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Cabral G, Moss WJ, Brown KM. Proteomic approaches for protein kinase substrate identification in Apicomplexa. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 259:111633. [PMID: 38821187 PMCID: PMC11194964 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111633] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Apicomplexa is a phylum of protist parasites, notable for causing life-threatening diseases including malaria, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, and babesiosis. Apicomplexan pathogenesis is generally a function of lytic replication, dissemination, persistence, host cell modification, and immune subversion. Decades of research have revealed essential roles for apicomplexan protein kinases in establishing infections and promoting pathogenesis. Protein kinases modify their substrates by phosphorylating serine, threonine, tyrosine, or other residues, resulting in rapid functional changes in the target protein. Post-translational modification by phosphorylation can activate or inhibit a substrate, alter its localization, or promote interactions with other proteins or ligands. Deciphering direct kinase substrates is crucial to understand mechanisms of kinase signaling, yet can be challenging due to the transient nature of kinase phosphorylation and potential for downstream indirect phosphorylation events. However, with recent advances in proteomic approaches, our understanding of kinase function in Apicomplexa has improved dramatically. Here, we discuss methods that have been used to identify kinase substrates in apicomplexan parasites, classifying them into three main categories: i) kinase interactome, ii) indirect phosphoproteomics and iii) direct labeling. We briefly discuss each approach, including their advantages and limitations, and highlight representative examples from the Apicomplexa literature. Finally, we conclude each main category by introducing prospective approaches from other fields that would benefit kinase substrate identification in Apicomplexa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Cabral
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - William J Moss
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kevin M Brown
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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2
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Xu J, Jia W, Zhang G, Liu L, Wang L, Wu D, Tao J, Yue H, Zhang D, Zhao X. Extract of Silphium perfoliatum L. improve lipid accumulation in NAFLD mice by regulating AMPK/FXR signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 327:118054. [PMID: 38484950 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Globally, the incidence rate and number of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are increasing, which has become one of the greatest threats to human health. However, there is still no effective therapy and medicine so far. Silphium perfoliatum L. is a perennial herb native to North America, which is used to improve physical fitness and treat liver and spleen related diseases in the traditional medicinal herbs of Indian tribes. This herb is rich in chlorogenic acids, which have the functions of reducing blood lipids, losing weight and protecting liver. However, the effect of these compounds on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY Clarify the therapeutic effects and mechanism of the extract (CY-10) rich in chlorogenic acid and its analogues from Silphium perfoliatum L. on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and to determine the active compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS A free fatty acid-induced steatosis model of HepG2 cells was established to evaluate the in vitro activity of CY-10 in promoting lipid metabolism. Further, a high-fat diet-induced NAFLD model in C57BL/6 mice was established to detect the effects of CY-10 on various physiological and biochemical indexes in mice, and to elucidate the in vivo effects of the extract on regulating lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation and hepatoprotection, and nontarget lipid metabolomics was performed to analyze differential metabolites of fatty acids in the liver. Subsequently, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the target of the extract and elucidate its mechanism of action. Finally, the active compounds in CY-10 were elucidated through in vitro activity screening. RESULTS The results indicated that CY-10 significantly attenuated lipid droplet deposition in HepG2 cells. The results of in vivo experiments showed that CY-10 significantly reduce HFD-induced mouse body weight and organ index, improve biochemical indexes, oxidation levels and inflammatory responses in the liver and serum, thereby protecting the liver tissue. It can promote the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids in the liver and reduce the generation of saturated fatty acids. Furthermore, it is clarified that CY-10 can promote lipid metabolism balance by regulating AMPK/FXR/SREPB-1c/PPAR-γ signal pathway. Ultimately, the main active compound was proved to be cryptochlorogenic acid, which has a strong promoting effect on the metabolism of fatty acids in cells. Impressively, the activities of CY-10 and cryptochlorogenic acid were stronger than simvastatin in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION For the first time, it is clarified that the extract rich in chlorogenic acids and its analogues in Silphium perfoliatum L. have good therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is confirmed that cryptochlorogenic acid is the main active compound and has good potential for medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyu Xu
- College of Ecological Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, China.
| | - Wenjing Jia
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Biological Resources, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS and Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Qinghai, 810008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
| | - Guoying Zhang
- College of Ecological Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, China.
| | - Liying Liu
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Biological Resources, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS and Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Qinghai, 810008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
| | - Luya Wang
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Biological Resources, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS and Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Qinghai, 810008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
| | - Di Wu
- College of Ecological Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, China.
| | - Jihong Tao
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Biological Resources, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS and Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Qinghai, 810008, China.
| | - Huilan Yue
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Biological Resources, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS and Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Qinghai, 810008, China.
| | - Dejun Zhang
- College of Ecological Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, China.
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Biological Resources, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS and Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Qinghai, 810008, China.
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Guo X, Ji N, Guo Q, Wang M, Du H, Pan J, Xiao L, Gupta N, Feng Y, Xia N. Metabolic plasticity, essentiality and therapeutic potential of ribose-5-phosphate synthesis in Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2999. [PMID: 38589375 PMCID: PMC11001932 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47097-8] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribose-5-phosphate (R5P) is a precursor for nucleic acid biogenesis; however, the importance and homeostasis of R5P in the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii remain enigmatic. Here, we show that the cytoplasmic sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) is dispensable. Still, its co-deletion with transaldolase (TAL) impairs the double mutant's growth and increases 13C-glucose-derived flux into pentose sugars via the transketolase (TKT) enzyme. Deletion of the latter protein affects the parasite's fitness but is not lethal and is correlated with an increased carbon flux via the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. Further, loss of TKT leads to a decline in 13C incorporation into glycolysis and the TCA cycle, resulting in a decrease in ATP levels and the inability of phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate synthetase (PRPS) to convert R5P into 5'-phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate and thereby contribute to the production of AMP and IMP. Likewise, PRPS is essential for the lytic cycle. Not least, we show that RuPE-mediated metabolic compensation is imperative for the survival of the ΔsbpaseΔtal strain. In conclusion, we demonstrate that multiple routes can flexibly supply R5P to enable parasite growth and identify catalysis by TKT and PRPS as critical enzymatic steps. Our work provides novel biological and therapeutic insights into the network design principles of intracellular parasitism in a clinically-relevant pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefang Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nuo Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinghong Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengting Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiyu Du
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajia Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Intracellular Parasite Education and Research Labs (iPEARL), Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India.
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Ningbo Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
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Shen Z, Ke Z, Yang Q, Ghebremichael ST, Li T, Li T, Chen J, Meng X, Xiang H, Li C, Zhou Z, Pan G, Chen P. Transcriptomic changes in the microsporidia proliferation and host responses in congenitally infected embryos and larvae. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:321. [PMID: 38556880 PMCID: PMC10983672 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10236-y] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Congenital infection caused by vertical transmission of microsporidia N. bombycis can result in severe economic losses in the silkworm-rearing industry. Whole-transcriptome analyses have revealed non-coding RNAs and their regulatory networks in N. bombycis infected embryos and larvae. However, transcriptomic changes in the microsporidia proliferation and host responses in congenitally infected embryos and larvae remains unclear. Here, we simultaneously compared the transcriptomes of N. bombycis and its host B. mori embryos of 5-day and larvae of 1-, 5- and 10-day during congenital infection. For the transcriptome of N. bombycis, a comparison of parasite expression patterns between congenital-infected embryos and larva showed most genes related to parasite central carbon metabolism were down-regulated in larvae during infection, whereas the majority of genes involved in parasite proliferation and growth were up-regulated. Interestingly, a large number of distinct or shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were revealed by the Venn diagram and heat map, many of them were connected to infection related factors such as Ricin B lectin, spore wall protein, polar tube protein, and polysaccharide deacetylase. For the transcriptome of B. mori infected with N. bombycis, beyond numerous DEGs related to DNA replication and repair, mRNA surveillance pathway, RNA transport, protein biosynthesis, and proteolysis, with the progression of infection, a large number of DEGs related to immune and infection pathways, including phagocytosis, apoptosis, TNF, Toll-like receptor, NF-kappa B, Fc epsilon RI, and some diseases, were successively identified. In contrast, most genes associated with the insulin signaling pathway, 2-oxacarboxylic acid metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and lipid metabolisms were up-regulated in larvae compared to those in embryos. Furthermore, dozens of distinct and three shared DEGs that were involved in the epigenetic regulations, such as polycomb, histone-lysine-specific demethylases, and histone-lysine-N-methyltransferases, were identified via the Venn diagram and heat maps. Notably, many DEGs of host and parasite associated with lipid-related metabolisms were verified by RT-qPCR. Taken together, simultaneous transcriptomic analyses of both host and parasite genes lead to a better understanding of changes in the microsporidia proliferation and host responses in embryos and larvae in N. bombycis congenital infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zigang Shen
- College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Zhuojun Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Qiong Yang
- Sericulture and Agri-food Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Samson Teweldeberhan Ghebremichael
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Tangxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Xianzhi Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Heng Xiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China.
| | - Ping Chen
- College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Tiansheng Street, Chongqing, 400716, China.
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Yang X, Yang J, Lyu M, Li Y, Liu A, Shen B. The α subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase is critical for the metabolic success and tachyzoite proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14455. [PMID: 38635138 PMCID: PMC11025617 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite infecting humans and nearly all warm-blooded animals. Successful parasitism in diverse hosts at various developmental stages requires the parasites to fine tune their metabolism according to environmental cues and the parasite's needs. By manipulating the β and γ subunits, we have previously shown that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has critical roles in regulating the metabolic and developmental programmes. However, the biological functions of the α catalytic subunit have not been established. T. gondii encodes a canonical AMPKα, as well as a KIN kinase whose kinase domain has high sequence similarities to those of classic AMPKα proteins. Here, we found that TgKIN is dispensable for tachyzoite growth, whereas TgAMPKα is essential. Depletion of TgAMPKα expression resulted in decreased ATP levels and reduced metabolic flux in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, confirming that TgAMPK is involved in metabolic regulation and energy homeostasis in the parasite. Sequential truncations at the C-terminus found an α-helix that is key for the function of TgAMPKα. The amino acid sequences of this α-helix are not conserved among various AMPKα proteins, likely because it is involved in interactions with TgAMPKβ, which only have limited sequence similarities to AMPKβ in other eukaryotes. The essential role of the less conserved C-terminus of TgAMPKα provides opportunities for parasite specific drug designs targeting TgAMPKα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesAnhui Medical UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Jichao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Mengyu Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Yaqiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Anqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine in Hubei ProvinceHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubei ProvinceChina
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and HealthHuazhong Agricultural UniversityShenzhenGuangdong ProvinceChina
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6
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Ewald S, Nasuhidehnavi A, Feng TY, Lesani M, McCall LI. The intersection of host in vivo metabolism and immune responses to infection with kinetoplastid and apicomplexan parasites. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0016422. [PMID: 38299836 PMCID: PMC10966954 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00164-22] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYProtozoan parasite infection dramatically alters host metabolism, driven by immunological demand and parasite manipulation strategies. Immunometabolic checkpoints are often exploited by kinetoplastid and protozoan parasites to establish chronic infection, which can significantly impair host metabolic homeostasis. The recent growth of tools to analyze metabolism is expanding our understanding of these questions. Here, we review and contrast host metabolic alterations that occur in vivo during infection with Leishmania, trypanosomes, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, and Cryptosporidium. Although genetically divergent, there are commonalities among these pathogens in terms of metabolic needs, induction of the type I immune responses required for clearance, and the potential for sustained host metabolic dysbiosis. Comparing these pathogens provides an opportunity to explore how transmission strategy, nutritional demand, and host cell and tissue tropism drive similarities and unique aspects in host response and infection outcome and to design new strategies to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ewald
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Azadeh Nasuhidehnavi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Tzu-Yu Feng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mahbobeh Lesani
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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Yan M, Liu H, Su Y, Bi X, Yang N, Lin R, Lü G. Inhibition of AMPK activation in Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto limits the parasite's glucose metabolism and survival. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0120223. [PMID: 38349157 PMCID: PMC10916388 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01202-23] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by larvae of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) cluster. There is an urgent need to develop new drug targets and drug molecules to treat CE. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a serine/threonine protein kinase consisting of α, β, and γ subunits, plays a key role in the regulation of energy metabolism. However, the role of AMPK in regulating glucose metabolism in E. granulosus s.l. and its effects on parasite viability is unknown. In this study, we found that targeted knockdown of EgAMPKα or a small-molecule AMPK inhibitor inhibited the viability of E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) and disrupted the ultrastructure. The results of in vivo experiments showed that the AMPK inhibitor had a significant therapeutic effect on E. granulosus s.s.-infected mice and resulted in the loss of cellular structures of the germinal layer. In addition, the inhibition of the EgAMPK/EgGLUT1 pathway limited glucose uptake and glucose metabolism functions in E. granulosus s.s.. Overall, our results suggest that EgAMPK can be a potential drug target for CE and that inhibition of EgAMPK activation is an effective strategy for the treatment of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhi Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence Diseases, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence Diseases, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yansen Su
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China
- Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaojuan Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence Diseases, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Ning Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence Diseases, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Renyong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence Diseases, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
- Basic Medical College, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Guodong Lü
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment of Central Asian High Incidence Diseases, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
- College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
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8
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Fan F, Xue L, Yin X, Gupta N, Shen B. AP2XII-1 is a negative regulator of merogony and presexual commitment in Toxoplasma gondii. mBio 2023; 14:e0178523. [PMID: 37750704 PMCID: PMC10653792 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01785-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Sexual development is vital for the transmission, genetic hybridization, and population evolution of apicomplexan pathogens, which include several clinically relevant parasites, such as Plasmodium, Eimeria, and Toxoplasma gondii. Previous studies have demonstrated different morphological characteristics and division patterns between asexual and sexual stages of the parasites. However, the primary regulation is poorly understood. A transition from the asexual to the sexual stage is supposedly triggered/accompanied by rewiring of gene expression and controlled by transcription factors and chromatin modulators. Herein, we discovered a tachyzoite-specific transcriptional factor AP2XII-1, which represses the presexual development in the asexual tachyzoite stage of T. gondii. Conditional knockdown of AP2XII-1 perturbs tachyzoite proliferation by endodyogeny and drives a transition to a morphologically and transcriptionally distinct merozoite stage. The results also suggest a hierarchical transcriptional regulation of sexual development by AP2 factors and provide a path to culturing merozoites and controlling inter-host transmission of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lilan Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Nishith Gupta
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- Intracellular Parasite Education and Research Labs (iPEARL), Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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