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Musabyimana JP, Distler U, Sassmannshausen J, Berks C, Manti J, Bennink S, Blaschke L, Burda PC, Flammersfeld A, Tenzer S, Ngwa CJ, Pradel G. Plasmodium falciparum S-Adenosylmethionine Synthetase Is Essential for Parasite Survival through a Complex Interaction Network with Cytoplasmic and Nuclear Proteins. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1419. [PMID: 35889137 PMCID: PMC9320499 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (SAMS) is a key enzyme for the synthesis of the lone methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), which is involved in transmethylation reactions and hence required for cellular processes such as DNA, RNA, and histone methylation, but also polyamine biosynthesis and proteostasis. In the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, PfSAMS is encoded by a single gene and has been suggested to be crucial for malaria pathogenesis and transmission; however, to date, PfSAMS has not been fully characterized. To gain deeper insight into the function of PfSAMS, we generated a conditional gene knockdown (KD) using the glmS ribozyme system. We show that PfSAMS localizes to the cytoplasm and the nucleus of blood-stage parasites. PfSAMS-KD results in reduced histone methylation and leads to impaired intraerythrocytic growth and gametocyte development. To further determine the interaction network of PfSAMS, we performed a proximity-dependent biotin identification analysis. We identified a complex network of 1114 proteins involved in biological processes such as cell cycle control and DNA replication, or transcription, but also in phosphatidylcholine and polyamine biosynthesis and proteasome regulation. Our findings highlight the diverse roles of PfSAMS during intraerythrocytic growth and sexual stage development and emphasize that PfSAMS is a potential drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Pierre Musabyimana
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Ute Distler
- Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (U.D.); (S.T.)
| | - Juliane Sassmannshausen
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Christina Berks
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Janice Manti
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Sandra Bennink
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Lea Blaschke
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Paul-Christian Burda
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) c/o DESY, Bernhard Nocht Institute, University of Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, Building 15, 22607 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Ansgar Flammersfeld
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Stefan Tenzer
- Proteomics Core Facility, Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (U.D.); (S.T.)
| | - Che Julius Ngwa
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.P.M.); (J.S.); (C.B.); (J.M.); (S.B.); (L.B.); (A.F.); (C.J.N.)
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Rehn T, Lubiana P, Nguyen THT, Pansegrau E, Schmitt M, Roth LK, Brehmer J, Roeder T, Cadar D, Metwally NG, Bruchhaus I. Ectopic Expression of Plasmodium vivax vir Genes in P. falciparum Affects Cytoadhesion via Increased Expression of Specific var Genes. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061183. [PMID: 35744701 PMCID: PMC9230084 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (PfIEs) adhere to endothelial cell receptors (ECRs) of blood vessels mainly via PfEMP1 proteins to escape elimination via the spleen. Evidence suggests that P. vivax-infected reticulocytes (PvIRs) also bind to ECRs, presumably enabled by VIR proteins, as shown by inhibition experiments and studies with transgenic P. falciparum expressing vir genes. To test this hypothesis, our study investigated the involvement of VIR proteins in cytoadhesion using vir gene-expressing P. falciparum transfectants. Those VIR proteins with a putative transmembrane domain were present in Maurer's clefts, and some were also present in the erythrocyte membrane. The VIR protein without a transmembrane domain (PVX_050690) was not exported. Five of the transgenic P. falciparum cell lines, including the one expressing PVX_050690, showed binding to CD36. We observed highly increased expression of specific var genes encoding PfEMP1s in all CD36-binding transfectants. These results suggest that ectopic vir expression regulates var expression through a yet unknown mechanism. In conclusion, the observed cytoadhesion of P. falciparum expressing vir genes depended on PfEMP1s, making this experimental unsuitable for characterizing VIR proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torben Rehn
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Pedro Lubiana
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Thi Huyen Trang Nguyen
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Eva Pansegrau
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Marius Schmitt
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Lisa Katharina Roth
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Jana Brehmer
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Thomas Roeder
- Molecular Physiology Department, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany;
- Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Dániel Cadar
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Nahla Galal Metwally
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
| | - Iris Bruchhaus
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (T.R.); (P.L.); (T.H.T.N.); (E.P.); (M.S.); (L.K.R.); (J.B.); (D.C.); (N.G.M.)
- Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 22601 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
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