions of LmIF4E-1 apo form, cap-bound, and Lm4E-IP1-bound systems. Through community network calculations, the differences in the allosteric pathways of allosterically-inhibited and active forms of LmIF4E-1 were revealed. The ΔGbind values show significant differences between the active and inhibited systems, which are in agreement with the available experimental data. Our study thoroughly describes the dynamical perturbations of LmIF4E-1 cap-binding site triggered by Lm4E-IP1. These findings are not only essential for the understanding of a critical process of trypanosomatids’ gene expression but also for gaining insight into the allostery of eukaryotic IF4Es, which could be useful for structure-based design of drugs against this protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Hernández-Alvarez
- Department of Physics, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio B Oliveira
- Department of Physics, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Huston, TX, United States
| | - Jorge Enrique Hernández-González
- Department of Physics, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jorge Chahine
- Department of Physics, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Geraldo Pascutti
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Suman de Araujo
- Department of Physics, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fátima Pereira de Souza
- Department of Physics, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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16
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Denny PW, Kalesh K. How can proteomics overhaul our understanding of Leishmania biology? Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 17:789-792. [PMID: 33535845 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2020.1885375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University , Durham, UK
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17
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Maran SR, de Lemos Padilha Pitta JL, Dos Santos Vasconcelos CR, McDermott SM, Rezende AM, Silvio Moretti N. Epitranscriptome machinery in Trypanosomatids: New players on the table? Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:942-958. [PMID: 33513291 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites cause devastating tropical diseases resulting in serious global health consequences. These organisms have complex life cycles with mammalian hosts and insect vectors. The parasites must, therefore, survive in different environments, demanding rapid physiological and metabolic changes. These responses depend upon regulation of gene expression, which primarily occurs posttranscriptionally. Altering the composition or conformation of RNA through nucleotide modifications is one posttranscriptional mechanism of regulating RNA fate and function, and modifications including N6-methyladenosine (m6A), N1-methyladenosine (m1A), N5-methylcytidine (m5C), N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), and pseudouridine (Ψ), dynamically regulate RNA stability and translation in diverse organisms. Little is known about RNA modifications and their machinery in Trypanosomatids, but we hypothesize that they regulate parasite gene expression and are vital for survival. Here, we identified Trypanosomatid homologs for writers of m1A, m5C, ac4C, and Ψ and analyze their evolutionary relationships. We systematically review the evidence for their functions and assess their potential use as therapeutic targets. This work provides new insights into the roles of these proteins in Trypanosomatid parasite biology and treatment of the diseases they cause and illustrates that Trypanosomatids provide an excellent model system to study RNA modifications, their molecular, cellular, and biological consequences, and their regulation and interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suellen Rodrigues Maran
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Pathogens, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Suzanne M McDermott
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Nilmar Silvio Moretti
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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18
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Genome-Wide Proteomics and Phosphoproteomics Analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi During Differentiation. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2116:139-159. [PMID: 32221920 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0294-2_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a pathogenic protozoan that still has an impact on public health, despite the decrease in the number of infection cases along the years. T. cruzi possesses an heteroxenic life cycle in which it differentiates in at least four forms. Among the differentiation processes, metacyclogenesis has been exploited in different views by researchers. An intriguing question that rises is how metacyclogenesis is triggered and controlled by cell signaling and which are the differentially expressed proteins and posttranslational modifications involved in this process. An important cell signaling pathway is the protein phosphorylation, and it is reinforced in T. cruzi in which the gene expression control occurs almost exclusively posttranscriptionally. Additionally, the number of protein kinases in T. cruzi is relatively high compared to other organisms. A way to approach these questions is evaluating the cells through phosphoproteomics and proteomics. In this chapter, we will describe the steps from the cell protein extraction, digestion and fractionation, phosphopeptide enrichment, to LC-MS/MS analysis as well as a brief overview on peptide identification. In addition, a published method for in vitro metacyclogenesis will be detailed.
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19
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Arias DG, Cabeza MS, Echarren ML, Faral-Tello P, Iglesias AA, Robello C, Guerrero SA. On the functionality of a methionine sulfoxide reductase B from Trypanosoma cruzi. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 158:96-114. [PMID: 32682073 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methionine is an amino acid susceptible to be oxidized to give a racemic mixture of R and S forms of methionine sulfoxide (MetSO). This posttranslational modification has been reported to occur in vivo under either normal or stress conditions. The reduction of MetSO to methionine is catalyzed by methionine sulfoxide reductases (MSRs), thiol-dependent enzymes present in almost all organisms. These enzymes can reduce specifically one or another of the isomers of MetSO (free and protein-bound). This redox modification could change the structure and function of many proteins, either concerned in redox or other metabolic pathways. The study of antioxidant systems in Trypanosoma cruzi has been mainly focused on the involvement of trypanothione, a specific redox component for these organisms. Though, little information is available concerning mechanisms for repairing oxidized methionine residues in proteins, which would be relevant for the survival of these pathogens in the different stages of their life cycle. METHODS We report an in vitro functional and in vivo cellular characterization of methionine sulfoxide reductase B (MSRB, specific for protein-bound MetSO R-enantiomer) from T. cruzi strain Dm28c. RESULTS MSRB exhibited both cytosolic and mitochondrial localization in epimastigote cells. From assays involving parasites overexpressing MSRB, we observed the contribution of this protein to increase the general resistance against oxidative damage, the infectivity of trypomastigote cells, and intracellular replication of the amastigote stage. Also, we report that epimastigotes overexpressing MSRB exhibit inhibition of the metacyclogenesis process; this suggesting the involvement of the proteins as negative modulators in this cellular differentiation. CONCLUSIONS AND GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This report contributes to novel insights concerning redox metabolism in T. cruzi. Results herein presented support the importance of enzymatic steps involved in the metabolism of L-Met and in repairing oxidized macromolecules in this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego G Arias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Matías S Cabeza
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María L Echarren
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacción Hospedero-Patógeno, UBM, Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacción Hospedero-Patógeno, UBM, Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay; Departamento de Bioquímica - Facultad de Medicina - Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sergio A Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
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20
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Avelar GST, Gonçalves LO, Guimarães FG, Guimarães PAS, do Nascimento Rocha LG, Carvalho MGR, de Melo Resende D, Ruiz JC. Diversity and genome mapping assessment of disordered and functional domains in trypanosomatids. J Proteomics 2020; 227:103919. [PMID: 32721629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The proteins that have structural disorder exemplify a class of proteins which is part of a new frontier in structural biology that demands a new understanding of the paradigm of structure/function correlations. In order to address the location, relative distances and the functional/structural correlation between disordered and conserved domains, consensus disordered predictions were mapped together with CDD domains in Leishmania braziliensis M2904, Leishmania infantum JPCM5, Trypanosoma cruzi CL-Brener Esmeraldo-like, Trypanosoma cruzi Dm28c, Trypanosoma cruzi Sylvio X10, Blechomonas ayalai B08-376 and Paratrypanosoma confusum CUL13 predicted proteomes. Our results depicts the role of protein disorder in key aspects of parasites biology highlighting: a) statistical significant association between genome structural location of protein disordered consensus stretches and functional domains; b) that disordered protein stretches appear in greater percentage at upstream or downstream position of the predicted domain; c) a possible role of structural disorder in several gene expression, control points that includes but are not limited to: i) protein folding; ii) protein transport and degradation; and iii) protein modification. In addition, for values of protein with disorder content greater than 40%, a small percentage of protein binding sites in IDPs/IDRs, a higher hypothetical protein annotation frequency was observed than expected by chance and trypanosomatid multigene families linked with virulence are rich in protein with disorder content. SIGNIFICANCE: T. cruzi and Leishmania spp are the etiological agents of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, respectively. Currently, no vaccine or effective drug treatment is available against these neglected diseases and the knowledge about the post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms of these organisms, which are key for this scenario, remain scarce. This study depicts the potential impact of the proximity between protein structural disorder and functional domains in the post-transcriptional regulation of pathogenic versus human non-pathogenic trypanosomatids. Our results revealed a significant statistical relationship between the genome structural locations of these two variables and disordered regions appearing more frequently at upstream or downstream positions of the CDD locus domain. This flexibility feature would maintain structural accessibility of functional sites for post-translational modifications, shedding light into this important aspect of parasite biology. This hypothesis is corroborated by the functional enrichment analysis of disordered proteins subset that highlight the involvement of this class of proteins in protein folding, protein transport and degradation and protein modification. Furthermore, our results pointed out: a) the impact of protein disorder in the process of genome annotation (proteins tend to be annotated as hypothetical when the disorder content reaches ~40%); b) that trypanosomatid multigenic families linked with virulence have a key protein disorder content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Santos Tavares Avelar
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Computacional e Sistemas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Grupo Informática de Biossistemas, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Leilane Oliveira Gonçalves
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Computacional e Sistemas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Grupo Informática de Biossistemas, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Frederico Gonçalves Guimarães
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Grupo Informática de Biossistemas, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Paul Anderson Souza Guimarães
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Computacional e Sistemas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Grupo Informática de Biossistemas, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiz Gustavo do Nascimento Rocha
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Grupo Informática de Biossistemas, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Daniela de Melo Resende
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Computacional e Sistemas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Grupo Informática de Biossistemas, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Jeronimo Conceição Ruiz
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Computacional e Sistemas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Grupo Informática de Biossistemas, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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21
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Castro Machado F, Bittencourt-Cunha P, Malvezzi AM, Arico M, Radio S, Smircich P, Zoltner M, Field MC, Schenkman S. EIF2α phosphorylation is regulated in intracellular amastigotes for the generation of infective Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigote forms. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13243. [PMID: 32597009 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomatids regulate gene expression mainly at the post-transcriptional level through processing, exporting and stabilising mRNA and control of translation. In most eukaryotes, protein synthesis is regulated by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) at serine 51. Phosphorylation halts overall translation by decreasing availability of initiator tRNAmet to form translating ribosomes. In trypanosomatids, the N-terminus of eIF2α is extended with threonine 169 the homologous phosphorylated residue. Here, we evaluated whether eIF2α phosphorylation varies during the Trypanosoma cruzi life cycle, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease. Total levels of eIF2α are diminished in infective and non-replicative trypomastigotes compared with proliferative forms from the intestine of the insect vector or amastigotes from mammalian cells, consistent with decreased protein synthesis reported in infective forms. eIF2α phosphorylation increases in proliferative intracellular forms prior to differentiation into trypomastigotes. Parasites overexpressing eIF2αT169A or with an endogenous CRISPR/Cas9-generated eIF2αT169A mutation were created and analysis revealed alterations to the proteome, largely unrelated to the presence of μORF in epimastigotes. eIF2αT169A mutant parasites produced fewer trypomastigotes with lower infectivity than wild type, with increased levels of sialylated mucins and oligomannose glycoproteins, and decreased galactofuranose epitopes and the surface protease GP63 on the cell surface. We conclude that eIF2α expression and phosphorylation levels affect proteins relevant for intracellular progression of T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabricio Castro Machado
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paula Bittencourt-Cunha
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amaranta Muniz Malvezzi
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mirella Arico
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Santiago Radio
- Department of Genomics, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Laboratory of Molecular Interactions, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Smircich
- Department of Genomics, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Laboratory of Molecular Interactions, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Martin Zoltner
- Drug Discovery and Evaluation, Centre for Research of Pathogenicity and Virulence of Parasites, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mark C Field
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.,Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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Van den Kerkhof M, Sterckx YGJ, Leprohon P, Maes L, Caljon G. Experimental Strategies to Explore Drug Action and Resistance in Kinetoplastid Parasites. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E950. [PMID: 32599761 PMCID: PMC7356981 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastids are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, and American trypanosomiasis. They are responsible for high mortality and morbidity in (sub)tropical regions. Adequate treatment options are limited and have several drawbacks, such as toxicity, need for parenteral administration, and occurrence of treatment failure and drug resistance. Therefore, there is an urgency for the development of new drugs. Phenotypic screening already allowed the identification of promising new chemical entities with anti-kinetoplastid activity potential, but knowledge on their mode-of-action (MoA) is lacking due to the generally applied whole-cell based approach. However, identification of the drug target is essential to steer further drug discovery and development. Multiple complementary techniques have indeed been used for MoA elucidation. In this review, the different 'omics' approaches employed to define the MoA or mode-of-resistance of current reference drugs and some new anti-kinetoplastid compounds are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Van den Kerkhof
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.V.d.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Yann G.-J. Sterckx
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Philippe Leprohon
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.V.d.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.V.d.K.); (L.M.)
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23
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Debarba JA, Sehabiague MPC, Monteiro KM, Gerber AL, Vasconcelos ATR, Ferreira HB, Zaha A. Transcriptomic Analysis of the Early Strobilar Development of Echinococcus granulosus. Pathogens 2020; 9:E465. [PMID: 32545493 PMCID: PMC7350322 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9060465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinococcus granulosus has a complex life cycle involving two mammalian hosts. The transition from one host to another is accompanied by changes in gene expression, and the transcriptional events that underlie this transition have not yet been fully characterized. In this study, RNA-seq was used to compare the transcription profiles of samples from E. granulosus protoscoleces induced in vitro to strobilar development at three time points. We identified 818 differentially expressed genes, which were divided into eight expression clusters formed over the entire 24 h period. An enrichment of gene transcripts with molecular functions of signal transduction, enzymes, and protein modifications was observed upon induction and developmental progression. This transcriptomic study provides insights for understanding the complex life cycle of E. granulosus and contributes for searching for the key genes correlating with the strobilar development, which can be used to identify potential candidates for the development of anthelmintic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Antonio Debarba
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil; (J.A.D.); (M.P.C.S.); (K.M.M.); (H.B.F.)
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Martín Pablo Cancela Sehabiague
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil; (J.A.D.); (M.P.C.S.); (K.M.M.); (H.B.F.)
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Karina Mariante Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil; (J.A.D.); (M.P.C.S.); (K.M.M.); (H.B.F.)
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Lehmkuhl Gerber
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro 25651-075, Brazil; (A.L.G.); (A.T.R.V.)
| | | | - Henrique Bunselmeyer Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil; (J.A.D.); (M.P.C.S.); (K.M.M.); (H.B.F.)
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Arnaldo Zaha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil; (J.A.D.); (M.P.C.S.); (K.M.M.); (H.B.F.)
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
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Parthasarathy A, Kalesh K. Defeating the trypanosomatid trio: proteomics of the protozoan parasites causing neglected tropical diseases. RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:625-645. [PMID: 33479664 PMCID: PMC7549140 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00122h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mass spectrometry-based proteomics enables accurate measurement of the modulations of proteins on a large scale upon perturbation and facilitates the understanding of the functional roles of proteins in biological systems. It is a particularly relevant methodology for studying Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei, as the gene expression in these parasites is primarily regulated by posttranscriptional mechanisms. Large-scale proteomics studies have revealed a plethora of information regarding modulated proteins and their molecular interactions during various life processes of the protozoans, including stress adaptation, life cycle changes and interactions with the host. Important molecular processes within the parasite that regulate the activity and subcellular localisation of its proteins, including several co- and post-translational modifications, are also accurately captured by modern proteomics mass spectrometry techniques. Finally, in combination with synthetic chemistry, proteomic techniques facilitate unbiased profiling of targets and off-targets of pharmacologically active compounds in the parasites. This provides important data sets for their mechanism of action studies, thereby aiding drug development programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anutthaman Parthasarathy
- Rochester Institute of Technology , Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences , 85 Lomb Memorial Dr , Rochester , NY 14623 , USA
| | - Karunakaran Kalesh
- Department of Chemistry , Durham University , Lower Mount Joy, South Road , Durham DH1 3LE , UK .
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Ballesteros N, Vásquez NM, Patiño LH, Cruz-Saavedra L, Ramírez JD. Minor temperature shifts do not affect chromosomal ploidy but cause transcriptomic changes in Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes in vitro. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e190413. [PMID: 32348407 PMCID: PMC7184772 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760190413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The leishmaniases are complex neglected diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Leishmania braziliensis is the main etiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World. In recent studies, genomic changes such as chromosome and gene copy number variations (CNVs), as well as transcriptomic changes have been highlighted as mechanisms used by Leishmania species to adapt to stress situations. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the effect of short-term minor temperature shifts in the genomic and transcriptomic responses of L. braziliensis promastigotes in vitro. METHODS Growth curves, genome and transcriptome sequencing of L. braziliensis promastigotes were conducted from cultures exposed to three different temperatures (24ºC, 28ºC and 30ºC) compared with the control temperature (26ºC). FINDINGS Our results showed a decrease in L. braziliensis proliferation at 30ºC, with around 3% of the genes showing CNVs at each temperature, and transcriptomic changes in genes encoding amastin surface-like proteins, heat shock proteins and transport proteins, which may indicate a direct response to temperature stress. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that L. braziliensis promastigotes exhibit a decrease in cell density, and noticeable changes in the transcriptomic profiles. However, there were not perceptible changes at chromosome CNVs and only ~3% of the genes changed their copies in each treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia Ballesteros
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nubia M Vásquez
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luz H Patiño
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lissa Cruz-Saavedra
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Universidad del Rosario, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Bogotá, Colombia
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Szöőr B, Silvester E, Matthews KR. A Leap Into the Unknown - Early Events in African Trypanosome Transmission. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:266-278. [PMID: 32014419 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
African trypanosomes are mainly transmitted by tsetse flies. In recent years there has been good progress in understanding how the parasites prepare for transmission, detect their changed environment through the perception of different environmental cues, and respond by changing their developmental gene expression. In this review, we discuss the different signals and signaling mechanisms used by the parasites to carry out the early events necessary for their establishment in the fly. We also compare Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense, parasites that share a common pathway in the early stages of fly colonization but apparently use different mechanisms to achieve this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Szöőr
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK.
| | - Eleanor Silvester
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Keith R Matthews
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK.
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Kalesh K, Denny PW. A BONCAT-iTRAQ method enables temporally resolved quantitative profiling of newly synthesised proteins in Leishmania mexicana parasites during starvation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007651. [PMID: 31856154 PMCID: PMC6939940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptation to starvation is integral to the Leishmania life cycle. The parasite can survive prolonged periods of nutrient deprivation both in vitro and in vivo. The identification of parasite proteins synthesised during starvation is key to unravelling the underlying molecular mechanisms facilitating adaptation to these conditions. Additionally, as stress adaptation mechanisms in Leishmania are linked to virulence as well as infectivity, profiling of the complete repertoire of Newly Synthesised Proteins (NSPs) under starvation is important for drug target discovery. However, differential identification and quantitation of low abundance, starvation-specific NSPs from the larger background of the pre-existing parasite proteome has proven difficult, as this demands a highly selective and sensitive methodology. Herein we introduce an integrated chemical proteomics method in L. mexicana promastigotes that involves a powerful combination of the BONCAT technique and iTRAQ quantitative proteomics Mass Spectrometry (MS), which enabled temporally resolved quantitative profiling of de novo protein synthesis in the starving parasite. Uniquely, this approach integrates the high specificity of the BONCAT technique for the NSPs, with the high sensitivity and multiplexed quantitation capability of the iTRAQ proteomics MS. Proof-of-concept experiments identified over 250 starvation-responsive NSPs in the parasite. Our results show a starvation-specific increased relative abundance of several translation regulating and stress-responsive proteins in the parasite. GO analysis of the identified NSPs for Biological Process revealed translation (enrichment P value 2.47e-35) and peptide biosynthetic process (enrichment P value 4.84e-35) as extremely significantly enriched terms indicating the high specificity of the NSP towards regulation of protein synthesis. We believe that this approach will find widespread use in the study of the developmental stages of Leishmania species and in the broader field of protozoan biology. Periodic nutrient scarcity plays crucial roles in the life cycle of the protozoan parasite Leishmania spp. Although adaptation to nutrient stress has a pivotal role in Leishmania biology, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In a period of nutrient starvation, the parasite responds by decreasing its protein production to conserve nutrient resources and to prevent formation of toxic proteins. However, even during severe starvation, the parasite generates certain essential quality control and rescue proteins. Differential identification of the complete repertoire of these proteins synthesised during starvation from the pre-existing proteins in the parasite holds the key to understanding the starvation adaptation mechanisms. This has been challenging to accomplish due to technical limitations. Using a combination of chemical labelling techniques and protein mass-spectrometry, we selectively identified and measured the proteins generated in the starving Leishmania parasite. Our results show a starvation time-dependent differential expression of important protein synthesis regulators in the parasite. This will serve as an important dataset for a holistic understanding of the starvation adaptation mechanisms in Leishmania. We also believe that this method will find widespread applications in the field of protozoa and other parasites causing Neglected Tropical Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karunakaran Kalesh
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Paul W. Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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Ribeiro YC, Robe LJ, Veluza DS, Dos Santos CMB, Lopes ALK, Krieger MA, Ludwig A. Study of VIPER and TATE in kinetoplastids and the evolution of tyrosine recombinase retrotransposons. Mob DNA 2019; 10:34. [PMID: 31391870 PMCID: PMC6681497 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-019-0175-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Kinetoplastids are a flagellated group of protists, including some parasites, such as Trypanosoma and Leishmania species, that can cause diseases in humans and other animals. The genomes of these species enclose a fraction of retrotransposons including VIPER and TATE, two poorly studied transposable elements that encode a tyrosine recombinase (YR) and were previously classified as DIRS elements. This study investigated the distribution and evolution of VIPER and TATE in kinetoplastids to understand the relationships of these elements with other retrotransposons. Results We observed that VIPER and TATE have a discontinuous distribution among Trypanosomatidae, with several events of loss and degeneration occurring during a vertical transfer evolution. We were able to identify the terminal repeats of these elements for the first time, and we showed that these elements are potentially active in some species, including T. cruzi copies of VIPER. We found that VIPER and TATE are strictly related elements, which were named in this study as VIPER-like. The reverse transcriptase (RT) tree presented a low resolution, and the origin and relationships among YR groups remain uncertain. Conversely, for RH, VIPER-like grouped with Hepadnavirus, whereas for YR, VIPER-like sequences constituted two different clades that are closely allied to Crypton. Distinct topologies among RT, RH and YR trees suggest ancient rearrangements/exchanges in domains and a modular pattern of evolution with putative independent origins for each ORF. Conclusions Due to the presence of both elements in Bodo saltans, a nontrypanosomatid species, we suggested that VIPER and TATE have survived and remained active for more than 400 million years or were reactivated during the evolution of the host species. We did not find clear evidence of independent origins of VIPER-like from the other YR retroelements, supporting the maintenance of the DIRS group of retrotransposons. Nevertheless, according to phylogenetic findings and sequence structure obtained by this study and other works, we proposed separating DIRS elements into four subgroups: DIRS-like, PAT-like, Ngaro-like, and VIPER-like. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13100-019-0175-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Carla Ribeiro
- 1Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Lizandra Jaqueline Robe
- 2Departamento de Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS Brazil
| | | | | | - Ana Luisa Kalb Lopes
- 1Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Ludwig
- 4Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Curitiba, PR Brazil
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Filosa JN, Berry CT, Ruthel G, Beverley SM, Warren WC, Tomlinson C, Myler PJ, Dudkin EA, Povelones ML, Povelones M. Dramatic changes in gene expression in different forms of Crithidia fasciculata reveal potential mechanisms for insect-specific adhesion in kinetoplastid parasites. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007570. [PMID: 31356610 PMCID: PMC6687205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastids are a group of parasites that includes several medically-important species. These human-infective species are transmitted by insect vectors in which the parasites undergo specific developmental transformations. For each species, this includes a stage in which parasites adhere to insect tissue via a hemidesmosome-like structure. Although this structure has been described morphologically, it has never been molecularly characterized. We are using Crithidia fasciculata, an insect parasite that produces large numbers of adherent parasites inside its mosquito host, as a model kinetoplastid to investigate both the mechanism of adherence and the signals required for differentiation to an adherent form. An advantage of C. fasciculata is that adherent parasites can be generated both in vitro, allowing a direct comparison to cultured swimming forms, as well as in vivo within the mosquito. Using RNAseq, we identify genes associated with adherence in C. fasciculata. As almost all of these genes have orthologs in other kinetoplastid species, our findings may reveal shared mechanisms of adherence, allowing investigation of a crucial step in parasite development and disease transmission. In addition, dual-RNAseq allowed us to explore the interaction between the parasites and the mosquito. Although the infection is well-tolerated, anti-microbial peptides and other components of the mosquito innate immune system are upregulated. Our findings indicate that C. fasciculata is a powerful model system for probing kinetoplastid-insect interactions. Kinetoplastids are single-celled parasites that cause devastating human diseases worldwide. Although this group includes many species that infect a variety of hosts, they have a great deal of shared biology. One relatively unexplored aspect of the kinetoplastid life cycle is their ability to adhere to insect tissue. For pathogenic species, adherence is critical for transmission by insect vectors. We have used an insect parasite called Crithidia fasciculata as a model kinetoplastid to reveal shared mechanisms of insect adherence. We have compared gene expression profiles of motile, non-adherent C. fasciculata to those of C. fasciculata adhered to non-living substrates and those attached to the hindgut of mosquitoes. Through this analysis, we have identified a large number of candidate proteins that may mediate adhesion in these and related parasites. In addition, our findings suggest that the mosquito immune system is responding to the presence of parasites in the gut. These results establish a new, robust system to explore the interaction between kinetoplastids and their insect hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N. Filosa
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Corbett T. Berry
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Gordon Ruthel
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Stephen M. Beverley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Wesley C. Warren
- University of Missouri, Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth A. Dudkin
- Department of Biology, Penn State Brandywine, Media, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Megan L. Povelones
- Department of Biology, Penn State Brandywine, Media, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MLP); (MP)
| | - Michael Povelones
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MLP); (MP)
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Klatt S, Simpson L, Maslov DA, Konthur Z. Leishmania tarentolae: Taxonomic classification and its application as a promising biotechnological expression host. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007424. [PMID: 31344033 PMCID: PMC6657821 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we summarize the current knowledge concerning the eukaryotic protozoan parasite Leishmania tarentolae, with a main focus on its potential for biotechnological applications. We will also discuss the genus, subgenus, and species-level classification of this parasite, its life cycle and geographical distribution, and similarities and differences to human-pathogenic species, as these aspects are relevant for the evaluation of biosafety aspects of L. tarentolae as host for recombinant DNA/protein applications. Studies indicate that strain LEM-125 but not strain TARII/UC of L. tarentolae might also be capable of infecting mammals, at least transiently. This could raise the question of whether the current biosafety level of this strain should be reevaluated. In addition, we will summarize the current state of biotechnological research involving L. tarentolae and explain why this eukaryotic parasite is an advantageous and promising human recombinant protein expression host. This summary includes overall biotechnological applications, insights into its protein expression machinery (especially on glycoprotein and antibody fragment expression), available expression vectors, cell culture conditions, and its potential as an immunotherapy agent for human leishmaniasis treatment. Furthermore, we will highlight useful online tools and, finally, discuss possible future applications such as the humanization of the glycosylation profile of L. tarentolae or the expression of mammalian recombinant proteins in amastigote-like cells of this species or in amastigotes of avirulent human-pathogenic Leishmania species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Klatt
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
- * E-mail: (SK); (ZK)
| | - Larry Simpson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Dmitri A. Maslov
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Zoltán Konthur
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
- * E-mail: (SK); (ZK)
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Kazemirad E, Reisi Nafchi H, Latifi A, Raoofian R, Mohebali M, Hajjaran H. Comparison of Cysteine Protease B Gene Expression between Clinical Isolates of Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2019. [DOI: 10.29252/jommid.7.3.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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32
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Lobo M, Balouz V, Melli L, Carlevaro G, Cortina ME, Cámara MDLM, Cánepa GE, Carmona SJ, Altcheh J, Campetella O, Ciocchini AE, Agüero F, Mucci J, Buscaglia CA. Molecular and antigenic characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi TolT proteins. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007245. [PMID: 30870417 PMCID: PMC6435186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background TolT was originally described as a Trypanosoma cruzi molecule that accumulated on the trypomastigote flagellum bearing similarity to bacterial TolA colicins receptors. Preliminary biochemical studies indicated that TolT resolved in SDS-PAGE as ~3–5 different bands with sizes between 34 and 45 kDa, and that this heterogeneity could be ascribed to differences in polypeptide glycosylation. However, the recurrent identification of TolT-deduced peptides, and variations thereof, in trypomastigote proteomic surveys suggested an intrinsic TolT complexity, and prompted us to undertake a thorough reassessment of this antigen. Methods/Principle findings Genome mining exercises showed that TolT constitutes a larger-than-expected family of genes, with at least 12 polymorphic members in the T. cruzi CL Brener reference strain and homologs in different trypanosomes. According to structural features, TolT deduced proteins could be split into three robust groups, termed TolT-A, TolT-B, and TolT-C, all of them showing marginal sequence similarity to bacterial TolA proteins and canonical signatures of surface localization/membrane association, most of which were herein experimentally validated. Further biochemical and microscopy-based characterizations indicated that this grouping may have a functional correlate, as TolT-A, TolT-B and TolT-C molecules showed differences in their expression profile, sub-cellular distribution, post-translational modification(s) and antigenic structure. We finally used a recently developed fluorescence magnetic beads immunoassay to validate a recombinant protein spanning the central and mature region of a TolT-B deduced molecule for Chagas disease serodiagnosis. Conclusion/Significance This study unveiled an unexpected genetic and biochemical complexity within the TolT family, which could be exploited for the development of novel T. cruzi biomarkers with diagnostic/therapeutic applications. Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a lifelong and debilitating neglected illness of major significance in Latin America, for which no vaccine or adequate drugs are yet available. Identification of novel biomarkers able to transcend the current limits of diagnostic and/or therapeutic assessment methods hence surfaces as a main priority in Chagas disease applied research. In this framework, we herein undertook a thorough biochemical and antigenic characterization of T. cruzi TolT surface antigens. Our results unveil an unexpected complexity within this family, with at least 12 polymorphic TolT genes in the T. cruzi CL Brener reference strain genome. According to structural features, TolT deduced molecules could be split into three robust groups that show differences in their structural features, expression profile, sub-cellular distribution, post-translational modification(s) and antigenic structure. Overall, we show that TolT molecules are conspicuously expressed by both major mammal-dwelling stages of the parasite, and that they are differentially recognized by the immune system in Chagasic patients and in T. cruzi-infected mammals. Our findings are discussed in terms of the evolution and possible structural/functional roles of TolT molecules, as well as in terms of their applicability in Chagas disease serodiagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Lobo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Virginia Balouz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciano Melli
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Giannina Carlevaro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María E. Cortina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María de los Milagros Cámara
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gaspar E. Cánepa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago J. Carmona
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jaime Altcheh
- Servicio de Parasitología-Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Oscar Campetella
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés E. Ciocchini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernán Agüero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Mucci
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (JM); (CAB)
| | - Carlos A. Buscaglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (JM); (CAB)
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Ruy PDC, Monteiro-Teles NM, Miserani Magalhães RD, Freitas-Castro F, Dias L, Aquino Defina TP, Rosas De Vasconcelos EJ, Myler PJ, Kaysel Cruz A. Comparative transcriptomics in Leishmania braziliensis: disclosing differential gene expression of coding and putative noncoding RNAs across developmental stages. RNA Biol 2019; 16:639-660. [PMID: 30689499 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1574161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a worldwide public health problem caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Leishmania braziliensis is the most important species responsible for tegumentary leishmaniases in Brazil. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the success of this parasite is urgently needed. An in-depth study on the modulation of gene expression across the life cycle stages of L. braziliensis covering coding and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) was missing and is presented herein. Analyses of differentially expressed (DE) genes revealed that most prominent differences were observed between the transcriptomes of insect and mammalian proliferative forms (6,576 genes). Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated stage-specific enriched biological processes. A computational pipeline and 5 ncRNA predictors allowed the identification of 11,372 putative ncRNAs. Most of the DE ncRNAs were found between the transcriptomes of insect and mammalian proliferative stages (38%). Of the DE ncRNAs, 295 were DE in all three stages and displayed a wide range of lengths, chromosomal distributions and locations; many of them had a distinct expression profile compared to that of their protein-coding neighbors. Thirty-five putative ncRNAs were submitted to northern blotting analysis, and one or more hybridization-positive signals were observed in 22 of these ncRNAs. This work presents an overview of the L. braziliensis transcriptome and its adjustments throughout development. In addition to determining the general features of the transcriptome at each life stage and the profile of protein-coding transcripts, we identified and characterized a variety of noncoding transcripts. The novel putative ncRNAs uncovered in L. braziliensis might be regulatory elements to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia De Cássia Ruy
- a Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School , University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Natália Melquie Monteiro-Teles
- a Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School , University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Rubens Daniel Miserani Magalhães
- a Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School , University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Felipe Freitas-Castro
- a Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School , University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Leandro Dias
- a Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School , University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Tania Paula Aquino Defina
- a Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School , University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo , Brazil
| | | | - Peter J Myler
- b Center for Infectious Disease Research , Seattle, Washington , USA
| | - Angela Kaysel Cruz
- a Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School , University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo , Brazil
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Ahmadian S, Eslami G, Fatahi A, Hosseini SS, Vakili M, Ajamein Fahadan V, Elloumi M. J- binding protein 1 and J- binding protein 2 expression in clinical Leishmania major no response-antimonial isolates. J Parasit Dis 2018; 43:39-45. [PMID: 30956444 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-018-1052-5] [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] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major disease in many parts of the world. Since no vaccine has been developed, treatment is the best way to control it. In most areas, antimonial resistance whose mechanisms have not been completely understood has been reported. The main aim of this study is gene expression assessing of J-binging protein 1 and J-binding protein 2 in clinical Leishmania major isolates. The patients with CL from central and north Iran were considered for this study. The samples were transferred in RNAlater solution and stored in - 20 °C. RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed. The gene expression analysis was done with SYBR Green real-time PCR using ∆∆CT. Written informed consent forms were filled out by patients, and then, information forms were filled out based on the Helsinki Declaration. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS (16.0; SPSS Inc, Chicago) using independent t test, Shapiro-Wilk, and Pearson's and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. The gene expression of JBP1 and JBP2 had no relation with sex and age. The JBP1 gene expression was high in sensitive isolates obtained from north of the country. The JBP2 gene expression was significant in sensitive and no response-antimonial isolates from the north, but no significant differences were detected in sensitive and resistant isolates from central Iran. Differential gene expression of JBP1 and JBP2 in various clinical resistances isolates in different geographical areas shows multifactorial ways of developing resistance in different isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Ahmadian
- 1Research Center for Food Hygiene and Safety, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- 2Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Gilda Eslami
- 1Research Center for Food Hygiene and Safety, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- 2Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Ali Fatahi
- 2Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Saeede Sadat Hosseini
- 1Research Center for Food Hygiene and Safety, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Vakili
- 3Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Vahid Ajamein Fahadan
- 1Research Center for Food Hygiene and Safety, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- 2Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mourad Elloumi
- 4Laboratory of Technologies of Information and Communication and Electrical Engineering (LaTICE), University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
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Manna D, Lentz CS, Ehrenkaufer GM, Suresh S, Bhat A, Singh U. An NAD +-dependent novel transcription factor controls stage conversion in Entamoeba. eLife 2018; 7:e37912. [PMID: 30375973 PMCID: PMC6207428 DOI: 10.7554/elife.37912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental switching between life-cycle stages is a common feature among parasitic pathogens to facilitate disease transmission and pathogenesis. The protozoan parasite Entamoeba switches between invasive trophozoites and dormant cysts, but the encystation process remains poorly understood despite being central to amoebic biology. We identify a transcription factor, Encystation Regulatory Motif-Binding Protein (ERM-BP), that regulates encystation. Down-regulation of ERM-BP decreases encystation efficiency resulting in abnormal cysts with defective cyst walls. We demonstrate that direct binding of NAD+ to ERM-BP affects ERM-BP conformation and facilitates its binding to promoter DNA. Additionally, cellular NAD+ levels increase during encystation and exogenous NAD+ enhances encystation consistent with the role of carbon source depletion in triggering Entamoeba encystation. Furthermore, ERM-BP catalyzes conversion of nicotinamide to nicotinic acid, which might have second messenger effects on stage conversion. Our findings link the metabolic cofactors nicotinamide and NAD+ to transcriptional regulation via ERM-BP and provide the first mechanistic insights into Entamoeba encystation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipak Manna
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | | | - Gretchen Marie Ehrenkaufer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Susmitha Suresh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Amrita Bhat
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Upinder Singh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyStanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
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Fervers P, Fervers F, Makałowski W, Jąkalski M. Life cycle adapted upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in Trypanosoma congolense: A post-transcriptional approach to accurate gene regulation. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201461. [PMID: 30092050 PMCID: PMC6084854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The presented work explores the regulatory influence of upstream open reading frames (uORFs) on gene expression in Trypanosoma congolense. More than 31,000 uORFs in total were identified and characterized here. We found evidence for the uORFs’ appearance in the transcriptome to be correlated with proteomic expression data, clearly indicating their repressive potential in T. congolense, which has to rely on post-transcriptional gene expression regulation due to its unique genomic organization. Our data show that uORF’s translation repressive potential does not only correlate with elemental sequence features such as length, position and quantity, but involves more subtle components, in particular the codon and amino acid profiles. This corresponds with the popular mechanistic model of a ribosome shedding initiation factors during the translation of a uORF, which can prevent reinitiation at the downstream start codon of the actual protein-coding sequence, due to the former extensive consumption of crucial translation components. We suggest that uORFs with uncommon codon and amino acid usage can slow down the translation elongation process in T. congolense, systematically deplete the limited factors, and restrict downstream reinitiation, setting up a bottleneck for subsequent translation of the protein-coding sequence. Additionally we conclude that uORFs dynamically influence the T. congolense life cycle. We found evidence that transition to epimastigote form could be supported by gain of uORFs due to alternative trans-splicing, which down-regulate housekeeping genes’ expression and render the trypanosome in a metabolically reduced state of endurance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Fervers
- University of Münster, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Bioinformatics, Münster, Germany
| | - Florian Fervers
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Department of Informatics, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Wojciech Makałowski
- University of Münster, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Bioinformatics, Münster, Germany
- * E-mail: (MJ); (WM)
| | - Marcin Jąkalski
- University of Münster, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Bioinformatics, Münster, Germany
- * E-mail: (MJ); (WM)
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Abstract
To satisfy its fatty acid needs, the extracellular eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma brucei relies on two mechanisms: uptake of fatty acids from the host and de novo synthesis. We hypothesized that T. brucei modulates fatty acid synthesis in response to environmental lipid availability. The first committed step in fatty acid synthesis is catalyzed by acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) carboxylase (ACC) and serves as a key regulatory point in other organisms. To test our hypothesis, T. brucei mammalian bloodstream and insect procyclic forms were grown in low-, normal-, or high-lipid media and the effect on T. brucei ACC (TbACC) mRNA, protein, and enzymatic activity was examined. In bloodstream form T. brucei, media lipids had no effect on TbACC expression or activity. In procyclic form T. brucei, we detected no change in TbACC mRNA levels but observed 2.7-fold-lower TbACC protein levels and 37% lower TbACC activity in high-lipid media than in low-lipid media. Supplementation of low-lipid media with the fatty acid stearate mimicked the effect of high lipid levels on TbACC activity. In procyclic forms, TbACC phosphorylation also increased 3.9-fold in high-lipid media compared to low-lipid media. Phosphatase treatment of TbACC increased activity, confirming that phosphorylation represented an inhibitory modification. Together, these results demonstrate a procyclic-form-specific environmental lipid response pathway that regulates TbACC posttranscriptionally, through changes in protein expression and phosphorylation. We propose that this environmental response pathway enables procyclic-form T. brucei to monitor the host lipid supply and downregulate fatty acid synthesis when host lipids are abundant and upregulate fatty acid synthesis when host lipids become scarce.IMPORTANCETrypanosoma brucei is a eukaryotic parasite that causes African sleeping sickness. T. brucei is transmitted by the blood-sucking tsetse fly. In order to adapt to its two very different hosts, T. brucei must sense the host environment and alter its metabolism to maximize utilization of host resources and minimize expenditure of its own resources. One key nutrient class is represented by fatty acids, which the parasite can either take from the host or make themselves. Our work describes a novel environmental regulatory pathway for fatty acid synthesis where the parasite turns off fatty acid synthesis when environmental lipids are abundant and turns on synthesis when the lipid supply is scarce. This pathway was observed in the tsetse midgut form but not the mammalian bloodstream form. However, pharmacological activation of this pathway in the bloodstream form to turn fatty acid synthesis off may be a promising new avenue for sleeping sickness drug discovery.
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Costa JFD, Ferrarini MG, Nardelli SC, Goldenberg S, Ávila AR, Holetz FB. Trypanosoma cruzi XRNA granules colocalise with distinct mRNP granules at the nuclear periphery. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018; 113:e170531. [PMID: 29924141 PMCID: PMC6001583 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760170531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eukaryotic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules are important for the regulation of RNA fate. RNP granules exist in trypanosomatids; however, their roles in controlling gene expression are still not understood. XRNA is a component of granules in Trypanosoma brucei but has not been investigated in Trypanosoma cruzi. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the TcXRNA dynamic assembly and its interaction with RNP components under conditions that affect the mRNA availability. METHODS We used in vitro metacyclogenesis of T. cruzi to observe changes in RNP granules during the differentiation process. TcXRNA expression was analysed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Colocalisation assays were performed to investigate the interaction of TcXRNA with other RNP components. FINDINGS TcXRNA is constantly present during metacyclogenesis and is localised in cytoplasmic granules. TcXRNA does not colocalise with TcDHH1 and TcCAF1 granules in the cytoplasm. However, TcXRNA granules colocalise with mRNP granules at the nuclear periphery when mRNA processing is inhibited. MAIN CONCLUSIONS TcXRNA plays a role in mRNA metabolism as a component of mRNP granules whose assembly is dependent on mRNA availability. TcXRNA granules colocalise with distinct RNP granules at the nuclear periphery, suggesting that the perinuclear region is a regulatory compartment in T. cruzi mRNA metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Samuel Goldenberg
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
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de Melo Neto OP, da Costa Lima TDC, Merlo KC, Romão TP, Rocha PO, Assis LA, Nascimento LM, Xavier CC, Rezende AM, Reis CRS, Papadopoulou B. Phosphorylation and interactions associated with the control of the Leishmania Poly-A Binding Protein 1 (PABP1) function during translation initiation. RNA Biol 2018; 15:739-755. [PMID: 29569995 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1445958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Poly-A Binding Protein (PABP) is a conserved eukaryotic polypeptide involved in many aspects of mRNA metabolism. During translation initiation, PABP interacts with the translation initiation complex eIF4F and enhances the translation of polyadenylated mRNAs. Schematically, most PABPs can be divided into an N-terminal RNA-binding region, a non-conserved linker segment and the C-terminal MLLE domain. In pathogenic Leishmania protozoans, three PABP homologues have been identified, with the first one (PABP1) targeted by phosphorylation and shown to co-immunoprecipitate with an eIF4F-like complex (EIF4E4/EIF4G3) implicated in translation initiation. Here, PABP1 phosphorylation was shown to be linked to logarithmic cell growth, reminiscent of EIF4E4 phosphorylation, and coincides with polysomal association. Phosphorylation targets multiple serine-proline (SP) or threonine-proline (TP) residues within the PABP1 linker region. This is an essential protein, but phosphorylation is not needed for its association with polysomes or cell viability. Mutations which do impair PABP1 polysomal association and are required for viability do not prevent phosphorylation, although further mutations lead to a presumed inactive protein largely lacking phosphorylated isoforms. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments were carried out to investigate PABP1 function further, identifying several novel protein partners and the EIF4E4/EIF4G3 complex, but no other eIF4F-like complex or subunit. A novel, direct interaction between PABP1 and EIF4E4 was also investigated and found to be mediated by the PABP1 MLLE binding to PABP Interacting Motifs (PAM2) within the EIF4E4 N-terminus. The results shown here are consistent with phosphorylation of PABP1 being part of a novel pathway controlling its function and possibly translation in Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kleison C Merlo
- a Instituto Aggeu Magalhães - FIOCRUZ , Recife , PE , Brazil
| | - Tatiany P Romão
- a Instituto Aggeu Magalhães - FIOCRUZ , Recife , PE , Brazil
| | | | - Ludmila A Assis
- a Instituto Aggeu Magalhães - FIOCRUZ , Recife , PE , Brazil
| | | | - Camila C Xavier
- a Instituto Aggeu Magalhães - FIOCRUZ , Recife , PE , Brazil
| | | | | | - Barbara Papadopoulou
- c CHU de Quebec Research Center and Department of Microbiology-Infectious Disease and Immunology , Laval University , Quebec , QC , Canada
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Somero GN. RNA thermosensors: how might animals exploit their regulatory potential? J Exp Biol 2018; 221:221/4/jeb162842. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.162842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The secondary and tertiary orders of RNA structure are crucial for a suite of RNA-related functions, including regulation of translation, gene expression and RNA turnover. The temperature sensitivity of RNA secondary and tertiary structures is exploited by bacteria to fabricate RNA thermosensing systems that allow a rapid adaptive response to temperature change. RNA thermometers (RNATs) present in non-coding regions of certain mRNAs of pathogenic bacteria enable rapid upregulation of translation of virulence proteins when the temperature of the bacterium rises after entering a mammalian host. Rapid upregulation of translation of bacterial heat-shock proteins likewise is governed in part by RNATs. Turnover of mRNA may be regulated by temperature-sensitive RNA structures. Whereas the roles of temperature-sensitive RNA structures similar to RNATs in Eukarya and Archaea are largely unknown, there would appear to be a potential for all taxa to adaptively regulate their thermal physiology through exploitation of RNA-based thermosensory responses akin to those of bacteria. In animals, these responses might include regulation of translation of stress-induced proteins, alternative splicing of messenger RNA precursors, differential expression of allelic proteins, modulation of activities of small non-coding RNAs, regulation of mRNA turnover and control of RNA editing. New methods for predicting, detecting and experimentally modifying RNA secondary structure offer promising windows into these fascinating aspects of RNA biochemistry. Elucidating whether animals too have exploited the types of RNA thermosensing tools that are used so effectively by bacteria seems likely to provide exciting new insights into the mechanisms of evolutionary adaptation and acclimatization to temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- George N. Somero
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
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Freire ER, Moura DMN, Bezerra MJR, Xavier CC, Morais-Sobral MC, Vashisht AA, Rezende AM, Wohlschlegel JA, Sturm NR, de Melo Neto OP, Campbell DA. Trypanosoma brucei EIF4E2 cap-binding protein binds a homolog of the histone-mRNA stem-loop-binding protein. Curr Genet 2017; 64:821-839. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-017-0795-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Azizi H, Dumas C, Papadopoulou B. The Pumilio-domain protein PUF6 contributes to SIDER2 retroposon-mediated mRNA decay in Leishmania. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:1874-1885. [PMID: 28877997 PMCID: PMC5689007 DOI: 10.1261/rna.062950.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania and other trypanosomatid protozoa lack control at the level of transcription initiation and regulate gene expression exclusively post-transcriptionally. We have reported previously that Leishmania harbors a unique class of short interspersed degenerate retroposons (SIDERs) that are predominantly located within 3'UTRs and play a major role in post-transcriptional control. We have shown that members of the SIDER2 subfamily initiate mRNA decay through endonucleolytic cleavage within the second conserved 79-nt signature sequence of SIDER2 retroposons. Here, we have developed an optimized MS2 coat protein tethering system to capture trans-acting factor(s) regulating SIDER2-mediated mRNA decay. Tethering of the MS2 coat protein to a reporter RNA harboring two MS2 stem-loop aptamers and the cognate SIDER2-containing 3'UTR in combination with immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis led to the identification of RNA-binding proteins with known functions in mRNA decay. Among the candidate SIDER2-interacting proteins that were individually tethered to a SIDER2 reporter RNA, the Pumilio-domain protein PUF6 was shown to enhance degradation and reduce transcript half-life. Furthermore, we showed that PUF6 binds to SIDER2 sequences that include the regulatory 79-nt signature motif, hence contributing to the mRNA decay process. Consistent with a role of PUF6 in SIDER2-mediated decay, genetic inactivation of PUF6 resulted in increased accumulation and higher stability of endogenous SIDER2-bearing transcripts. Overall, these studies provide new insights into regulated mRNA decay pathways in Leishmania controlled by SIDER2 retroposons and propose a broader role for PUF proteins in mRNA decay within the eukaryotic kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiva Azizi
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, CHU de Quebec Research Center-Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G2 Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Carole Dumas
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, CHU de Quebec Research Center-Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G2 Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Barbara Papadopoulou
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, CHU de Quebec Research Center-Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G2 Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6 Canada
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Smircich P, El-Sayed NM, Garat B. Intrinsic DNA curvature in trypanosomes. BMC Res Notes 2017; 10:585. [PMID: 29121981 PMCID: PMC5679330 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-017-2908-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei are protozoan parasites
causing Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness, displaying unique features of cellular and molecular biology. Remarkably, no canonical signals for RNA polymerase II promoters, which drive protein coding genes transcription, have been identified so far. The secondary structure of DNA has long been recognized as a signal in biological processes and more recently, its involvement in transcription initiation in Leishmania was proposed. In order to study whether this feature is conserved in trypanosomatids, we undertook a genome wide search for intrinsic DNA curvature in T. cruzi and T. brucei. Results Using a region integrated intrinsic curvature (RIIC) scoring that we previously developed, a non-random distribution of sequence-dependent curvature was observed. High RIIC scores were found to be significantly correlated with transcription start sites in T. cruzi, which have been mapped in divergent switch regions, whereas in T. brucei, the high RIIC scores correlated with sites that have been involved not only in RNA polymerase II initiation but also in termination. In addition, we observed regions with high RIIC score presenting in-phase tracts of Adenines, in the subtelomeric regions of the T. brucei chromosomes that harbor the variable surface glycoproteins genes. Conclusions In both T. cruzi and T. brucei genomes, a link between DNA conformational signals and gene expression was found. High sequence dependent curvature is associated with transcriptional regulation regions. High intrinsic curvature also occurs at the T. brucei chromosome subtelomeric regions where the recombination processes involved in the evasion of the immune host system take place. These findings underscore the relevance of indirect DNA readout in these ancient eukaryotes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-017-2908-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Smircich
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Republica, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Najib M El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Beatriz Garat
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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The Role of Cytoplasmic mRNA Cap-Binding Protein Complexes in Trypanosoma brucei and Other Trypanosomatids. Pathogens 2017; 6:pathogens6040055. [PMID: 29077018 PMCID: PMC5750579 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6040055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatid protozoa are unusual eukaryotes that are well known for having unusual ways of controlling their gene expression. The lack of a refined mode of transcriptional control in these organisms is compensated by several post-transcriptional control mechanisms, such as control of mRNA turnover and selection of mRNA for translation, that may modulate protein synthesis in response to several environmental conditions found in different hosts. In other eukaryotes, selection of mRNA for translation is mediated by the complex eIF4F, a heterotrimeric protein complex composed by the subunits eIF4E, eIF4G, and eIF4A, where the eIF4E binds to the 5'-cap structure of mature mRNAs. In this review, we present and discuss the characteristics of six trypanosomatid eIF4E homologs and their associated proteins that form multiple eIF4F complexes. The existence of multiple eIF4F complexes in trypanosomatids evokes exquisite mechanisms for differential mRNA recognition for translation.
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Essential Assembly Factor Rpf2 Forms Novel Interactions within the 5S RNP in Trypanosoma brucei. mSphere 2017; 2:mSphere00394-17. [PMID: 29062898 PMCID: PMC5646243 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00394-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosome biogenesis is a highly complex and conserved cellular process that is responsible for making ribosomes. During this process, there are several assembly steps that function as regulators to ensure proper ribosome formation. One of these steps is the assembly of the 5S ribonucleoprotein particle (5S RNP) in the central protuberance of the 60S ribosomal subunit. In eukaryotes, the 5S RNP is composed of 5S rRNA, ribosomal proteins L5 and L11, and assembly factors Rpf2 and Rrs1. Our laboratory previously showed that in Trypanosoma brucei, the 5S RNP is composed of 5S rRNA, L5, and trypanosome-specific RNA binding proteins P34 and P37. In this study, we characterize an additional component of the 5S RNP, the T. brucei homolog of Rpf2. This is the first study to functionally characterize interactions mediated by Rpf2 in an organism other than fungi. T. brucei Rpf2 (TbRpf2) was identified from tandem affinity purification using extracts prepared from protein A-tobacco etch virus (TEV)-protein C (PTP)-tagged L5, P34, and P37 cell lines, followed by mass spectrometry analysis. We characterized the binding interactions between TbRpf2 and the previously characterized members of the T. brucei 5S RNP. Our studies show that TbRpf2 mediates conserved binding interactions with 5S rRNA and L5 and that TbRpf2 also interacts with trypanosome-specific proteins P34 and P37. We performed RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of TbRpf2 and showed that this protein is essential for the survival of the parasites and is critical for proper ribosome formation. These studies provide new insights into a critical checkpoint in the ribosome biogenesis pathway in T. brucei. IMPORTANCETrypanosoma brucei is the parasitic protozoan that causes African sleeping sickness. Ribosome assembly is essential for the survival of this parasite through the different host environments it encounters during its life cycle. The assembly of the 5S ribonucleoprotein particle (5S RNP) functions as one of the regulatory checkpoints during ribosome biogenesis. We have previously characterized the 5S RNP in T. brucei and showed that trypanosome-specific proteins P34 and P37 are part of this complex. In this study, we characterize for the first time the interactions of the homolog of the assembly factor Rpf2 with members of the 5S RNP in another organism besides fungi. Our studies show that Rpf2 is essential in T. brucei and that it forms unique interactions within the 5S RNP, particularly with P34 and P37. These studies have identified parasite-specific interactions that can potentially function as new therapeutic targets against sleeping sickness.
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Ridewood S, Ooi CP, Hall B, Trenaman A, Wand NV, Sioutas G, Scherwitzl I, Rudenko G. The role of genomic location and flanking 3'UTR in the generation of functional levels of variant surface glycoprotein in Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Microbiol 2017; 106:614-634. [PMID: 28906055 PMCID: PMC5698767 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei faces relentless immune attack in the mammalian bloodstream, where it is protected by an essential coat of Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) comprising ∼10% total protein. The active VSG gene is in a Pol I‐transcribed telomeric expression site (ES). We investigated factors mediating these extremely high levels of VSG expression by inserting ectopic VSG117 into VSG221 expressing T. brucei. Mutational analysis of the ectopic VSG 3′UTR demonstrated the essentiality of a conserved 16‐mer for mRNA stability. Expressing ectopic VSG117 from different genomic locations showed that functional VSG levels could be produced from a gene 60 kb upstream of its normal telomeric location. High, but very heterogeneous levels of VSG117 were obtained from the Pol I‐transcribed rDNA. Blocking VSG synthesis normally triggers a precise precytokinesis cell‐cycle checkpoint. VSG117 expression from the rDNA was not adequate for functional complementation, and the stalled cells arrested prior to cytokinesis. However, VSG levels were not consistently low enough to trigger a characteristic ‘VSG synthesis block’ cell‐cycle checkpoint, as some cells reinitiated S phase. This demonstrates the essentiality of a Pol I‐transcribed ES, as well as conserved VSG 3′UTR 16‐mer sequences for the generation of functional levels of VSG expression in bloodstream form T. brucei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Ridewood
- Department of Life Sciences, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Cher-Pheng Ooi
- Department of Life Sciences, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Belinda Hall
- Department of Life Sciences, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Anna Trenaman
- Department of Life Sciences, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Nadina Vasileva Wand
- Department of Life Sciences, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Georgios Sioutas
- Department of Life Sciences, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Iris Scherwitzl
- Department of Life Sciences, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Gloria Rudenko
- Department of Life Sciences, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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Jara M, Berg M, Caljon G, de Muylder G, Cuypers B, Castillo D, Maes I, Orozco MDC, Vanaerschot M, Dujardin JC, Arevalo J. Macromolecular biosynthetic parameters and metabolic profile in different life stages of Leishmania braziliensis: Amastigotes as a functionally less active stage. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180532. [PMID: 28742826 PMCID: PMC5526552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
It was recently hypothesized that Leishmania amastigotes could constitute a semi-quiescent stage characterized by low replication and reduced metabolic activity. This concept developed with Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana and Leishmania (Leishmania) major models might explain numerous clinical and sub-clinical features of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infections, like reactivation of the disease, non-response to chemotherapy or asymptomatic infections. We compared here in vitro the proliferative capability of L. (V.) braziliensis amastigotes and promastigotes, assessed the expression of key molecular parameters and performed metabolomic analysis. We found that contrary to the highly proliferative promastigotes, amastigotes (axenic and intracellular) do not show evidence of extensive proliferation. In parallel, amastigotes showed a significant decrease of (i) the kDNA mini-circle abundance, (ii) the intracellular ATP level, (iii) the ribosomal components: rRNA subunits 18S and 28S α and ribosomal proteins RPS15 and RPL19, (iv) total RNA and protein levels. An untargeted metabolomic study identified clear differences between the different life stages: in comparison to logarithmic promastigotes, axenic amastigotes showed (a) a strong decrease of 14 essential and non-essential amino acids and eight metabolites involved in polyamine synthesis, (b) extensive changes in the phospholipids composition and (c) increased levels of several endogenous and exogenous sterols. Altogether, our results show that L. (V.) braziliensis amastigotes can show a phenotype with negligible rate of proliferation, a lower capacity of biosynthesis, a reduced bio-energetic level and a strongly altered metabolism. Our results pave the way for further exploration of quiescence among amastigotes of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Jara
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Molecular Parasitology Unit, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maya Berg
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Molecular Parasitology Unit, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Molecular Parasitology Unit, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Geraldine de Muylder
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Molecular Parasitology Unit, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bart Cuypers
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Molecular Parasitology Unit, Antwerp, Belgium
- University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Denis Castillo
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Ilse Maes
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Molecular Parasitology Unit, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - María del Carmen Orozco
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Manu Vanaerschot
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Molecular Parasitology Unit, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jean-Claude Dujardin
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Molecular Parasitology Unit, Antwerp, Belgium
- University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jorge Arevalo
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
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Azizi H, Romão TP, Santos Charret K, Padmanabhan PK, de Melo Neto OP, Müller-McNicoll M, Papadopoulou B. RNA secondary structure and nucleotide composition of the conserved hallmark sequence of Leishmania SIDER2 retroposons are essential for endonucleolytic cleavage and mRNA degradation. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180678. [PMID: 28704426 PMCID: PMC5509151 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We have reported previously that Short Interspersed Degenerate Retroposons of the SIDER2 subfamily, largely located within 3'UTRs of Leishmania transcripts, promote rapid turnover of mRNAs through endonucleolytic cleavage within the highly conserved second tandem 79-nt hallmark sequence (79-nt SII). Here, we used site-directed mutagenesis and in silico RNA structural studies to delineate the cis-acting requirements within 79-nt SII for cleavage and mRNA degradation. The putative cleavage site(s) and other nucleotides predicted to alter the RNA secondary structure of 79-nt SII were either deleted or mutated and their effect on mRNA turnover was monitored using a gene reporter system. We found that short deletions of 8-nt spanning the two predicted cleavage sites block degradation of SIDER2-containing transcripts, leading to mRNA accumulation. Furthermore, single or double substitutions of the dinucleotides targeted for cleavage as well as mutations altering the predicted RNA secondary structure encompassing both cleavage sites also prevent mRNA degradation, confirming that these dinucleotides are the bona fide cleavage sites. In line with these results, we show that stage-regulated SIDER2 inactivation correlates with the absence of endonucleolytic cleavage. Overall, these data demonstrate that both cleavage sites within the conserved 79-nt SII as well as RNA folding in this region are essential for SIDER2-mediated mRNA decay, and further support that SIDER2-harboring transcripts are targeted for degradation by endonucleolytic cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiva Azizi
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, CHU de Quebec Research Center-University Laval, Quebec, QC. Canada
- Department of Microbiology-Infectious Disease and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University Laval, Quebec, QC. Canada
| | - Tatiany P. Romão
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães-FIOCRUZ, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | - Prasad K. Padmanabhan
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, CHU de Quebec Research Center-University Laval, Quebec, QC. Canada
- Department of Microbiology-Infectious Disease and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University Laval, Quebec, QC. Canada
| | - Osvaldo P. de Melo Neto
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães-FIOCRUZ, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Michaela Müller-McNicoll
- RNA Regulation Group, Cluster of Excellence ‘Macromolecular Complexes’, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Frankfurt /Main, Germany
| | - Barbara Papadopoulou
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, CHU de Quebec Research Center-University Laval, Quebec, QC. Canada
- Department of Microbiology-Infectious Disease and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University Laval, Quebec, QC. Canada
- * E-mail:
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Dumetz F, Imamura H, Sanders M, Seblova V, Myskova J, Pescher P, Vanaerschot M, Meehan CJ, Cuypers B, De Muylder G, Späth GF, Bussotti G, Vermeesch JR, Berriman M, Cotton JA, Volf P, Dujardin JC, Domagalska MA. Modulation of Aneuploidy in Leishmania donovani during Adaptation to Different In Vitro and In Vivo Environments and Its Impact on Gene Expression. mBio 2017; 8:e00599-17. [PMID: 28536289 PMCID: PMC5442457 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00599-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aneuploidy is usually deleterious in multicellular organisms but appears to be tolerated and potentially beneficial in unicellular organisms, including pathogens. Leishmania, a major protozoan parasite, is emerging as a new model for aneuploidy, since in vitro-cultivated strains are highly aneuploid, with interstrain diversity and intrastrain mosaicism. The alternation of two life stages in different environments (extracellular promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes) offers a unique opportunity to study the impact of environment on aneuploidy and gene expression. We sequenced the whole genomes and transcriptomes of Leishmania donovani strains throughout their adaptation to in vivo conditions mimicking natural vertebrate and invertebrate host environments. The nucleotide sequences were almost unchanged within a strain, in contrast to highly variable aneuploidy. Although high in promastigotes in vitro, aneuploidy dropped significantly in hamster amastigotes, in a progressive and strain-specific manner, accompanied by the emergence of new polysomies. After a passage through a sand fly, smaller yet consistent karyotype changes were detected. Changes in chromosome copy numbers were correlated with the corresponding transcript levels, but additional aneuploidy-independent regulation of gene expression was observed. This affected stage-specific gene expression, downregulation of the entire chromosome 31, and upregulation of gene arrays on chromosomes 5 and 8. Aneuploidy changes in Leishmania are probably adaptive and exploited to modulate the dosage and expression of specific genes; they are well tolerated, but additional mechanisms may exist to regulate the transcript levels of other genes located on aneuploid chromosomes. Our model should allow studies of the impact of aneuploidy on molecular adaptations and cellular fitness.IMPORTANCE Aneuploidy is usually detrimental in multicellular organisms, but in several microorganisms, it can be tolerated and even beneficial. Leishmania-a protozoan parasite that kills more than 30,000 people each year-is emerging as a new model for aneuploidy studies, as unexpectedly high levels of aneuploidy are found in clinical isolates. Leishmania lacks classical regulation of transcription at initiation through promoters, so aneuploidy could represent a major adaptive strategy of this parasite to modulate gene dosage in response to stressful environments. For the first time, we document the dynamics of aneuploidy throughout the life cycle of the parasite, in vitro and in vivo We show its adaptive impact on transcription and its interaction with regulation. Besides offering a new model for aneuploidy studies, we show that further genomic studies should be done directly in clinical samples without parasite isolation and that adequate methods should be developed for this.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Dumetz
- Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - H Imamura
- Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M Sanders
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - V Seblova
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J Myskova
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - P Pescher
- Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, INSERM U1201, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - M Vanaerschot
- Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - C J Meehan
- Mycobacteriology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - B Cuypers
- Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Advanced Database Research and Modelling (ADReM), Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - G De Muylder
- Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - G F Späth
- Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, INSERM U1201, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - G Bussotti
- Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, INSERM U1201, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - J R Vermeesch
- Molecular Cytogenetics and Genome Research, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Berriman
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - J A Cotton
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - P Volf
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J C Dujardin
- Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M A Domagalska
- Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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