1
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Mondragón-Rosas F, Florencio-Martínez LE, Villa-Delavequia GS, Manning-Cela RG, Carrero JC, Nepomuceno-Mejía T, Martínez-Calvillo S. Characterization of Tau95 led to the identification of a four-subunit TFIIIC complex in trypanosomatid parasites. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:109. [PMID: 38204130 PMCID: PMC10781861 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12903-8] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
RNA polymerase III (RNAP III) synthetizes small essential non-coding RNA molecules such as tRNAs and 5S rRNA. In yeast and vertebrates, RNAP III needs general transcription factors TFIIIA, TFIIIB, and TFIIIC to initiate transcription. TFIIIC, composed of six subunits, binds to internal promoter elements in RNAP III-dependent genes. Limited information is available about RNAP III transcription in the trypanosomatid protozoa Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major, which diverged early from the eukaryotic lineage. Analyses of the first published draft of the trypanosomatid genome sequences failed to recognize orthologs of any of the TFIIIC subunits, suggesting that this transcription factor is absent in these parasites. However, a putative TFIIIC subunit was recently annotated in the databases. Here we characterize this subunit in T. brucei and L. major and demonstrate that it corresponds to Tau95. In silico analyses showed that both proteins possess the typical Tau95 sequences: the DNA binding region and the dimerization domain. As anticipated for a transcription factor, Tau95 localized to the nucleus in insect forms of both parasites. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated that Tau95 binds to tRNA and U2 snRNA genes in T. brucei. Remarkably, by performing tandem affinity purifications we identified orthologs of TFIIIC subunits Tau55, Tau131, and Tau138 in T. brucei and L. major. Thus, contrary to what was assumed, trypanosomatid parasites do possess a TFIIIC complex. Other putative interacting partners of Tau95 were identified in T. brucei and L. major. KEY POINTS: • A four-subunit TFIIIC complex is present in T. brucei and L. major • TbTau95 associates with tRNA and U2 snRNA genes • Putative interacting partners of Tau95 might include some RNAP II regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Mondragón-Rosas
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Unidad de Biomedicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. de los Barrios 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Edo. de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Luis E Florencio-Martínez
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Unidad de Biomedicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. de los Barrios 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Edo. de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Gino S Villa-Delavequia
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Unidad de Biomedicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. de los Barrios 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Edo. de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Rebeca G Manning-Cela
- Departamento de Biomedicina Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Av. IPN 2508, Ciudad de Mexico, CP 07360, México
| | - Julio C Carrero
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico, 04510, México
| | - Tomás Nepomuceno-Mejía
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Unidad de Biomedicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. de los Barrios 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Edo. de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Santiago Martínez-Calvillo
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Unidad de Biomedicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. de los Barrios 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Edo. de México, CP 54090, México.
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2
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Butterfield ER, Obado SO, Scutts SR, Zhang W, Chait BT, Rout MP, Field MC. A lineage-specific protein network at the trypanosome nuclear envelope. Nucleus 2024; 15:2310452. [PMID: 38605598 PMCID: PMC11018031 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2024.2310452] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The nuclear envelope (NE) separates translation and transcription and is the location of multiple functions, including chromatin organization and nucleocytoplasmic transport. The molecular basis for many of these functions have diverged between eukaryotic lineages. Trypanosoma brucei, a member of the early branching eukaryotic lineage Discoba, highlights many of these, including a distinct lamina and kinetochore composition. Here, we describe a cohort of proteins interacting with both the lamina and NPC, which we term lamina-associated proteins (LAPs). LAPs represent a diverse group of proteins, including two candidate NPC-anchoring pore membrane proteins (POMs) with architecture conserved with S. cerevisiae and H. sapiens, and additional peripheral components of the NPC. While many of the LAPs are Kinetoplastid specific, we also identified broadly conserved proteins, indicating an amalgam of divergence and conservation within the trypanosome NE proteome, highlighting the diversity of nuclear biology across the eukaryotes, increasing our understanding of eukaryotic and NPC evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samson O. Obado
- Laboratory of Cellular and Structural Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Simon R. Scutts
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wenzhu Zhang
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian T. Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael P. Rout
- Laboratory of Cellular and Structural Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark C. Field
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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3
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Gray S, Fort C, Wheeler RJ. Intraflagellar transport speed is sensitive to genetic and mechanical perturbations to flagellar beating. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202401154. [PMID: 38829962 PMCID: PMC11148470 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202401154] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Two sets of motor proteins underpin motile cilia/flagella function. The axoneme-associated inner and outer dynein arms drive sliding of adjacent axoneme microtubule doublets to periodically bend the flagellum for beating, while intraflagellar transport (IFT) kinesins and dyneins carry IFT trains bidirectionally along the axoneme. Despite assembling motile cilia and flagella, IFT train speeds have only previously been quantified in immobilized flagella-mechanical immobilization or genetic paralysis. This has limited investigation of the interaction between IFT and flagellar beating. Here, in uniflagellate Leishmania parasites, we use high-frequency, dual-color fluorescence microscopy to visualize IFT train movement in beating flagella. We discovered that adhesion of flagella to a microscope slide is detrimental, reducing IFT train speed and increasing train stalling. In flagella free to move, IFT train speed is not strongly dependent on flagella beat type; however, permanent disruption of flagella beating by deletion of genes necessary for formation or regulation of beating showed an inverse correlation of beat frequency and IFT train speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Gray
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cecile Fort
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard John Wheeler
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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4
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Balasubramaniam K, He T, Chen H, Lin Z, He CY. Cytoplasmic preassembly of the flagellar outer dynein arm complex in Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:br16. [PMID: 39024276 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e24-06-0263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The outer dynein arm (ODA) is a large, multimeric protein complex essential for ciliary motility. The composition and assembly of ODA are best characterized in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, where individual ODA subunits are synthesized and preassembled into a mature complex in the cytosol prior to ciliary import. The single-cellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei contains a motile flagellum essential for cell locomotion and pathogenesis. Similar to human motile cilia, T. brucei flagellum contains a two-headed ODA complex arranged at 24 nm intervals along the axonemal microtubule doublets. The subunit composition and the preassembly of the ODA complex in T. brucei, however, have not been investigated. In this study, we affinity-purified the ODA complex from T. brucei cytoplasmic extract. Proteomic analyses revealed the presence of two heavy chains (ODAα and ODAβ), two intermediate chains (IC1and IC2) and several light chains. We showed that both heavy chains and both intermediate chains are indispensable for flagellar ODA assembly. Our study also provided biochemical evidence supporting the presence of a cytoplasmic, preassembly pathway for T. brucei ODA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthika Balasubramaniam
- Department of Biological Science, The Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543
| | - Tingting He
- Department of Biological Science, The Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543
| | - Helen Chen
- Department of Biological Science, The Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543
| | - Zhewang Lin
- Department of Biological Science, The Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543
| | - Cynthia Y He
- Department of Biological Science, The Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543
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5
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Yanase R, Pruzinova K, Owino BO, Rea E, Moreira-Leite F, Taniguchi A, Nonaka S, Sádlová J, Vojtkova B, Volf P, Sunter JD. Discovery of essential kinetoplastid-insect adhesion proteins and their function in Leishmania-sand fly interactions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6960. [PMID: 39138209 PMCID: PMC11322530 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51291-z] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmania species, members of the kinetoplastid parasites, cause leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, in millions of people worldwide. Leishmania has a complex life cycle with multiple developmental forms, as it cycles between a sand fly vector and a mammalian host; understanding their life cycle is critical to understanding disease spread. One of the key life cycle stages is the haptomonad form, which attaches to insect tissues through its flagellum. This adhesion, conserved across kinetoplastid parasites, is implicated in having an important function within their life cycles and hence in disease transmission. Here, we discover the kinetoplastid-insect adhesion proteins (KIAPs), which localise in the attached Leishmania flagellum. Deletion of these KIAPs impairs cell adhesion in vitro and prevents Leishmania from colonising the stomodeal valve in the sand fly, without affecting cell growth. Additionally, loss of parasite adhesion in the sand fly results in reduced physiological changes to the fly, with no observable damage of the stomodeal valve and reduced midgut swelling. These results provide important insights into a comprehensive understanding of the Leishmania life cycle, which will be critical for developing transmission-blocking strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuji Yanase
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
| | - Katerina Pruzinova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Barrack O Owino
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Edward Rea
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Flávia Moreira-Leite
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, Central Oxford Structural Molecular Imaging Centre (COSMIC), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Atsushi Taniguchi
- Laboratory for Spatiotemporal Regulations, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Research Center of Mathematics for Social Creativity, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shigenori Nonaka
- Laboratory for Spatiotemporal Regulations, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Spatiotemporal Regulations Group, Exploratory Research Center for Life and Living Systems, Okazaki, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Jovana Sádlová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Barbora Vojtkova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.
| | - Jack D Sunter
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
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6
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Aellig S, Billington K, Damasceno JD, Davidson L, Dobramysl U, Etzensperger R, Ferreira ER, Gluenz E, Mottram JC, Neish R, Pereira R, Smith J, Sunter JD, Volf P, Wheeler RJ, Young M. LeishGEM: genome-wide deletion mutant fitness and protein localisations in Leishmania. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:675-678. [PMID: 39030136 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.06.003] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
LeishGEM is a genome-wide functional annotation community resource for Leishmania mexicana, where deletion mutant growth in vitro and in vivo is measured and protein localisation is determined by endogenous tagging and LOPIT-DC (localisation of organelle proteins by isotope tagging with differential centrifugation) spatial proteomics. Data are being made available pre-publication via http://leishgem.org which allows data-driven identification of the mechanisms for Leishmania parasitism.
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7
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Bonnefoy S, Alves AA, Bertiaux E, Bastin P. LRRC56 is an IFT cargo required for assembly of the distal dynein docking complex in Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar106. [PMID: 38865178 PMCID: PMC11321045 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-11-0425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Outer dynein arms (ODAs) are responsible for ciliary beating in eukaryotes. They are assembled in the cytoplasm and shipped by intraflagellar transport (IFT) before attachment to microtubule doublets via the docking complex. The LRRC56 protein has been proposed to contribute to ODAs maturation. Mutations or deletion of the LRRC56 gene lead to reduced ciliary motility in all species investigated so far, but with variable impact on dynein arm presence. Here, we investigated the role of LRRC56 in the protist Trypanosoma brucei, where its absence results in distal loss of ODAs, mostly in growing flagella. We show that LRRC56 is a transient cargo of IFT trains during flagellum construction and surprisingly, is required for efficient attachment of a subset of docking complex proteins present in the distal portion of the organelle. This relation is interdependent since the knockdown of the distal docking complex prevents LRRC56's association with the flagellum. Intriguingly, lrrc56-/- cells display shorter flagella whose maturation is delayed. Inhibition of cell division compensates for the distal ODAs absence thanks to the redistribution of the proximal docking complex, restoring ODAs attachment but not the flagellum length phenotype. This work reveals an unexpected connection between LRRC56 and the docking complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Bonnefoy
- Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, Paris, France
| | - Aline Araujo Alves
- Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, Paris, France
| | - Eloïse Bertiaux
- Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, école doctorale complexité du vivant, ED 515, 7, quai Saint-Bernard, case 32, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Philippe Bastin
- Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, Paris, France
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8
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Azevedo LG, Sosa E, de Queiroz ATL, Barral A, Wheeler RJ, Nicolás MF, Farias LP, Do Porto DF, Ramos PIP. High-throughput prioritization of target proteins for development of new antileishmanial compounds. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 25:100538. [PMID: 38669848 PMCID: PMC11068527 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease, is caused by the infection of Leishmania spp., obligate intracellular protozoan parasites. Presently, human vaccines are unavailable, and the primary treatment relies heavily on systemic drugs, often presenting with suboptimal formulations and substantial toxicity, making new drugs a high priority for LMIC countries burdened by the disease, but a low priority in the agenda of most pharmaceutical companies due to unattractive profit margins. New ways to accelerate the discovery of new, or the repositioning of existing drugs, are needed. To address this challenge, our study aimed to identify potential protein targets shared among clinically-relevant Leishmania species. We employed a subtractive proteomics and comparative genomics approach, integrating high-throughput multi-omics data to classify these targets based on different druggability metrics. This effort resulted in the ranking of 6502 ortholog groups of protein targets across 14 pathogenic Leishmania species. Among the top 20 highly ranked groups, metabolic processes known to be attractive drug targets, including the ubiquitination pathway, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and purine synthesis, were rediscovered. Additionally, we unveiled novel promising targets such as the nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme and dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferases. These groups exhibited appealing druggability features, including less than 40% sequence identity to the human host proteome, predicted essentiality, structural classification as highly druggable or druggable, and expression levels above the 50th percentile in the amastigote form. The resources presented in this work also represent a comprehensive collection of integrated data regarding trypanosomatid biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas G Azevedo
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz Bahia), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Ezequiel Sosa
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Artur T L de Queiroz
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz Bahia), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Aldina Barral
- Laboratório de Medicina e Saúde Pública de Precisão (MeSP2), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz Bahia), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Richard J Wheeler
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Marisa F Nicolás
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Leonardo P Farias
- Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Laboratório de Medicina e Saúde Pública de Precisão (MeSP2), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz Bahia), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | | | - Pablo Ivan P Ramos
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz Bahia), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
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9
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Kieft R, Zhang Y, Yan H, Schmitz RJ, Sabatini R. Protein phosphatase PP1 regulation of RNA polymerase II transcription termination and allelic exclusion of VSG genes in trypanosomes. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6866-6885. [PMID: 38783162 PMCID: PMC11229358 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae392] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The genomes of Leishmania and trypanosomes are organized into polycistronic transcription units flanked by a modified DNA base J involved in promoting RNA polymerase II (Pol II) termination. We recently characterized a Leishmania complex containing a J-binding protein, PP1 protein phosphatase 1, and PP1 regulatory protein (PNUTS) that controls transcription termination potentially via dephosphorylation of Pol II by PP1. While T. brucei contains eight PP1 isoforms, none purified with the PNUTS complex, complicating the analysis of PP1 function in termination. We now demonstrate that the PP1-binding motif of TbPNUTS is required for function in termination in vivo and that TbPP1-1 modulates Pol II termination in T. brucei and dephosphorylation of the large subunit of Pol II. PP1-1 knock-down results in increased cellular levels of phosphorylated RPB1 accompanied by readthrough transcription and aberrant transcription of the chromosome by Pol II, including Pol I transcribed loci that are typically silent, such as telomeric VSG expression sites involved in antigenic variation. These results provide important insights into the mechanism underlying Pol II transcription termination in primitive eukaryotes that rely on polycistronic transcription and maintain allelic exclusion of VSG genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudo Kieft
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Haidong Yan
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Robert Sabatini
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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10
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Bieber BV, Lockett SG, Glasser SK, St Clair FA, Portillo NO, Adler LS, Povelones ML. Genetic modification of the bee parasite Crithidia bombi for improved visualization and protein localization. Exp Parasitol 2024; 262:108789. [PMID: 38762201 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108789] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Crithidia bombi is a trypanosomatid parasite that infects several species of bumble bees (Bombus spp.), by adhering to their intestinal tract. Crithidia bombi infection impairs learning and reduces survival of workers and the fitness of overwintering queens. Although there is extensive research on the ecology of this host-pathogen system, we understand far less about the mechanisms that mediate internal infection dynamics. Crithidia bombi infects hosts by attaching to the hindgut via the flagellum, and one previous study found that a nectar secondary compound removed the flagellum, preventing attachment. However, approaches that allow more detailed observation of parasite attachment and growth would allow us to better understand factors mediating this host-pathogen relationship. We established techniques for genetic manipulation and visualization of cultured C. bombi. Using constructs established for Crithidia fasciculata, we successfully generated C. bombi cells expressing ectopic fluorescent transgenes using two different selectable markers. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic modification of this species. We also introduced constructs that label the mitochondrion and nucleus of the parasite, showing that subcellular targeting signals can function across parasite species to highlight specific organelles. Finally, we visualized fluorescently tagged parasites in vitro in both their swimming and attached forms, and in vivo in bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) hosts. Expanding our cell and molecular toolkit for C. bombi will help us better understand how factors such as host diet, immune system, and physiology mediate outcomes of infection by these common parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah G Lockett
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Sonja K Glasser
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Faith A St Clair
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Neida O Portillo
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Megan L Povelones
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA.
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11
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Aguado M, Carvalho S, Valdés-Tresanco ME, Lin D, Padilla-Mejia N, Corpas-Lopez V, Tesařová M, Lukeš J, Gray D, González-Bacerio J, Wyllie S, Field MC. Identification and Validation of Compounds Targeting Leishmania major Leucyl-Aminopeptidase M17. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:2002-2017. [PMID: 38753953 PMCID: PMC11184559 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00009] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease; there is currently no vaccine and treatment is reliant upon a handful of drugs suffering from multiple issues including toxicity and resistance. There is a critical need for development of new fit-for-purpose therapeutics, with reduced toxicity and targeting new mechanisms to overcome resistance. One enzyme meriting investigation as a potential drug target in Leishmania is M17 leucyl-aminopeptidase (LAP). Here, we aimed to chemically validate LAP as a drug target in L. major through identification of potent and selective inhibitors. Using RapidFire mass spectrometry, the compounds DDD00057570 and DDD00097924 were identified as selective inhibitors of recombinant Leishmania major LAP activity. Both compounds inhibited in vitro growth of L. major and L. donovani intracellular amastigotes, and overexpression of LmLAP in L. major led to reduced susceptibility to DDD00057570 and DDD00097924, suggesting that these compounds specifically target LmLAP. Thermal proteome profiling revealed that these inhibitors thermally stabilized two M17 LAPs, indicating that these compounds selectively bind to enzymes of this class. Additionally, the selectivity of the inhibitors to act on LmLAP and not against the human ortholog was demonstrated, despite the high sequence similarities LAPs of this family share. Collectively, these data confirm LmLAP as a promising therapeutic target for Leishmania spp. that can be selectively inhibited by drug-like small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirtha
E. Aguado
- Center
for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, 10400 Havana, Cuba
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infective Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN Scotland, U.K.
| | | | - De Lin
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infective Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN Scotland, U.K.
| | - Norma Padilla-Mejia
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infective Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN Scotland, U.K.
| | - Victoriano Corpas-Lopez
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infective Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN Scotland, U.K.
| | - Martina Tesařová
- Institute
of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy
of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute
of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy
of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty
of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České
Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Gray
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infective Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN Scotland, U.K.
| | - Jorge González-Bacerio
- Center
for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, 10400 Havana, Cuba
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infective Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN Scotland, U.K.
| | - Mark C. Field
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infective Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN Scotland, U.K.
- Institute
of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy
of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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12
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Ballmer D, Carter W, van Hooff JJE, Tromer EC, Ishii M, Ludzia P, Akiyoshi B. Kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT14-KKT15 are divergent Bub1/BubR1-Bub3 proteins. Open Biol 2024; 14:240025. [PMID: 38862021 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.240025] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Faithful transmission of genetic material is crucial for the survival of all organisms. In many eukaryotes, a feedback control mechanism called the spindle checkpoint ensures chromosome segregation fidelity by delaying cell cycle progression until all chromosomes achieve proper attachment to the mitotic spindle. Kinetochores are the macromolecular complexes that act as the interface between chromosomes and spindle microtubules. While most eukaryotes have canonical kinetochore proteins that are widely conserved, kinetoplastids such as Trypanosoma brucei have a seemingly unique set of kinetochore proteins including KKT1-25. It remains poorly understood how kinetoplastids regulate cell cycle progression or ensure chromosome segregation fidelity. Here, we report a crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of KKT14 from Apiculatamorpha spiralis and uncover that it is a pseudokinase. Its structure is most similar to the kinase domain of a spindle checkpoint protein Bub1. In addition, KKT14 has a putative ABBA motif that is present in Bub1 and its paralogue BubR1. We also find that the N-terminal part of KKT14 interacts with KKT15, whose WD40 repeat beta-propeller is phylogenetically closely related to a direct interactor of Bub1/BubR1 called Bub3. Our findings indicate that KKT14-KKT15 are divergent orthologues of Bub1/BubR1-Bub3, which promote accurate chromosome segregation in trypanosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ballmer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- The Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - William Carter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Jolien J E van Hooff
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University and Research , 6708 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eelco C Tromer
- Cell Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen , 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Midori Ishii
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- The Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Patryk Ludzia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Bungo Akiyoshi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford , Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- The Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
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13
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Ahmed M, Wheeler R, Týč J, Shafiq S, Sunter J, Vaughan S. Identification of 30 transition fibre proteins in Trypanosoma brucei reveals a complex and dynamic structure. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261692. [PMID: 38572631 PMCID: PMC11190437 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261692] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Transition fibres and distal appendages surround the distal end of mature basal bodies and are essential for ciliogenesis, but only a few of the proteins involved have been identified and functionally characterised. Here, through genome-wide analysis, we have identified 30 transition fibre proteins (TFPs) and mapped their arrangement in the flagellated eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei. We discovered that TFPs are recruited to the mature basal body before and after basal body duplication, with differential expression of five TFPs observed at the assembling new flagellum compared to the existing fixed-length old flagellum. RNAi-mediated depletion of 17 TFPs revealed six TFPs that are necessary for ciliogenesis and a further three TFPs that are necessary for normal flagellum length. We identified nine TFPs that had a detectable orthologue in at least one basal body-forming eukaryotic organism outside of the kinetoplastid parasites. Our work has tripled the number of known transition fibre components, demonstrating that transition fibres are complex and dynamic in their composition throughout the cell cycle, which relates to their essential roles in ciliogenesis and flagellum length regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Ahmed
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Richard Wheeler
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | - Jiří Týč
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Parasitology, Branišovská 1160/31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Shahaan Shafiq
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Jack Sunter
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
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14
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Hieronimus K, Donauer T, Klein J, Hinkel B, Spänle JV, Probst A, Niemeyer J, Kibrom S, Kiefer AM, Schneider L, Husemann B, Bischoff E, Möhring S, Bayer N, Klein D, Engels A, Ziehmer BG, Stieβ J, Moroka P, Schroda M, Deponte M. A Modular Cloning Toolkit for the production of recombinant proteins in Leishmania tarentolae. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2024; 11:128-142. [PMID: 38799406 PMCID: PMC11121976 DOI: 10.15698/mic2024.04.821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Modular Cloning (MoClo) is based on libraries of standardized genetic parts that can be directionally assembled via Golden Gate cloning in one-pot reactions into transcription units and multigene constructs. Here, a team of bachelor students established a MoClo toolkit for the protist Leishmania tarentolae in the frame of the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. Our modular toolkit is based on a domesticated version of a commercial LEXSY expression vector and comprises 34 genetic parts encoding various affinity tags, targeting signals as well as fluorescent and luminescent proteins. We demonstrated the utility of our kit by the successful production of 16 different tagged versions of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in L. tarentolae liquid cultures. While highest yields of secreted recombinant RBD were obtained for GST-tagged fusion proteins 48 h post induction, C-terminal peptide tags were often degraded and resulted in lower yields of secreted RBD. Fusing secreted RBD to a synthetic O-glycosylation SP20 module resulted in an apparent molecular mass shift around 10 kDa. No disadvantage regarding the production of RBD was detected when the three antibiotics of the LEXSY system were omitted during the 48-h induction phase. Furthermore, the successful purification of secreted RBD from the supernatant of L. tarentolae liquid cultures was demonstrated in pilot experiments. In summary, we established a MoClo toolkit and exemplified its application for the production of recombinant proteins in L. tarentolae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Hieronimus
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Tabea Donauer
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Jonas Klein
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Bastian Hinkel
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Julia Vanessa Spänle
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Anna Probst
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Justus Niemeyer
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Salina Kibrom
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Anna Maria Kiefer
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Luzia Schneider
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Britta Husemann
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Eileen Bischoff
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Sophie Möhring
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Nicolas Bayer
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Dorothée Klein
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Adrian Engels
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Benjamin Gustav Ziehmer
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Julian Stieβ
- Faculty of Computer Science, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663
Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Pavlo Moroka
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Michael Schroda
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology & Systems
Biology, RPTU Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Marcel Deponte
- Faculty of Chemistry, Comparative Biochemistry, RPTU
Kaiserslautern, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
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15
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Field MC. Ras superfamily GTPases and signal transduction in Euglena gracilis. Protist 2024; 175:126017. [PMID: 38295671 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2024.126017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Biological complexity is challenging to define, but can be considered through one or more features, including overall genome size, number of genes, morphological features, multicellularity, number of life cycle stages and the ability to adapt to different environments. Euglena gracilis meets several of these criteria, with a large genome of ∼38,000 protein coding genes and a considerable ability to survive under many different conditions, some of which can be described as challenging or harsh. Potential molecular exemplars of complexity tying these aspects together are signalling pathways, including GTPases, kinases and ubiquitylation, which increase the functionality of the gene-encoded proteome manyfold. Each of these examples can modulate both protein activity and gene expression. To address the connection between genome size and complexity I have undertaken a brief, and somewhat qualitative, survey of the small ras-like GTPase superfamily of E. gracilis. Unexpectedly, apart from Rab-GTPases which control intracellular transport and organelle identify, the size of the GTPase cohort is modest, and, for example, has not scaled with gene number when compared to the close relatives, trypanosomatids. I suggest that understanding the functions of this protein family will be vital to uncovering the complexity of E. gracilis biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Field
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK; Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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16
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Docampo R. Advances in the cellular biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology of acidocalcisomes. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0004223. [PMID: 38099688 PMCID: PMC10966946 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00042-23] [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] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYAcidocalcisomes are organelles conserved during evolution and closely related to the so-called volutin granules of bacteria and archaea, to the acidocalcisome-like vacuoles of yeasts, and to the lysosome-related organelles of animal species. All these organelles have in common their acidity and high content of polyphosphate and calcium. They are characterized by a variety of functions from storage of phosphorus and calcium to roles in Ca2+ signaling, osmoregulation, blood coagulation, and inflammation. They interact with other organelles through membrane contact sites or by fusion, and have several enzymes, pumps, transporters, and channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Docampo
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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17
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Ober VT, Githure GB, Volpato Santos Y, Becker S, Moya Munoz G, Basquin J, Schwede F, Lorentzen E, Boshart M. Purine nucleosides replace cAMP in allosteric regulation of PKA in trypanosomatid pathogens. eLife 2024; 12:RP91040. [PMID: 38517938 PMCID: PMC10959531 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclic nucleotide binding domains (CNB) confer allosteric regulation by cAMP or cGMP to many signaling proteins, including PKA and PKG. PKA of phylogenetically distant Trypanosoma is the first exception as it is cyclic nucleotide-independent and responsive to nucleoside analogues (Bachmaier et al., 2019). Here, we show that natural nucleosides inosine, guanosine and adenosine are nanomolar affinity CNB ligands and activators of PKA orthologs of the important tropical pathogens Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania. The sequence and structural determinants of binding affinity, -specificity and kinase activation of PKAR were established by structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis, co-crystal structures and mutagenesis. Substitution of two to three amino acids in the binding sites is sufficient for conversion of CNB domains from nucleoside to cyclic nucleotide specificity. In addition, a trypanosomatid-specific C-terminal helix (αD) is required for high affinity binding to CNB-B. The αD helix functions as a lid of the binding site that shields ligands from solvent. Selectivity of guanosine for CNB-B and of adenosine for CNB-A results in synergistic kinase activation at low nanomolar concentration. PKA pulldown from rapid lysis establishes guanosine as the predominant ligand in vivo in T. brucei bloodstream forms, whereas guanosine and adenosine seem to synergize in the procyclic developmental stage in the insect vector. We discuss the versatile use of CNB domains in evolution and recruitment of PKA for novel nucleoside-mediated signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Teresa Ober
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich (LMU)MartinsriedGermany
| | | | - Yuri Volpato Santos
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich (LMU)MartinsriedGermany
| | - Sidney Becker
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDortmundGermany
- TU Dortmund, Department of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyDortmundGermany
| | - Gabriel Moya Munoz
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich (LMU)MartinsriedGermany
| | | | - Frank Schwede
- BIOLOG Life Science Institute GmbH & Co KGBremenGermany
| | - Esben Lorentzen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Michael Boshart
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich (LMU)MartinsriedGermany
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18
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Pal J, Sharma V, Khanna A, Saha S. The SET7 protein of Leishmania donovani moderates the parasite's response to a hostile oxidative environment. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105720. [PMID: 38311179 PMCID: PMC10907163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105720] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
SET domain proteins methylate specific lysines on proteins, triggering stimulation or repression of downstream processes. Twenty-nine SET domain proteins have been identified in Leishmania donovani through sequence annotations. This study initiates the first investigation into these proteins. We find LdSET7 is predominantly cytosolic. Although not essential, set7 deletion slows down promastigote growth and hypersensitizes the parasite to hydroxyurea-induced G1/S arrest. Intriguingly, set7-nulls survive more proficiently than set7+/+ parasites within host macrophages, suggesting that LdSET7 moderates parasite response to the inhospitable intracellular environment. set7-null in vitro promastigote cultures are highly tolerant to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced stress, reflected in their growth pattern, and no detectable DNA damage at H2O2 concentrations tested. This is linked to reactive oxygen species levels remaining virtually unperturbed in set7-nulls in response to H2O2 exposure, contrasting to increased reactive oxygen species in set7+/+ cells under similar conditions. In analyzing the cell's ability to scavenge hydroperoxides, we find peroxidase activity is not upregulated in response to H2O2 exposure in set7-nulls. Rather, constitutive basal levels of peroxidase activity are significantly higher in these cells, implicating this to be a factor contributing to the parasite's high tolerance to H2O2. Higher levels of peroxidase activity in set7-nulls are coupled to upregulation of tryparedoxin peroxidase transcripts. Rescue experiments using an LdSET7 mutant suggest that LdSET7 methylation activity is critical to the modulation of the cell's response to oxidative environment. Thus, LdSET7 tunes the parasite's behavior within host cells, enabling the establishment and persistence of infection without eradicating the host cell population it needs for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Pal
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Varshni Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Arushi Khanna
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Swati Saha
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India.
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19
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Opperdoes FR, Záhonová K, Škodová-Sveráková I, Bučková B, Chmelová Ľ, Lukeš J, Yurchenko V. In silico prediction of the metabolism of Blastocrithidia nonstop, a trypanosomatid with non-canonical genetic code. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:184. [PMID: 38365628 PMCID: PMC10874023 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10094-8] [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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Almost all extant organisms use the same, so-called canonical, genetic code with departures from it being very rare. Even more exceptional are the instances when a eukaryote with non-canonical code can be easily cultivated and has its whole genome and transcriptome sequenced. This is the case of Blastocrithidia nonstop, a trypanosomatid flagellate that reassigned all three stop codons to encode amino acids. RESULTS We in silico predicted the metabolism of B. nonstop and compared it with that of the well-studied human parasites Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major. The mapped mitochondrial, glycosomal and cytosolic metabolism contains all typical features of these diverse and important parasites. We also provided experimental validation for some of the predicted observations, concerning, specifically presence of glycosomes, cellular respiration, and assembly of the respiratory complexes. CONCLUSIONS In an unusual comparison of metabolism between a parasitic protist with a massively altered genetic code and its close relatives that rely on a canonical code we showed that the dramatic differences on the level of nucleic acids do not seem to be reflected in the metabolisms. Moreover, although the genome of B. nonstop is extremely AT-rich, we could not find any alterations of its pyrimidine synthesis pathway when compared to other trypanosomatids. Hence, we conclude that the dramatic alteration of the genetic code of B. nonstop has no significant repercussions on the metabolism of this flagellate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred R Opperdoes
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kristína Záhonová
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czechia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Ingrid Škodová-Sveráková
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbora Bučková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ľubomíra Chmelová
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia.
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20
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Kostygov AY, Albanaz ATS, Butenko A, Gerasimov ES, Lukeš J, Yurchenko V. Phylogenetic framework to explore trait evolution in Trypanosomatidae. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:96-99. [PMID: 38065790 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
The number of sequenced trypanosomatid genomes has reached a critical point so that they are now available for almost all genera and subgenera. Based on this, we inferred a phylogenomic tree and propose it as a framework to study trait evolution together with some examples of how to do it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Yu Kostygov
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czechia.
| | - Amanda T S Albanaz
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Anzhelika Butenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czechia; Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czechia; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Evgeny S Gerasimov
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czechia; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czechia.
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21
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Hu H, Kurasawa Y, Zhou Q, Li Z. A kinesin-13 family kinesin in Trypanosoma brucei regulates cytokinesis and cytoskeleton morphogenesis by promoting microtubule bundling. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012000. [PMID: 38300973 PMCID: PMC10863849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The early branching eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei divides uni-directionally along the longitudinal cell axis from the cell anterior toward the cell posterior, and the cleavage furrow ingresses along the cell division plane between the new and the old flagella of a dividing bi-flagellated cell. Regulation of cytokinesis in T. brucei involves actomyosin-independent machineries and trypanosome-specific signaling pathways, but the molecular mechanisms underlying cell division plane positioning remain poorly understood. Here we report a kinesin-13 family protein, KIN13-5, that functions downstream of FPRC in the cytokinesis regulatory pathway and determines cell division plane placement. KIN13-5 localizes to multiple cytoskeletal structures, interacts with FPRC, and depends on FPRC for localization to the site of cytokinesis initiation. Knockdown of KIN13-5 causes loss of microtubule bundling at both ends of the cell division plane, leading to mis-placement of the cleavage furrow and unequal cytokinesis, and at the posterior cell tip, causing the formation of a blunt posterior. In vitro biochemical assays demonstrate that KIN13-5 bundles microtubules, providing mechanistic insights into the role of KIN13-5 in cytokinesis and posterior morphogenesis. Altogether, KIN13-5 promotes microtubule bundle formation to ensure cleavage furrow placement and to maintain posterior cytoskeleton morphology in T. brucei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqing Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yasuhiro Kurasawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ziyin Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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22
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Silvester E, Szoor B, Ivens A, Awuah-Mensah G, Gadelha C, Wickstead B, Matthews KR. A conserved trypanosomatid differentiation regulator controls substrate attachment and morphological development in Trypanosoma congolense. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011889. [PMID: 38408115 PMCID: PMC10919850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011889] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatid parasites undergo developmental regulation to adapt to the different environments encountered during their life cycle. In Trypanosoma brucei, a genome wide selectional screen previously identified a regulator of the protein family ESAG9, which is highly expressed in stumpy forms, a morphologically distinct bloodstream stage adapted for tsetse transmission. This regulator, TbREG9.1, has an orthologue in Trypanosoma congolense, despite the absence of a stumpy morphotype in that parasite species, which is an important cause of livestock trypanosomosis. RNAi mediated gene silencing of TcREG9.1 in Trypanosoma congolense caused a loss of attachment of the parasites to a surface substrate in vitro, a key feature of the biology of these parasites that is distinct from T. brucei. This detachment was phenocopied by treatment of the parasites with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which also promotes detachment in the insect trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata. RNAseq analysis revealed that TcREG9.1 silencing caused the upregulation of mRNAs for several classes of surface molecules, including transferrin receptor-like molecules, immunoreactive proteins in experimental bovine infections, and molecules related to those associated with stumpy development in T. brucei. Depletion of TcREG9.1 in vivo also generated an enhanced level of parasites in the blood circulation consistent with reduced parasite attachment to the microvasculature. The morphological progression to insect forms of the parasite was also perturbed. We propose a model whereby TcREG9.1 acts as a regulator of attachment and development, with detached parasites being adapted for transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Silvester
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Balazs Szoor
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Alasdair Ivens
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina Awuah-Mensah
- Medical School, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Catarina Gadelha
- Medical School, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Bill Wickstead
- Medical School, Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Keith R. Matthews
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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23
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Hair M, Yanase R, Moreira-Leite F, Wheeler RJ, Sádlová J, Volf P, Vaughan S, Sunter JD. Whole cell reconstructions of Leishmania mexicana through the cell cycle. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012054. [PMID: 38416776 PMCID: PMC10927142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012054] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The unicellular parasite Leishmania has a precisely defined cell architecture that is inherited by each subsequent generation, requiring a highly coordinated pattern of duplication and segregation of organelles and cytoskeletal structures. A framework of nuclear division and morphological changes is known from light microscopy, yet this has limited resolution and the intrinsic organisation of organelles within the cell body and their manner of duplication and inheritance is unknown. Using volume electron microscopy approaches, we have produced three-dimensional reconstructions of different promastigote cell cycle stages to give a spatial and quantitative overview of organelle positioning, division and inheritance. The first morphological indications seen in our dataset that a new cell cycle had begun were the assembly of a new flagellum, the duplication of the contractile vacuole and the increase in volume of the nucleus and kinetoplast. We showed that the progression of the cytokinesis furrow created a specific pattern of membrane indentations, while our analysis of sub-pellicular microtubule organisation indicated that there is likely a preferred site of new microtubule insertion. The daughter cells retained these indentations in their cell body for a period post-abscission. By comparing cultured and sand fly derived promastigotes, we found an increase in the number and overall volume of lipid droplets in the promastigotes from the sand fly, reflecting a change in their metabolism to ensure transmissibility to the mammalian host. Our insights into the cell cycle mechanics of Leishmania will support future molecular cell biology analyses of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Hair
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ryuji Yanase
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Flávia Moreira-Leite
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard John Wheeler
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jovana Sádlová
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Daniel Sunter
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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24
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Jentzsch J, Wunderlich H, Thein M, Bechthold J, Brehm L, Krauss SW, Weiss M, Ersfeld K. Microtubule polyglutamylation is an essential regulator of cytoskeletal integrity in Trypanosoma brucei. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261740. [PMID: 38205672 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261740] [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: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Tubulin polyglutamylation, catalysed by members of the tubulin tyrosine ligase-like (TTLL) protein family, is an evolutionarily highly conserved mechanism involved in the regulation of microtubule dynamics and function in eukaryotes. In the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, the microtubule cytoskeleton is essential for cell motility and maintaining cell shape. In a previous study, we showed that T. brucei TTLL6A and TTLL12B are required to regulate microtubule dynamics at the posterior cell pole. Here, using gene deletion, we show that the polyglutamylase TTLL1 is essential for the integrity of the highly organised microtubule structure at the cell pole, with a phenotype distinct from that observed in TTLL6A- and TTLL12B-depleted cells. Reduced polyglutamylation in TTLL1-deficient cells also leads to increased levels in tubulin tyrosination, providing new evidence for an interplay between the tubulin tyrosination and detyrosination cycle and polyglutamylation. We also show that TTLL1 acts differentially on specific microtubule doublets of the flagellar axoneme, although the absence of TTLL1 appears to have no measurable effect on cell motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Jentzsch
- Molecular Parasitology, Department of Biology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Hannes Wunderlich
- Experimental Physics I, Department of Physics, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Marinus Thein
- Molecular Parasitology, Department of Biology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Julia Bechthold
- Molecular Parasitology, Department of Biology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Lucas Brehm
- Molecular Parasitology, Department of Biology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Sebastian W Krauss
- Experimental Physics I, Department of Physics, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Matthias Weiss
- Experimental Physics I, Department of Physics, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Klaus Ersfeld
- Molecular Parasitology, Department of Biology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
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25
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Shimogawa MM, Jonnalagadda K, Hill KL. FAP20 is required for flagellum assembly in Trypanosoma brucei. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.19.576295. [PMID: 38293126 PMCID: PMC10827224 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.19.576295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is a human and animal pathogen that depends on flagellar motility for transmission and infection. The trypanosome flagellum is built around a canonical "9+2" axoneme, containing nine doublet microtubules (DMTs) surrounding two singlet microtubules. Each DMT contains a 13-protofilament A-tubule and a 10-protofilament B-tubule, connected to the A-tubule by a conserved, non-tubulin inner junction (IJ) filament made up of alternating PACRG and FAP20 subunits. Here we investigate FAP20 in procyclic form T. brucei. A FAP20-NeonGreen fusion protein localized to the axoneme as expected. Surprisingly, FAP20 knockdown led to a catastrophic failure in flagellum assembly and concomitant lethal cell division defect. This differs from other organisms, where FAP20 is required for normal flagellum motility, but generally dispensable for flagellum assembly and viability. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrates failed flagellum assembly in FAP20 mutants is associated with a range of DMT defects and defective assembly of the paraflagellar rod, a lineage-specific flagellum filament that attaches to DMT 4-7 in trypanosomes. Our studies reveal a lineage-specific requirement for FAP20 in trypanosomes, offering insight into adaptations for flagellum stability and motility in these parasites and highlighting pathogen versus host differences that might be considered for therapeutic intervention in trypanosome diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M. Shimogawa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Keya Jonnalagadda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Kent L. Hill
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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26
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Dacks JB, Ginger ML. Two decades taken at speed: genomics, cell biology, ecology, and evolution of protists. BMC Biol 2023; 21:283. [PMID: 38155342 PMCID: PMC10755939 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01787-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joel B Dacks
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-124 Clinical Sciences Building, 11350-83 Avenue, Edmonton, T6G 2G3, Canada.
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution and the Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Michael L Ginger
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK.
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27
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De Niz M, Frachon E, Gobaa S, Bastin P. Spatial confinement of Trypanosoma brucei in microfluidic traps provides a new tool to study free swimming parasites. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296257. [PMID: 38134042 PMCID: PMC10745224 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296257] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of African trypanosomiasis and is transmitted by the tsetse fly (Glossina spp.). All stages of this extracellular parasite possess a single flagellum that is attached to the cell body and confers a high degree of motility. While several stages are amenable to culture in vitro, longitudinal high-resolution imaging of free-swimming parasites has been challenging, mostly due to the rapid flagellar beating that constantly twists the cell body. Here, using microfabrication, we generated various microfluidic devices with traps of different geometrical properties. Investigation of trap topology allowed us to define the one most suitable for single T. brucei confinement within the field of view of an inverted microscope while allowing the parasite to remain motile. Chips populated with V-shaped traps allowed us to investigate various phenomena in cultured procyclic stage wild-type parasites, and to compare them with parasites whose motility was altered upon knockdown of a paraflagellar rod component. Among the properties that we investigated were trap invasion, parasite motility, and the visualization of organelles labelled with fluorescent dyes. We envisage that this tool we have named "Tryp-Chip" will be a useful tool for the scientific community, as it could allow high-throughput, high-temporal and high-spatial resolution imaging of free-swimming T. brucei parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana De Niz
- Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INSERM U1201, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Frachon
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Biomaterials and Microfluidics Core Facility, Paris, France
| | - Samy Gobaa
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Biomaterials and Microfluidics Core Facility, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Bastin
- Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INSERM U1201, Paris, France
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28
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Povelones ML, Holmes NA, Povelones M. A sticky situation: When trypanosomatids attach to insect tissues. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011854. [PMID: 38128049 PMCID: PMC10734937 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011854] [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: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmission of trypanosomatids to their mammalian hosts requires a complex series of developmental transitions in their insect vectors, including stable attachment to an insect tissue. While there are many ultrastructural descriptions of attached cells, we know little about the signaling events and molecular mechanisms involved in this process. Each trypanosomatid species attaches to a specific tissue in the insect at a particular stage of its life cycle. Attachment is mediated by the flagellum, which is modified to accommodate a filament-rich plaque within an expanded region of the flagellar membrane. Attachment immediately precedes differentiation to the mammal-infectious stage and in some cases a direct mechanistic link has been demonstrated. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge of trypanosomatid attachment in insects, including structure, function, signaling, candidate molecules, and changes in gene expression. We also highlight remaining questions about this process and how the field is poised to address them through modern approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L. Povelones
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Nikki A. Holmes
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael Povelones
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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29
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Prokopchuk G, Butenko A, Dacks JB, Speijer D, Field MC, Lukeš J. Lessons from the deep: mechanisms behind diversification of eukaryotic protein complexes. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1910-1927. [PMID: 37336550 PMCID: PMC10952624 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Genetic variation is the major mechanism behind adaptation and evolutionary change. As most proteins operate through interactions with other proteins, changes in protein complex composition and subunit sequence provide potentially new functions. Comparative genomics can reveal expansions, losses and sequence divergence within protein-coding genes, but in silico analysis cannot detect subunit substitutions or replacements of entire protein complexes. Insights into these fundamental evolutionary processes require broad and extensive comparative analyses, from both in silico and experimental evidence. Here, we combine data from both approaches and consider the gamut of possible protein complex compositional changes that arise during evolution, citing examples of complete conservation to partial and total replacement by functional analogues. We focus in part on complexes in trypanosomes as they represent one of the better studied non-animal/non-fungal lineages, but extend insights across the eukaryotes by extensive comparative genomic analysis. We argue that gene loss plays an important role in diversification of protein complexes and hence enhancement of eukaryotic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Prokopchuk
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of SciencesBranišovská 1160/31České Budějovice37005Czech Republic
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaBranišovská 1160/31České Budějovice37005Czech Republic
| | - Anzhelika Butenko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of SciencesBranišovská 1160/31České Budějovice37005Czech Republic
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaBranišovská 1160/31České Budějovice37005Czech Republic
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of OstravaChittussiho 983/10Ostrava71000Czech Republic
| | - Joel B. Dacks
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of SciencesBranišovská 1160/31České Budějovice37005Czech Republic
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of MedicineUniversity of Alberta1‐124 Clinical Sciences Building, 11350‐83 AvenueEdmontonT6G 2R3AlbertaCanada
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution and the EnvironmentUniversity College LondonDarwin Building, Gower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Dave Speijer
- Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMCUniversity of AmsterdamMeibergdreef 15Amsterdam1105 AZThe Netherlands
| | - Mark C. Field
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of SciencesBranišovská 1160/31České Budějovice37005Czech Republic
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of DundeeDow StreetDundeeDD1 5EHScotlandUK
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of SciencesBranišovská 1160/31České Budějovice37005Czech Republic
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaBranišovská 1160/31České Budějovice37005Czech Republic
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30
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Girasol MJ, Briggs EM, Marques CA, Batista JM, Beraldi D, Burchmore R, Lemgruber L, McCulloch R. Immunoprecipitation of RNA-DNA hybrid interacting proteins in Trypanosoma brucei reveals conserved and novel activities, including in the control of surface antigen expression needed for immune evasion by antigenic variation. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11123-11141. [PMID: 37843098 PMCID: PMC10639054 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad836] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-DNA hybrids are epigenetic features of genomes that provide a diverse and growing range of activities. Understanding of these functions has been informed by characterising the proteins that interact with the hybrids, but all such analyses have so far focused on mammals, meaning it is unclear if a similar spectrum of RNA-DNA hybrid interactors is found in other eukaryotes. The African trypanosome is a single-cell eukaryotic parasite of the Discoba grouping and displays substantial divergence in several aspects of core biology from its mammalian host. Here, we show that DNA-RNA hybrid immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry recovers 602 putative interactors in T. brucei mammal- and insect-infective cells, some providing activities also found in mammals and some lineage-specific. We demonstrate that loss of three factors, two putative helicases and a RAD51 paralogue, alters T. brucei nuclear RNA-DNA hybrid and DNA damage levels. Moreover, loss of each factor affects the operation of the parasite immune survival mechanism of antigenic variation. Thus, our work reveals the broad range of activities contributed by RNA-DNA hybrids to T. brucei biology, including new functions in host immune evasion as well as activities likely fundamental to eukaryotic genome function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Girasol
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Glasgow, UK
- University of the Philippines Manila, College of Medicine, Manila, Philippines
| | - Emma M Briggs
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Glasgow, UK
- University of Edinburgh, Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Catarina A Marques
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Glasgow, UK
| | - José M Batista
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Glasgow, UK
| | - Dario Beraldi
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Glasgow, UK
| | - Richard Burchmore
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Glasgow, UK
| | - Leandro Lemgruber
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Glasgow, UK
| | - Richard McCulloch
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Glasgow, UK
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31
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Lukeš J, Speijer D, Zíková A, Alfonzo JD, Hashimi H, Field MC. Trypanosomes as a magnifying glass for cell and molecular biology. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:902-912. [PMID: 37679284 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, has developed into a flexible and robust experimental model for molecular and cellular parasitology, allowing us to better combat these and related parasites that cause worldwide suffering. Diminishing case numbers, due to efficient public health efforts, and recent development of new drug treatments have reduced the need for continued study of T. brucei in a disease context. However, we argue that this pathogen has been instrumental in revolutionary discoveries that have widely informed molecular and cellular biology and justifies continuing research as an experimental model. Ongoing work continues to contribute towards greater understanding of both diversified and conserved biological features. We discuss multiple examples where trypanosomes pushed the boundaries of cell biology and hope to inspire researchers to continue exploring these remarkable protists as tools for magnifying the inner workings of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.
| | - Dave Speijer
- Medical Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam, AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alena Zíková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Juan D Alfonzo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Hassan Hashimi
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Mark C Field
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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32
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Campbell PC, de Graffenried CL. Morphogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes proceeds via a highly asymmetric cell division. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011731. [PMID: 37917723 PMCID: PMC10656021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011731] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protist parasite that is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease endemic to the Americas. T. cruzi cells are highly polarized and undergo morphological changes as they cycle within their insect and mammalian hosts. Work on related trypanosomatids has described cell division mechanisms in several life-cycle stages and identified a set of essential morphogenic proteins that serve as markers for key events during trypanosomatid division. Here, we use Cas9-based tagging of morphogenic genes, live-cell imaging, and expansion microscopy to study the cell division mechanism of the insect-resident epimastigote form of T. cruzi, which represents an understudied trypanosomatid morphotype. We find that T. cruzi epimastigote cell division is highly asymmetric, producing one daughter cell that is significantly smaller than the other. Daughter cell division rates differ by 4.9 h, which may be a consequence of this size disparity. Many of the morphogenic proteins identified in T. brucei have altered localization patterns in T. cruzi epimastigotes, which may reflect fundamental differences in the cell division mechanism of this life cycle stage, which widens and shortens the cell body to accommodate the duplicated organelles and cleavage furrow rather than elongating the cell body along the long axis of the cell, as is the case in life-cycle stages that have been studied in T. brucei. This work provides a foundation for further investigations of T. cruzi cell division and shows that subtle differences in trypanosomatid cell morphology can alter how these parasites divide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C. Campbell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Christopher L. de Graffenried
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
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33
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Souza Onofre T, Pham KTM, Zhou Q, Li Z. The microtubule quartet protein SNAP1 in Trypanosoma brucei facilitates flagellum and cell division plane positioning by promoting basal body segregation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105340. [PMID: 37838178 PMCID: PMC10656233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105340] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The unicellular protozoan Trypanosoma brucei has a single flagellum that is involved in cell motility, cell morphogenesis, and cell division. Inheritance of the newly assembled flagellum during the cell cycle requires its correct positioning, which depends on the faithful duplication or segregation of multiple flagellum-associated cytoskeletal structures, including the basal body, the flagellum attachment zone, and the hook complex. Along the flagellum attachment zone sites a set of four microtubules termed the microtubule quartet (MtQ), whose molecular function remains enigmatic. We recently reported that the MtQ-localized protein NHL1 interacts with the microtubule-binding protein TbSpef1 and regulates flagellum inheritance by promoting basal body rotation and segregation. Here, we identified a TbSpef1- and NHL1-associated protein named SNAP1, which co-localizes with NHL1 and TbSpef1 at the proximal portion of the MtQ, depends on TbSpef1 for localization and is required for NHL1 localization to the MtQ. Knockdown of SNAP1 impairs the rotation and segregation of the basal body, the elongation of the flagellum attachment zone filament, and the positioning of the newly assembled flagellum, thereby causing mis-placement of the cell division plane, a halt in cleavage furrow ingression, and an inhibition of cytokinesis completion. Together, these findings uncover a coordinating role of SNAP1 with TbSpef1 and NHL1 in facilitating flagellum positioning and cell division plane placement for the completion of cytokinesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Souza Onofre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kieu T M Pham
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ziyin Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
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Kieft R, Zhang Y, Yan H, Schmitz RJ, Sabatini R. Protein Phosphatase PP1 Regulation of Pol II Phosphorylation is Linked to Transcription Termination and Allelic Exclusion of VSG Genes and TERRA in Trypanosomes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.21.563358. [PMID: 37905150 PMCID: PMC10614956 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.21.563358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The genomes of Leishmania and trypanosomes are organized into polycistronic transcription units flanked by a modified DNA base J involved in promoting RNA polymerase II (Pol II) termination. We recently characterized a Leishmania complex containing a J-binding protein, PP1 protein phosphatase 1, and PP1 regulatory protein (PNUTS) that controls transcription termination potentially via dephosphorylation of Pol II by PP1. While T. brucei contains eight PP1 isoforms, none purified with the PNUTS complex, suggesting a unique PP1-independent mechanism of termination. We now demonstrate that the PP1-binding motif of TbPNUTS is required for function in termination in vivo and that TbPP1-1 modulates Pol II termination in T. brucei involving dephosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of the large subunit of Pol II. PP1-1 knock-down results in increased cellular levels of phosphorylated large subunit of Pol II accompanied by readthrough transcription and pervasive transcription of the entire genome by Pol II, including Pol I transcribed loci that are typically silent, such as telomeric VSG expression sites involved in antigenic variation and production of TERRA RNA. These results provide important insights into the mechanism underlying Pol II transcription termination in primitive eukaryotes that rely on polycistronic transcription and maintain allelic exclusion of VSG genes.
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Taleva G, Husová M, Panicucci B, Hierro-Yap C, Pineda E, Biran M, Moos M, Šimek P, Butter F, Bringaud F, Zíková A. Mitochondrion of the Trypanosoma brucei long slender bloodstream form is capable of ATP production by substrate-level phosphorylation. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011699. [PMID: 37819951 PMCID: PMC10593219 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011699] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The long slender bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei maintains its essential mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) through the proton-pumping activity of the FoF1-ATP synthase operating in the reverse mode. The ATP that drives this hydrolytic reaction has long been thought to be generated by glycolysis and imported from the cytosol via an ATP/ADP carrier (AAC). Indeed, we demonstrate that AAC is the only carrier that can import ATP into the mitochondrial matrix to power the hydrolytic activity of the FoF1-ATP synthase. However, contrary to expectations, the deletion of AAC has no effect on parasite growth, virulence or levels of ΔΨm. This suggests that ATP is produced by substrate-level phosphorylation pathways in the mitochondrion. Therefore, we knocked out the succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) gene, a key mitochondrial enzyme that produces ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation in this parasite. Its absence resulted in changes to the metabolic landscape of the parasite, lowered virulence, and reduced mitochondrial ATP content. Strikingly, these SCS mutant parasites become more dependent on AAC as demonstrated by a 25-fold increase in their sensitivity to the AAC inhibitor, carboxyatractyloside. Since the parasites were able to adapt to the loss of SCS in culture, we also analyzed the more immediate phenotypes that manifest when SCS expression is rapidly suppressed by RNAi. Importantly, when performed under nutrient-limited conditions mimicking various host environments, SCS depletion strongly affected parasite growth and levels of ΔΨm. In totality, the data establish that the long slender bloodstream form mitochondrion is capable of generating ATP via substrate-level phosphorylation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergana Taleva
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
| | - Michaela Husová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
| | - Brian Panicucci
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
| | - Carolina Hierro-Yap
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
| | - Erika Pineda
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité (MFP), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marc Biran
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques (CRMSB), Bordeaux, France
| | - Martin Moos
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
| | - Petr Šimek
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Frédéric Bringaud
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité (MFP), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alena Zíková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech republic
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36
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Pyrih J, Hammond M, Alves A, Dean S, Sunter JD, Wheeler RJ, Gull K, Lukeš J. Comprehensive sub-mitochondrial protein map of the parasitic protist Trypanosoma brucei defines critical features of organellar biology. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113083. [PMID: 37669165 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We have generated a high-confidence mitochondrial proteome (MitoTag) of the Trypanosoma brucei procyclic stage containing 1,239 proteins. For 337 of these, a mitochondrial localization had not been described before. We use the TrypTag dataset as a foundation and take advantage of the properties of the fluorescent protein tag that causes aberrant but fortuitous accumulation of tagged matrix and inner membrane proteins near the kinetoplast (mitochondrial DNA). Combined with transmembrane domain predictions, this characteristic allowed categorization of 1,053 proteins into mitochondrial sub-compartments, the detection of unique matrix-localized fucose and methionine synthesis, and the identification of new kinetoplast proteins, which showed kinetoplast-linked pyrimidine synthesis. Moreover, disruption of targeting signals by tagging allowed mapping of the mode of protein targeting to these sub-compartments, identifying a set of C-tail anchored outer mitochondrial membrane proteins and mitochondrial carriers likely employing multiple target peptides. This dataset represents a comprehensive, updated mapping of the mitochondrion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pyrih
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
| | - Michael Hammond
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | | | - Samuel Dean
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Richard John Wheeler
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Keith Gull
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.
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37
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Shimogawa MM, Wijono AS, Wang H, Zhang J, Sha J, Szombathy N, Vadakkan S, Pelayo P, Jonnalagadda K, Wohlschlegel J, Zhou ZH, Hill KL. FAP106 is an interaction hub for assembling microtubule inner proteins at the cilium inner junction. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5225. [PMID: 37633952 PMCID: PMC10460401 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40230-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Motility of pathogenic protozoa depends on flagella (synonymous with cilia) with axonemes containing nine doublet microtubules (DMTs) and two singlet microtubules. Microtubule inner proteins (MIPs) within DMTs influence axoneme stability and motility and provide lineage-specific adaptations, but individual MIP functions and assembly mechanisms are mostly unknown. Here, we show in the sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei, that FAP106, a conserved MIP at the DMT inner junction, is required for trypanosome motility and functions as a critical interaction hub, directing assembly of several conserved and lineage-specific MIPs. We use comparative cryogenic electron tomography (cryoET) and quantitative proteomics to identify MIP candidates. Using RNAi knockdown together with fitting of AlphaFold models into cryoET maps, we demonstrate that one of these candidates, MC8, is a trypanosome-specific MIP required for parasite motility. Our work advances understanding of MIP assembly mechanisms and identifies lineage-specific motility proteins that are attractive targets to consider for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Shimogawa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Angeline S Wijono
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jiayan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jihui Sha
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Natasha Szombathy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sabeeca Vadakkan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Paula Pelayo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Keya Jonnalagadda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - James Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Z Hong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Kent L Hill
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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38
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Menezes AP, Murillo AM, de Castro CG, Bellini NK, Tosi LRO, Thiemann OH, Elias MC, Silber AM, da Cunha JPC. Navigating the boundaries between metabolism and epigenetics in trypanosomes. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:682-695. [PMID: 37349193 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.05.010] [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: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic marks enable cells to acquire new biological features that favor their adaptation to environmental changes. These marks are chemical modifications on chromatin-associated proteins and nucleic acids that lead to changes in the chromatin landscape and may eventually affect gene expression. The chemical tags of these epigenetic marks are comprised of intermediate cellular metabolites. The number of discovered associations between metabolism and epigenetics has increased, revealing how environment influences gene regulation and phenotype diversity. This connection is relevant to all organisms but underappreciated in digenetic parasites, which must adapt to different environments as they progress through their life cycles. This review speculates and proposes associations between epigenetics and metabolism in trypanosomes, which are protozoan parasites that cause human and livestock diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Menezes
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Milena Murillo
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tryps - LabTryps, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Gachet de Castro
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia Karla Bellini
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria Carolina Elias
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ariel Mariano Silber
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tryps - LabTryps, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, Brazil.
| | - Julia Pinheiro Chagas da Cunha
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.
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39
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Moloney NM, Barylyuk K, Tromer E, Crook OM, Breckels LM, Lilley KS, Waller RF, MacGregor P. Mapping diversity in African trypanosomes using high resolution spatial proteomics. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4401. [PMID: 37479728 PMCID: PMC10361982 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40125-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomes are dixenous eukaryotic parasites that impose a significant human and veterinary disease burden on sub-Saharan Africa. Diversity between species and life-cycle stages is concomitant with distinct host and tissue tropisms within this group. Here, the spatial proteomes of two African trypanosome species, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense, are mapped across two life-stages. The four resulting datasets provide evidence of expression of approximately 5500 proteins per cell-type. Over 2500 proteins per cell-type are classified to specific subcellular compartments, providing four comprehensive spatial proteomes. Comparative analysis reveals key routes of parasitic adaptation to different biological niches and provides insight into the molecular basis for diversity within and between these pathogen species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola M Moloney
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | | | - Eelco Tromer
- Cell Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Oliver M Crook
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Lisa M Breckels
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Kathryn S Lilley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Paula MacGregor
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
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40
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Bachmaier S, Gould MK, Polatoglou E, Omelianczyk R, Brennand AE, Aloraini MA, Munday JC, Horn D, Boshart M, de Koning HP. Novel kinetoplastid-specific cAMP binding proteins identified by RNAi screening for cAMP resistance in Trypanosoma brucei. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1204707. [PMID: 37475965 PMCID: PMC10354285 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1204707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic AMP signalling in trypanosomes differs from most eukaryotes due to absence of known cAMP effectors and cAMP independence of PKA. We have previously identified four genes from a genome-wide RNAi screen for resistance to the cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor NPD-001. The genes were named cAMP Response Protein (CARP) 1 through 4. Here, we report an additional six CARP candidate genes from the original sample, after deep sequencing of the RNA interference target pool retrieved after NPD-001 selection (RIT-seq). The resistance phenotypes were confirmed by individual RNAi knockdown. Highest level of resistance to NPD-001, approximately 17-fold, was seen for knockdown of CARP7 (Tb927.7.4510). CARP1 and CARP11 contain predicted cyclic AMP binding domains and bind cAMP as evidenced by capture and competition on immobilised cAMP. CARP orthologues are strongly enriched in kinetoplastid species, and CARP3 and CARP11 are unique to Trypanosoma. Localization data and/or domain architecture of all CARPs predict association with the T. brucei flagellum. This suggests a crucial role of cAMP in flagellar function, in line with the cell division phenotype caused by high cAMP and the known role of the flagellum for cytokinesis. The CARP collection is a resource for discovery of unusual cAMP pathways and flagellar biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Bachmaier
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximillians University Munich (LMU), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matthew K. Gould
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximillians University Munich (LMU), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Eleni Polatoglou
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximillians University Munich (LMU), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Radoslaw Omelianczyk
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximillians University Munich (LMU), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ana E. Brennand
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximillians University Munich (LMU), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Maha A. Aloraini
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C. Munday
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David Horn
- The Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Boshart
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics, Ludwig-Maximillians University Munich (LMU), Martinsried, Germany
| | - Harry P. de Koning
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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41
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Danazumi AU, Ishmam IT, Idris S, Izert MA, Balogun EO, Górna MW. Targeted protein degradation might present a novel therapeutic approach in the fight against African trypanosomiasis. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 186:106451. [PMID: 37088149 PMCID: PMC11032742 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
African trypanosomiasis (AT) is a hemoparasitic disease caused by infection with African trypanosomes and it is prevalent in many sub-Saharan African countries, affecting both humans and domestic animals. The disease is transmitted mostly by haematophagous insects of the genus Glossina while taking blood meal, in the process spreading the parasites from an infected animal to an uninfected animal. The disease is fatal if untreated, and the available drugs are generally ineffective and resulting in toxicities. Therefore, it is still pertinent to explore novel methods and targets for drug discovery. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) present a new strategy for development of therapeutic molecules that mimic cellular proteasomal-mediated protein degradation to target proteins involved in different disease types. PROTACs have been used to degrade proteins involved in various cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and immune disorders with remarkable success. Here, we highlight the problems associated with the current treatments for AT, discuss the concept of PROTACs and associated targeted protein degradation (TPD) approaches, and provide some insights on the future potential for the use of these emerging technologies (PROTACs and TPD) for the development of new generation of anti-Trypanosoma drugs and the first "TrypPROTACs".
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Usman Danazumi
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | | | - Salisu Idris
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Matylda Anna Izert
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; African Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
| | - Maria Wiktoria Górna
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
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42
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Campbell PC, de Graffenried CL. Morphogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes proceeds via a highly asymmetric cell division. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.24.542100. [PMID: 37293088 PMCID: PMC10245916 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.24.542100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protist parasite that is the causative agent of Chagas' disease, a neglected tropical disease endemic to the Americas. T. cruzi cells are highly polarized and undergo morphological changes as they cycle within their insect and mammalian hosts. Work on related trypanosomatids has described cell division mechanisms in several life-cycle stages and identified a set of essential morphogenic proteins that serve as markers for key events during trypanosomatid division. Here, we use Cas9-based tagging of morphogenic genes, live-cell imaging, and expansion microscopy to study the cell division mechanism of the insect-resident epimastigote form of T. cruzi, which represents an understudied trypanosomatid morphotype. We find that T. cruzi epimastigote cell division is highly asymmetric, producing one daughter cell that is significantly smaller than the other. Daughter cell division rates differ by 4.9 h, which may be a consequence of this size disparity. Many of the morphogenic proteins identified in T. brucei have altered localization patterns in T. cruzi epimastigoes, which may reflect fundamental differences in the cell division mechanism of this life cycle stage, which widens and shortens the cell body to accommodate the duplicated organelles and cleavage furrow rather than elongating the cell body along the long axis of the cell, as is the case in life-cycle stages that have been studied in T. brucei. This work provides a foundation for further investigations of T. cruzi cell division and shows that subtle differences in trypansomatid cell morphology can alter how these parasites divide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C. Campbell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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43
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Sunter JD, Dean S, Wheeler RJ. TrypTag.org: from images to discoveries using genome-wide protein localisation in Trypanosoma brucei. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:328-331. [PMID: 36925446 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.02.008] [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: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
TrypTag was a 4-year project to tag the N- and C-termini of almost all Trypanosoma brucei proteins with a fluorescent protein and record the subcellular localisation through images and manual annotation. We highlight the new routes to cell biological discovery this transformative resource is enabling for parasitologists and cell biologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack D Sunter
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
| | - Samuel Dean
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
| | - Richard John Wheeler
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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