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Silva MA, Izidoro MA, Aricó M, Juliano L, Schenkman S. The effect of nutritional and oxidative stress on the metabolome of Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Microbiol 2024. [PMID: 38814666 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan, is the causative agent of Chagas disease. The parasite has developed various mechanisms to get through its intricate life cycle and adapt to different evolutionary phases. T. cruzi proliferates in the insect vector's digestive tract as an epimastigote form, encountering fluctuating nutrient availability and oxidative stress caused by the digestion of red blood cells from the mammalian host blood meal. To unravel how the parasite's metabolism adapts to these changing conditions, we conducted an analysis of the chemical species present in epimastigote forms. This involved comparing cultured parasites with those subjected to nutritional deficiency or oxidative stress using untargeted metabolomics. We looked at 21 samples: seven biological copies of parasites that were actively growing, seven samples that were put in a medium without nutrients for 3 h, and seven samples that were treated with glucose oxidase for 30 min to make H2O2 continuously. Importantly, in all conditions, parasite viability was maintained when the samples were collected. Upon nutrient removal, we observed a substantial decrease in amino acids and carbohydrate metabolites, accompanied by the accumulation of fatty acids and steroids, with the predominance of inositol and sphingolipid metabolism, along with a simultaneous decrease in the levels of H2O2. In the presence of H2O2, a significant rise in components of the pentose pathway and specific amino acids such as methionine and serine occurred, along with pathways related to an increase in antioxidant species metabolism such as ribulose 5-phosphate and glyceric acid. Conversely, fatty acid and steroid levels decrease. We found no common increase in metabolites or lipids. In contrast, eight species (succinic acid, glutamic acid, valine, 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, alanine, indolelactic acid, proline, and lanosterol) were consumed under both stresses. These findings underscore the rapid and distinct enrichment responses in amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates required to cope with each different environmental condition. We concluded that T. cruzi presents a flexible metabolism that rapidly adapts to variable changes in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Augusto Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Mirella Aricó
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Juliano
- Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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2
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Silva Dias Vieira C, Pinheiro Aguiar R, de Almeida Nogueira NP, Costa dos Santos Junior G, Paes MC. Glucose metabolism sustains heme-induced Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote growth in vitro. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011725. [PMID: 37948458 PMCID: PMC10664871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011725] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite alternates between an insect vector and a mammalian host. T. cruzi epimastigotes reside in the insect vector and coexist with the blood components of the vertebrate host. The metabolic profile of T. cruzi has been extensively studied; however, changes in its metabolism in response to signaling molecules present in the vector are poorly understood. Heme acts as a physiological oxidant that triggers intense epimastigote proliferation and upregulates the expression of genes related to glycolysis and aerobic fermentation in vitro. Here, heme-cultured epimastigotes increased D-glucose consumption. In fact, heme-cultured parasites secreted more succinate (the end product of the so-called succinic fermentation) followed by glucose intake. Increased succinate levels reduced the extracellular pH, leading to acidification of the supernatant. However, the acidification and proliferation stimulated by heme was impaired when glycolysis was inhibited. Otherwise, when glucose amount is enhanced in supernatant, heme-cultured parasites increased its growth whereas the glucose depletion caused a delay in proliferation. Heme supplementation increased epimastigote electron transport system-related O2 consumption rates, while glucose addition reduced both the electron transport system-related O2 consumption rates and spare respiratory capacity, indicating a Crabtree-like effect. These results show that glycolysis predominated in heme-cultured epimastigotes over oxidative phosphorylation for energy supply when glucose is present to sustain its high proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, it provided an insight into the parasite biology in the vector environment that supply glucose and the digestion of blood generates free heme that can lead to the growth of T. cruzi epimastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Silva Dias Vieira
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores—Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG–UERJ–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ramon Pinheiro Aguiar
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis (IBqM) and National Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO)–UFRJ–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natalia Pereira de Almeida Nogueira
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores—Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG–UERJ–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia—Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM)–Brazil
| | | | - Marcia Cristina Paes
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores—Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG–UERJ–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia—Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM)–Brazil
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3
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Telleria J, Tibayrenc M, Del Salto Mendoza M, Seveno M, Costales JA. Comparative proteomic analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi TcI lineage epimastigotes unveils metabolic and phenotypic differences between fast- and slow-dividing strains. Exp Parasitol 2023; 252:108576. [PMID: 37429537 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is a genetically and phenotypically diverse species, divided into 5 main phylogenetic lineages (TcI to TcVI). TcI is the most widespread lineage in the Americas. Proteomics is a suitable tool to study the global protein expression dynamics in pathogens. Previous proteomic studies have revealed a link between (i) the genetic variability; (ii) the protein expression; and (iii) the biological characteristics of T. cruzi. Here, two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and mass spectrometry were used to characterize the overall protein expression profiles of epimastigotes from four distinct TcI strains displaying different growth kinetics. Ascending hierarchical clustering analysis based on the global 2DE protein expression profiles grouped the strains under study into two clusters that were congruent with their fast or slow growth kinetics. A subset of proteins differentially expressed by the strains in each group were identified by mass spectrometry. Biological differences between the two groups, including use of glucose as an energy source, flagellum length, and metabolic activity, were predicted by proteomic analysis and confirmed by metabolic tests and microscopic measurements performed on the epimastigotes of each strain. Our results show that protein expression profiles are correlated with parasite phenotypes, which may in turn influence the parasite's virulence and transmission capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Telleria
- Institut de recherche pour le développement, La recherche agronomique pour le développement, 34398, Montpellier, Cedex 05, France
| | - Michel Tibayrenc
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/UM1-UM2, 34394, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
| | - Michelle Del Salto Mendoza
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Martial Seveno
- BCM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jaime A Costales
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
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Meneely KM, McFarlane JS, Wright CL, Vela K, Swint-Kruse L, Fenton AW, Lamb AL. The 2.4 Å structure of Zymomonas mobilis pyruvate kinase: Implications for stability and regulation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2023; 744:109679. [PMID: 37393983 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Human liver pyruvate kinase (hlPYK) catalyzes the final step in glycolysis, the formation of pyruvate (PYR) and ATP from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and ADP. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), a pathway intermediate of glycolysis, serves as an allosteric activator of hlPYK. Zymomonas mobilis pyruvate kinase (ZmPYK) performs the final step of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, which is similar to glycolysis in that energy is harvested from glucose and pyruvate is generated. The Entner-Doudoroff pathway does not have FBP as a pathway intermediate, and ZmPYK is not allosterically activated. In this work, we solved the 2.4 Å X-ray crystallographic structure of ZmPYK. The protein is dimeric in solution as determined by gel filtration chromatography, but crystallizes as a tetramer. The buried surface area of the ZmPYK tetramerization interface is significantly smaller than that of hlPYK, and yet tetramerization using the standard interfaces from higher organisms provides an accessible low energy crystallization pathway. Interestingly, the ZmPYK structure showed a phosphate ion in the analogous location to the 6-phosphate binding site of FBP in hlPYK. Circular Dichroism (CD) was used to measure melting temperatures of hlPYK and ZmPYK in the absence and presence of substrates and effectors. The only significant difference was an additional phase of small amplitude for the ZmPYK melting curves. We conclude that the phosphate ion plays neither a structural or allosteric role in ZmPYK under the conditions tested. We hypothesize that ZmPYK does not have sufficient protein stability for activity to be tuned by allosteric effectors as described for rheostat positions in the allosteric homologues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Meneely
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Jeffrey S McFarlane
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Collette L Wright
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Kathryn Vela
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Liskin Swint-Kruse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Aron W Fenton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Audrey L Lamb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA.
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Dick CF, Alcantara CL, Carvalho-Kelly LF, Lacerda-Abreu MA, Cunha-E-Silva NL, Meyer-Fernandes JR, Vieyra A. Iron Uptake Controls Trypanosoma cruzi Metabolic Shift and Cell Proliferation. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12050984. [PMID: 37237850 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12050984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Ionic transport in Trypanosoma cruzi is the object of intense studies. T. cruzi expresses a Fe-reductase (TcFR) and a Fe transporter (TcIT). We investigated the effect of Fe depletion and Fe supplementation on different structures and functions of T. cruzi epimastigotes in culture. (2) Methods: We investigated growth and metacyclogenesis, variations of intracellular Fe, endocytosis of transferrin, hemoglobin, and albumin by cell cytometry, structural changes of organelles by transmission electron microscopy, O2 consumption by oximetry, mitochondrial membrane potential measuring JC-1 fluorescence at different wavelengths, intracellular ATP by bioluminescence, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase following reduction of ferricytochrome c, production of H2O2 following oxidation of the Amplex® red probe, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity following the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium, expression of SOD, elements of the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling, TcFR and TcIT by quantitative PCR, PKA activity by luminescence, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase abundance and activity by Western blotting and NAD+ reduction, and glucokinase activity recording NADP+ reduction. (3) Results: Fe depletion increased oxidative stress, inhibited mitochondrial function and ATP formation, increased lipid accumulation in the reservosomes, and inhibited differentiation toward trypomastigotes, with the simultaneous metabolic shift from respiration to glycolysis. (4) Conclusion: The processes modulated for ionic Fe provide energy for the T. cruzi life cycle and the propagation of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia F Dick
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/CENABIO, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carolina L Alcantara
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/CENABIO, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luiz F Carvalho-Kelly
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marco Antonio Lacerda-Abreu
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Narcisa L Cunha-E-Silva
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/CENABIO, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - José R Meyer-Fernandes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Vieyra
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/CENABIO, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biomedicina Translacional /BIOTRANS, Universidade do Grande Rio, Duque de Caxias 25071-202, RJ, Brazil
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6
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Osorio-Méndez JF, Téllez GA, Zapata-López D, Echeverry S, Castaño JC. Sequence analysis of SWEET transporters from trypanosomatids and evaluation of its expression in Trypanosoma cruzi. Exp Parasitol 2023; 248:108496. [PMID: 36878387 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is an obligate parasite that uses glucose as one of the main resources to maintain its survival and proliferation. In eukaryotic cells glucose transport across membranes is mediated by facilitated transport through a variety of transporters. Herein, genes from the recently described SWEET family of carbohydrate transporters were identified in trypanosomatid parasites, including the medically important species T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. The identified genes have sequences with the typical attributes of known SWEET transporters. The expression of TcSWEET, the gene for the SWEET transporter found in the T. cruzi genome, was evidenced by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal serum raised against peptides selected from the deduced TcSWEET protein sequence. In Western blot analysis, this α-TcSWEET serum detected proteins within the theoretical molecular mass for TcSWEET (25.8 kDa) in total epimastigote lysates, suggesting its expression at this parasite stage. Additionally, this serum stained epimastigotes at localizations consistent with the cell body and the flagellum. Together, these data suggests that SWEET transporters may contribute to glucose transport in trypanosomatid parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Felipe Osorio-Méndez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Biología Molecular, Programa de Medicina, Corporación Universitaria Empresarial Alexander von Humboldt, Armenia, Colombia.
| | - Germán Alberto Téllez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Biología Molecular, Programa de Medicina, Corporación Universitaria Empresarial Alexander von Humboldt, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Daniela Zapata-López
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Biología Molecular, Programa de Medicina, Corporación Universitaria Empresarial Alexander von Humboldt, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Echeverry
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Biología Molecular, Programa de Medicina, Corporación Universitaria Empresarial Alexander von Humboldt, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Jhon Carlos Castaño
- Grupo de Inmunología Molecular (Gymol), Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
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7
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Reséndiz-Mora A, Barrera-Aveleida G, Sotelo-Rodríguez A, Galarce-Sosa I, Nevárez-Lechuga I, Santiago-Hernández JC, Nogueda-Torres B, Meza-Toledo S, Gómez-Manzo S, Wong-Baeza I, Baeza I, Wong-Baeza C. Effect of B-NIPOx in Experimental Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010333. [PMID: 36613783 PMCID: PMC9820238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and represents a major public health problem, which is endemic in Latin America and emerging in the rest of the world. The two drugs that are currently available for its treatment, Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, are partially effective in the chronic phase of the disease. In this study, we designed and synthesized the benzyl ester of N-isopropyl oxamic acid (B-NIPOx), which is a non-polar molecule that crosses cell membranes. B-NIPOx is cleaved inside the parasite by carboxylesterases, releasing benzyl alcohol (a molecule with antimicrobial activity), and NIPOx, which is an inhibitor of α-hydroxy acid dehydrogenase isozyme II (HADH-II), a key enzyme in T. cruzi metabolism. We evaluated B-NIPOx cytotoxicity, its toxicity in mice, and its inhibitory activity on purified HADH-II and on T. cruzi homogenates. We then evaluated the trypanocidal activity of B-NIPOx in vitro and in vivo and its effect in the intestine of T. cruzi-infected mice. We found that B-NIPOx had higher trypanocidal activity on epimastigotes and trypomastigotes than Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, that it was more effective to reduce blood parasitemia and amastigote nests in infected mice, and that, in contrast to the reference drugs, it prevented the development of Chagasic enteropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albany Reséndiz-Mora
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Giovanna Barrera-Aveleida
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Anahi Sotelo-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Iván Galarce-Sosa
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Irene Nevárez-Lechuga
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Juan Carlos Santiago-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Enzimología, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Benjamín Nogueda-Torres
- Laboratorio de Helmintología, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Sergio Meza-Toledo
- Laboratorio de Quimioterapia Experimental, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Saúl Gómez-Manzo
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - Isabel Wong-Baeza
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular II, Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Isabel Baeza
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Correspondence: (I.B.); (C.W.-B.); Tel.: +52-55-5729-6000 (ext. 62326) (I.B. & C.W.-B.)
| | - Carlos Wong-Baeza
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
- Correspondence: (I.B.); (C.W.-B.); Tel.: +52-55-5729-6000 (ext. 62326) (I.B. & C.W.-B.)
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Saraiva FMS, Cosentino-Gomes D, Inacio JDF, Almeida-Amaral EE, Louzada-Neto O, Rossini A, Nogueira NP, Meyer-Fernandes JR, Paes MC. Hypoxia Effects on Trypanosoma cruzi Epimastigotes Proliferation, Differentiation, and Energy Metabolism. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080897. [PMID: 36015018 PMCID: PMC9416468 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, faces changes in redox status and nutritional availability during its life cycle. However, the influence of oxygen fluctuation upon the biology of T. cruzi is unclear. The present work investigated the response of T. cruzi epimastigotes to hypoxia. The parasites showed an adaptation to the hypoxic condition, presenting an increase in proliferation and a reduction in metacyclogenesis. Additionally, parasites cultured in hypoxia produced more reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to parasites cultured in normoxia. The analyses of the mitochondrial physiology demonstrated that hypoxic condition induced a decrease in both oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in epimastigotes. In spite of that, ATP levels of parasites cultivated in hypoxia increased. The hypoxic condition also increased the expression of the hexokinase and NADH fumarate reductase genes and reduced NAD(P)H, suggesting that this increase in ATP levels of hypoxia-challenged parasites was a consequence of increased glycolysis and fermentation pathways. Taken together, our results suggest that decreased oxygen levels trigger a shift in the bioenergetic metabolism of T. cruzi epimastigotes, favoring ROS production and fermentation to sustain ATP production, allowing the parasite to survive and proliferate in the insect vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis M. S. Saraiva
- Trypanosomatids and Vectors Interaction Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Roberto Alcantara Gomes Institute of Biology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, Brazil
| | - Daniela Cosentino-Gomes
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo De Meis, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Job D. F. Inacio
- Tripanosomatide Biochemistry Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Elmo E. Almeida-Amaral
- Tripanosomatide Biochemistry Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Orlando Louzada-Neto
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry, IBRAG- UERJ, Rio de Janeiro 20511-010, Brazil
| | - Ana Rossini
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry, IBRAG- UERJ, Rio de Janeiro 20511-010, Brazil
| | - Natália P. Nogueira
- Trypanosomatids and Vectors Interaction Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Roberto Alcantara Gomes Institute of Biology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology—Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Brasília 70000-000, Brazil
| | - José R. Meyer-Fernandes
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo De Meis, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Marcia C. Paes
- Trypanosomatids and Vectors Interaction Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Roberto Alcantara Gomes Institute of Biology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology—Molecular Entomology (INCT-EM), Brasília 70000-000, Brazil
- Correspondence:
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9
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De-Simone SG, Bourguignon SC, Gonçalves PS, Lechuga GC, Provance DW. Metabolic Alteration of Trypanosoma cruzi during Differentiation of Epimastigote to Trypomastigote Forms. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020268. [PMID: 35215210 PMCID: PMC8879499 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi need to acquire valuable carbon sources from the host cell to replicate. Here, we investigated the energetic metabolism of T. cruzi during metacyclogenesis through the determination of enzymatic activities and quantification by HPLC of glycolytic and Krebs cycle short-chain carboxylic acids. Altered concentrations in pyruvate, acetate, succinate, and glycerate were measured during the growth of epimastigote in the complex medium BHI and their differentiation to trypomastigotes in the chemically defined medium, TAU3AAG. These alterations should represent significant differential metabolic modifications utilized by either form to generate energy. This paper is the first work dealing with the intracellular organic acid concentration measurement in T. cruzi parasites. Although it confirms the previous assumption of the importance of carbohydrate metabolism, it yields an essential improvement in T. cruzi metabolism knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore G. De-Simone
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), FIOCRUZ, National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Populations Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil;
- Correspondence:
| | - Saulo C. Bourguignon
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Priscila S. Gonçalves
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), FIOCRUZ, National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Populations Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.)
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Guilherme C. Lechuga
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), FIOCRUZ, National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Populations Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - David W. Provance
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), FIOCRUZ, National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Populations Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
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10
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Coutinho JVP, Rosa-Fernandes L, Mule SN, de Oliveira GS, Manchola NC, Santiago VF, Colli W, Wrenger C, Alves MJM, Palmisano G. The thermal proteome stability profile of Trypanosoma cruzi in epimastigote and trypomastigote life stages. J Proteomics 2021; 248:104339. [PMID: 34352427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a flagellate protozoa being the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease, which still poses a public health problem worldwide. The intricate molecular changes during T. cruzi-host interaction have been explored using different largescale omics techniques. However, protein stability is largely unknown. Thermal proteome profiling (TPP) methodology has the potential to characterize proteome-wide stability highlighting key proteins during T. cruzi infection and life stage transition from the invertebrate to the mammalian host. In the present work, T. cruzi epimastigotes and trypomastigotes cell lysates were subjected to TPP workflow and analyzed by quantitative large-scale mass spectrometry-based proteomics to fit a melting profile for each protein. A total of 2884 proteins were identified and associated to 1741 melting curves being 1370 in trypomastigotes (TmAVG 53.53 °C) and 1279 in epimastigotes (TmAVG 50.89 °C). A total of 453 proteins were identified with statistically different melting profiles between the two life stages. Proteins associated to pathogenesis and intracellular transport had regulated melting temperatures. Membrane and glycosylated proteins had a higher average Tm in trypomastigotes compared to epimastigotes. This study represents the first large-scale comparison of parasite protein stability between life stages. SIGNIFICANCE: Trypanosoma cruzi, a unicellular flagellate parasite, is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, endemic in South America and affecting more that 7 million people worldwide. There is an intense research to identify novel chemotherapeutic and diagnostic targets of Chagas disease. Proteomic approaches have helped in elucidating the quantitative proteome and PTMs changes of T. cruzi during life cycle transition and upon different biotic and abiotic stimuli. However, a comprehensive knowledge of the protein-protein interaction and protein conformation is still missing. In order to fill this gap, this manuscript elucidates the T. cruzi Y strain proteome-wide thermal stability map in the epimastigote and trypomastigote life stages. Comparison between life stages showed a higher average melting temperature stability for trypomastigotes than epimastigotes indicating a host temperature adaptation. Both presented a selective thermal stability shift for cellular compartments, molecular functions and biological processes based on the T. cruzi life stage. Membrane and glycosylated proteins presented a higher thermal stability in trypomastigotes when compared to the epimastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joao V P Coutinho
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Livia Rosa-Fernandes
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simon Ngao Mule
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gilberto Santos de Oliveira
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Veronica Feijoli Santiago
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Walter Colli
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carsten Wrenger
- Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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11
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Lander N, Chiurillo MA, Docampo R. Signaling pathways involved in environmental sensing in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:819-828. [PMID: 33034088 PMCID: PMC8032824 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a unicellular parasite and the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The parasite has a digenetic life cycle alternating between mammalian and insect hosts, where it faces a variety of environmental conditions to which it must adapt in order to survive. The adaptation to these changes is mediated by signaling pathways that coordinate the cellular responses to the new environmental settings. Major environmental changes include temperature, nutrient availability, ionic composition, pH, osmolarity, oxidative stress, contact with host cells and tissues, host immune response, and intracellular life. Some of the signaling pathways and second messengers potentially involved in the response to these changes have been elucidated in recent years and will be the subject of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Lander
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Miguel A. Chiurillo
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Roberto Docampo
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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12
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Martín-Escolano R, Molina-Carreño D, Plano D, Espuelas S, Rosales MJ, Moreno E, Aydillo C, Sanmartín C, Sánchez-Moreno M, Marín C. Library of Selenocyanate and Diselenide Derivatives as In Vivo Antichagasic Compounds Targeting Trypanosoma cruzi Mitochondrion. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14050419. [PMID: 34062791 PMCID: PMC8147293 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is usually caused by tropical infection with the insect-transmitted protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Currently, Chagas disease is a major public health concern worldwide due to globalization, and there are no treatments neither vaccines because of the long-term nature of the disease and its complex pathology. Current treatments are limited to two obsolete drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, which lead to serious drawbacks. Taking into account the urgent need for strict research efforts to find new therapies, here, we describe the in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of a library of selected forty-eight selenocyanate and diselenide derivatives that exhibited leishmanicidal properties. The inclusion of selenium, an essential trace element, was due to the well-known extensive pharmacological activities for selenium compounds including parasitic diseases as T. cruzi. Here we present compound 8 as a potential compound that exhibits a better profile than benznidazole both in vitro and in vivo. It shows a fast-acting behaviour that could be attributed to its mode of action: it acts in a mitochondrion-dependent manner, causing cell death by bioenergetic collapse. This finding provides a step forward for the development of a new antichagasic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
- Correspondence: (R.M.-E.); (C.M.)
| | - Daniel Molina-Carreño
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Daniel Plano
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Socorro Espuelas
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María J. Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Esther Moreno
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carlos Aydillo
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carmen Sanmartín
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
- Correspondence: (R.M.-E.); (C.M.)
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13
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Michels PAM, Villafraz O, Pineda E, Alencar MB, Cáceres AJ, Silber AM, Bringaud F. Carbohydrate metabolism in trypanosomatids: New insights revealing novel complexity, diversity and species-unique features. Exp Parasitol 2021; 224:108102. [PMID: 33775649 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2021.108102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The human pathogenic trypanosomatid species collectively called the "TriTryp parasites" - Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. - have complex life cycles, with each of these parasitic protists residing in a different niche during their successive developmental stages where they encounter diverse nutrients. Consequently, they adapt their metabolic network accordingly. Yet, throughout the life cycles, carbohydrate metabolism - involving the glycolytic, gluconeogenic and pentose-phosphate pathways - always plays a central role in the biology of these parasites, whether the available carbon and free energy sources are saccharides, amino acids or lipids. In this paper, we provide an updated review of the carbohydrate metabolism of the TriTryps, highlighting new data about this metabolic network, the interconnection of its pathways and the compartmentalisation of its enzymes within glycosomes, cytosol and mitochondrion. Differences in the expression of the branches of the metabolic network between the successive life-cycle stages of each of these parasitic trypanosomatids are discussed, as well as differences between them. Recent structural and kinetic studies have revealed unique regulatory mechanisms for some of the network's key enzymes with important species-specific variations. Furthermore, reports of multiple post-translational modifications of trypanosomal glycolytic enzymes suggest that additional mechanisms for stage- and/or environmental cues that regulate activity are operational in the parasites. The detailed comparison of the carbohydrate metabolism of the TriTryps has thus revealed multiple differences and a greater complexity, including for the reduced metabolic network in bloodstream-form T. brucei, than previously appreciated. Although these parasites are related, share many cytological and metabolic features and are grouped within a single taxonomic family, the differences highlighted in this review reflect their separate evolutionary tracks from a common ancestor to the extant organisms. These differences are indicative of their adaptation to the different insect vectors and niches occupied in their mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A M Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution and Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Oriana Villafraz
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité (MFP), Université de Bordeaux, CNRS UMR-5234, France
| | - Erika Pineda
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité (MFP), Université de Bordeaux, CNRS UMR-5234, France
| | - Mayke B Alencar
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ana J Cáceres
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela.
| | - Ariel M Silber
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Frédéric Bringaud
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité (MFP), Université de Bordeaux, CNRS UMR-5234, France.
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Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier Subunits Are Essential for Pyruvate-Driven Respiration, Infectivity, and Intracellular Replication of Trypanosoma cruzi. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.00540-21. [PMID: 33824204 PMCID: PMC8092248 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00540-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. Pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis, and its transport into the mitochondrion is mediated by the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) subunits. Pyruvate is the final metabolite of glycolysis and can be converted into acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) in mitochondria, where it is used as the substrate for the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Pyruvate availability in mitochondria depends on its active transport through the heterocomplex formed by the mitochondrial pyruvate carriers 1 and 2 (MPC1/MPC2). We report here studies on MPC1/MPC2 of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Endogenous tagging of T. cruziMPC1 (TcMPC1) and TcMPC2 with 3×c-Myc showed that both encoded proteins colocalize with MitoTracker to the mitochondria of epimastigotes. Individual knockout (KO) of TcMPC1 and TcMPC2 genes using CRISPR/Cas9 was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. Digitonin-permeabilized TcMPC1-KO and TcMPC2-KO epimastigotes showed reduced O2 consumption rates when pyruvate, but not succinate, was used as the mitochondrial substrate, while α-ketoglutarate increased their O2 consumption rates due to an increase in α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity. Defective mitochondrial pyruvate import resulted in decreased Ca2+ uptake. The inhibitors UK5099 and malonate impaired pyruvate-driven oxygen consumption in permeabilized control cells. Inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase by malonate indicated that pyruvate needs to be converted into succinate to increase respiration. TcMPC1-KO and TcMPC2-KO epimastigotes showed little growth differences in standard or low-glucose culture medium. However, the ability of trypomastigotes to infect tissue culture cells and replicate as intracellular amastigotes was decreased in TcMPC-KOs. Overall, T. cruzi MPC1 and MPC2 are essential for cellular respiration in the presence of pyruvate, invasion of host cells, and replication of amastigotes.
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Martín-Escolano R, Guardia JJ, Martín-Escolano J, Cirauqui N, Fernández A, Rosales MJ, Chahboun R, Sánchez-Moreno M, Alvarez-Manzaneda E, Marín C. In Vivo Biological Evaluation of a Synthetic Royleanone Derivative as a Promising Fast-Acting Trypanocidal Agent by Inducing Mitochondrial-Dependent Necrosis. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:3571-3583. [PMID: 33253573 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The life-long and life-threatening Chagas disease is one of the most neglected tropical diseases caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is a major public health problem in Latin America, as six to seven million people are infected, being the principal cause of mortality in many endemic regions. Moreover, Chagas disease has become widespread due to migrant populations. Additionally, there are no vaccines nor effective treatments to fight the disease because of its long-term nature and complex pathology. Therefore, these facts emphasize how crucial the international effort for the development of new treatments against Chagas disease is. Here, we present the in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of some oxygenated abietane diterpenoids and related compounds. The 1,4-benzoquinone 15, not yet reported, was identified as a fast-acting trypanocidal drug with efficacy against different strains in vitro and higher activity and lower toxicity than benznidazole in both phases of murine Chagas disease. The mode of action was also evaluated, suggesting that quinone 15 kills T. cruzi by inducing mitochondrion-dependent necrosis through a bioenergetics collapse caused by a mitochondrial membrane depolarization and iron-containing superoxide dismutase inhibition. Therefore, the abietane 1,4-benzoquinone 15 can be considered as a new candidate molecule for the development of an appropriate and commercially accessible anti-Chagas drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan J Guardia
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Javier Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Nuria Cirauqui
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 69367 Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Antonio Fernández
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Maria J Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Rachid Chahboun
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Enrique Alvarez-Manzaneda
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
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16
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Repurposing bioenergetic modulators against protozoan parasites responsible for tropical diseases. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2020; 14:17-27. [PMID: 32829099 PMCID: PMC7452664 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Malaria, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are arthropod-borne, parasitic diseases that constitute a major global health problem. They are generally found in developing countries, where lack of access to preventive tools and treatment hinders their management. Because these parasites share an increased demand on glucose consumption with most cancer cells, six compounds used in anti-tumoral research were selected to be tested as antiparasitic agents in in vitro models of Leishmania infantum, Trypanosoma brucei, T. cruzi, and Plasmodium falciparum: dichloroacetic acid (DCA), 3-bromopyruvic acid (3BP), 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), lonidamine (LND), metformin (MET), and sirolimus (SIR). No parasite-killing activity was found in L. infantum promastigotes, whereas DCA and 3BP reduced the burden of intra-macrophagic amastigotes. For T. brucei all selected compounds, but 2DG, decreased parasite survival. DCA, 2DG, LND and MET showed parasite-killing activity in T. cruzi. Finally, anti-plasmodial activity was found for DCA, 2DG, LND, MET and SIR. These results reinforce the hypothesis that drugs with proven efficacy in the treatment of cancer by interfering with ATP production, proliferation, and survival cell strategies might be useful in treating threatening parasitic diseases and provide new opportunities for their repurposing. Parasitic diseases are prevalent among the poorest of the poor. Some parasitic protists degrade glucose into CO2 even aerobically making this a target. Degrading glucose into CO2 (Warburg effect) is also characteristic for cancer cells. Repurposing cancer glycolysis blockers may provide cost-effective treatments for the poorest.
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Martín-Escolano R, Martín-Escolano J, Ballesteros-Garrido R, Cirauqui N, Abarca B, Rosales MJ, Sánchez-Moreno M, Ballesteros R, Marín C. Repositioning of leishmanicidal [1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinium salts for Chagas disease treatment: Trypanosoma cruzi cell death involving mitochondrial membrane depolarisation and Fe-SOD inhibition. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2943-2954. [PMID: 32607710 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06779-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomatidae is a family of unicellular parasites belonging to the phylum Euglenozoa, which are causative agents in high impact human diseases such as Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness. The impact on human health and local economies, together with a lack of satisfactory chemotherapeutic treatments and effective vaccines, justifies stringent research efforts to search for new disease therapies. Here, we present in vitro trypanocidal activity data and mode of action data, repositioning leishmanicidal [1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinium salts against Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. This disease is one of the most neglected tropical diseases and is a major public health issue in Central and South America. The disease affects approximately 6-7 million people and is widespread due to increased migratory movements. We screened a suite of leishmanicidal [1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinium salt compounds, of which compounds 13, 20 and 21 were identified as trypanocidal drugs. These compounds caused cell death in a mitochondrion-dependent manner through a bioenergetic collapse. Moreover, compounds 13 and 20 showed a remarkable inhibition of iron superoxide dismutase activity of T. cruzi, a key enzyme in the protection from the damage produced by oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Javier Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Ballesteros-Garrido
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nuria Cirauqui
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69367, Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Belén Abarca
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - María José Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Ballesteros
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.
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Cruz-Saavedra L, Muñoz M, Patiño LH, Vallejo GA, Guhl F, Ramírez JD. Slight temperature changes cause rapid transcriptomic responses in Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:255. [PMID: 32410662 PMCID: PMC7226949 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04125-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Severe changes in temperature can affect the behavior and ecology of some infectious agents. Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan that causes Chagas disease. This parasite has high genetic variability and can be divided into six discrete typing units (DTUs). Trypanosoma cruzi also has a complex life-cycle, which includes the process of metacyclogenesis when non-infective epimastigote forms are differentiated into infective metacyclic trypomastigotes (MT). Studies in triatomines have shown that changes in temperature also affect the number and viability of MT. Methods The objective of this study was to evaluate how temperature affects the transcriptional profiles of T. cruzi I and II (TcI and TcII) MT by exposing parasites to two temperatures (27 °C and 28 °C) and comparing those to normal culture conditions at 26 °C. Subsequently, RNA-seq was conducted and differentially expressed genes were quantified and associated to metabolic pathways. Results A statistically significant difference was observed in the number of MT between the temperatures evaluated and the control, TcII DTU was not strongly affected to exposure to high temperatures compared to TcI. Similar results were found when we analyzed gene expression in this DTU, with the greatest number of differentially expressed genes being observed at 28 °C, which could indicate a dysregulation of different signaling pathways under this temperature. Chromosome analysis indicated that chromosome 1 harbored the highest number of changes for both DTUs for all thermal treatments. Finally, gene ontology (GO) analyses showed a decrease in the coding RNAs involved in the regulation of processes related to the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates, the evasion of oxidative stress, and proteolysis and phosphorylation processes, and a decrease in RNAs coding to ribosomal proteins in TcI and TcII, along with an increase in the expression of surface metalloprotease GP63 in TcII. Conclusions Slight temperature shifts lead to increased cell death of metacyclic trypomastigotes because of the deregulation of gene expression of different processes essential for the TcI and TcII DTUs of T. cruzi.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissa Cruz-Saavedra
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luz Helena Patiño
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gustavo A Vallejo
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Felipe Guhl
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Quiñones W, Acosta H, Gonçalves CS, Motta MCM, Gualdrón-López M, Michels PAM. Structure, Properties, and Function of Glycosomes in Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:25. [PMID: 32083023 PMCID: PMC7005584 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosomes are peroxisome-related organelles that have been identified in kinetoplastids and diplonemids. The hallmark of glycosomes is their harboring of the majority of the glycolytic enzymes. Our biochemical studies and proteome analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi glycosomes have located, in addition to enzymes of the glycolytic pathway, enzymes of several other metabolic processes in the organelles. These analyses revealed many aspects in common with glycosomes from other trypanosomatids as well as features that seem specific for T. cruzi. Their enzyme content indicates that T. cruzi glycosomes are multifunctional organelles, involved in both several catabolic processes such as glycolysis and anabolic ones. Specifically discussed in this minireview are the cross-talk between glycosomal metabolism and metabolic processes occurring in other cell compartments, and the importance of metabolite translocation systems in the glycosomal membrane to enable the coordination between the spatially separated processes. Possible mechanisms for metabolite translocation across the membrane are suggested by proteins identified in the organelle's membrane-homologs of the ABC and MCF transporter families-and the presence of channels as inferred previously from the detection of channel-forming proteins in glycosomal membrane preparations from the related parasite T. brucei. Together, these data provide insight in the way in which different parts of T. cruzi metabolism, although uniquely distributed over different compartments, are integrated and regulated. Moreover, this information reveals opportunities for the development of drugs against Chagas disease caused by these parasites and for which currently no adequate treatment is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Héctor Acosta
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Camila Silva Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina M Motta
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Melisa Gualdrón-López
- Instituto Salud Global, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, and Institute for Health Sciences Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paul A M Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution and Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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20
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Paes MC, Saraiva FMS, Nogueira NP, Vieira CSD, Dias FA, Rossini A, Coelho VL, Pane A, Sang F, Alcocer M. Gene expression profiling of Trypanosoma cruzi in the presence of heme points to glycosomal metabolic adaptation of epimastigotes inside the vector. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007945. [PMID: 31895927 PMCID: PMC6959606 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, and is transmitted by triatomine insects during its blood meal. Proliferative epimastigotes forms thrive inside the insects in the presence of heme (iron protoporphyrin IX), an abundant product of blood digestion, however little is known about the metabolic outcome of this signaling molecule in the parasite. Trypanosomatids exhibit unusual gene transcription employing a polycistronic transcription mechanism through trans-splicing that regulates its life cycle. Using the Deep Seq transcriptome sequencing we characterized the heme induced transcriptome of epimastigotes and determined that most of the upregulated genes were related to glucose metabolism inside the glycosomes. These results were supported by the upregulation of glycosomal isoforms of PEPCK and fumarate reductase of heme-treated parasites, implying that the fermentation process was favored. Moreover, the downregulation of mitochondrial gene enzymes in the presence of heme also supported the hypothesis that heme shifts the parasite glycosomal glucose metabolism towards aerobic fermentation. These results are examples of the environmental metabolic plasticity inside the vector supporting ATP production, promoting epimastigotes proliferation and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia C. Paes
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores—Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG–UERJ–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia—Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM)–Brazil
- * E-mail: (MCP); (MA)
| | - Francis M. S. Saraiva
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores—Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG–UERJ–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natália P. Nogueira
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores—Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG–UERJ–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia—Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM)–Brazil
| | - Carolina S. D. Vieira
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores—Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG–UERJ–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Felipe A. Dias
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia—Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM)–Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Rossini
- Laboratório de Toxicologia e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG- UERJ- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor Lima Coelho
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Attilio Pane
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fei Sang
- Deep Seq, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Marcos Alcocer
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (MCP); (MA)
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21
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Paucar R, Martín-Escolano R, Moreno-Viguri E, Azqueta A, Cirauqui N, Marín C, Sánchez-Moreno M, Pérez-Silanes S. Rational modification of Mannich base-type derivatives as novel antichagasic compounds: Synthesis, in vitro and in vivo evaluation. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:3902-3917. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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22
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Patino LH, Muskus C, Ramírez JD. Transcriptional responses of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in the presence of trivalent sodium stibogluconate. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:348. [PMID: 31300064 PMCID: PMC6626383 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3603-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the last decade, resistance to antimonials has become a serious problem due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms used by Leishmania parasites to survive under drug pressure is essential, particularly for species of medical-veterinary importance such as L. amazonensis. Methods Here, we used RNA-seq technology to analyse transcriptome profiles and identify global changes in gene expression between antimony-resistant and -sensitive L. amazonensis promastigotes. Results A total of 723 differentially expressed genes were identified between resistant and sensitive lines. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes encoding proteins involved in metabolism (fatty acids) and stress response, as well as those associated with antimony resistance in other Leishmania species, were upregulated in the antimony-resistant line. Most importantly, we observed upregulation of genes encoding autophagy proteins, suggesting that in the presence of trivalent stibogluconate (SbIII) L. amazonensis can activate these genes either as a survival strategy or to induce cell death, as has been observed in other parasites. Conclusions This work identified global transcriptomic changes in an in vitro-adapted strain in response to SbIII. Our results provide relevant information to continue understanding the mechanism used by parasites of the subgenus Leishmania (L. amazonensis) to generate an antimony-resistant phenotype. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3603-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz H Patino
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Muskus
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Lerchner J, Sartori MR, Volpe POL, Lander N, Mertens F, Vercesi AE. Direct determination of anaerobe contributions to the energy metabolism of Trypanosoma cruzi by chip calorimetry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2019; 411:3763-3768. [PMID: 31093698 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-019-01882-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We describe a chip calorimetric technique that allows the investigation of biological material under anoxic conditions in a micro-scale and in real time. Due to the fast oxygen exchange through the sample flow channel wall, the oxygen concentration inside the samples could be switched between atmospheric oxygen partial pressure to an oxygen concentration of 0.5% within less than 2 h. Using this technique, anaerobic processes in the energy metabolism of Trypanosoma cruzi could be studied directly. The comparison of the calorimetric and respirometric response of T. cruzi cells to the treatment with the mitochondrial inhibitors oligomycin and antimycin A and the uncoupler FCCP revealed that the respiration-related heat rate is superimposed by strong anaerobic contributions. Calorimetric measurements under anoxic conditions and with glycolytic inhibitors showed that anaerobic metabolic processes contribute from 30 to 40% to the overall heat production rate. Similar basal and antimycin A heat rates with cells under anoxic conditions indicated that the glycolytic rates are independent of the oxygen concentration which confirms the absence of the "Pasteur effect" in Trypanosomes. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Lerchner
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Str. 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany.
| | - Marina R Sartori
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-877, Brazil
| | - Pedro O L Volpe
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Noelia Lander
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-877, Brazil
| | - Florian Mertens
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Str. 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Anibal E Vercesi
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-877, Brazil
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24
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Reprogramming of Trypanosoma cruzi metabolism triggered by parasite interaction with the host cell extracellular matrix. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007103. [PMID: 30726203 PMCID: PMC6380580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, affects 8 million people predominantly living in socioeconomic underdeveloped areas. T. cruzi trypomastigotes (Ty), the classical infective stage, interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM), an obligatory step before invasion of almost all mammalian cells in different tissues. Here we have characterized the proteome and phosphoproteome of T. cruzi trypomastigotes upon interaction with ECM (MTy) and the data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD010970. Proteins involved with metabolic processes (such as the glycolytic pathway), kinases, flagellum and microtubule related proteins, transport-associated proteins and RNA/DNA binding elements are highly represented in the pool of proteins modified by phosphorylation. Further, important metabolic switches triggered by this interaction with ECM were indicated by decreases in the phosphorylation of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, phosphoglucomutase, phosphoglycerate kinase in MTy. Concomitantly, a decrease in the pyruvate and lactate and an increase of glucose and succinate contents were detected by GC-MS. These observations led us to focus on the changes in the glycolytic pathway upon binding of the parasite to the ECM. Inhibition of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities in MTy were observed and this correlated with the phosphorylation levels of the respective enzymes. Putative kinases involved in protein phosphorylation altered upon parasite incubation with ECM were suggested by in silico analysis. Taken together, our results show that in addition to cytoskeletal changes and protease activation, a reprogramming of the trypomastigote metabolism is triggered by the interaction of the parasite with the ECM prior to cell invasion and differentiation into amastigotes, the multiplicative intracellular stage of T. cruzi in the vertebrate host.
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dos Santos Júnior ADCM, Ricart CAO, Pontes AH, Fontes W, de Souza AR, Castro MS, de Sousa MV, de Lima BD. Proteome analysis of Phytomonas serpens, a phytoparasite of medical interest. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204818. [PMID: 30303999 PMCID: PMC6179244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan Phytomonas serpens (class Kinetoplastea) is an important phytoparasite that has gained medical importance due to its similarities to Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. The present work describes the first proteome analysis of P. serpens. The parasite was separated into cytosolic and high density organelle fractions, which, together with total cell extract, were subjected to LC-MS/MS analyses. Protein identification was conducted using a comprehensive database composed of genome sequences of other related kinetoplastids. A total of 1,540 protein groups were identified among the three sample fractions. Sequences from Phytomonas sp. in the database allowed the highest number of identifications, with T. cruzi and T. brucei the human pathogens providing the greatest contribution to the identifications. Based on the proteomics data obtained, we proposed a central metabolic map of P. serpens, which includes all enzymes of the citric acid cycle. Data also revealed a new range of proteins possibly responsible for immunological cross-reactivity between P. serpens and T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agenor de Castro Moreira dos Santos Júnior
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- Laboratory of Gene Biology, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Carlos André Ornelas Ricart
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Arthur Henriques Pontes
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Wagner Fontes
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Agnelo Rodrigues de Souza
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- Laboratory of Gene Biology, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Mariana Souza Castro
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Valle de Sousa
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Dolabela de Lima
- Laboratory of Gene Biology, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
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Lander N, Chiurillo MA, Bertolini MS, Storey M, Vercesi AE, Docampo R. Calcium-sensitive pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase is required for energy metabolism, growth, differentiation, and infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:17402-17417. [PMID: 30232153 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In vertebrate cells, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) leads to Ca2+-mediated stimulation of an intramitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (PDP). This enzyme dephosphorylates serine residues in the E1α subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), thereby activating PDH and resulting in increased ATP production. Although a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle for the E1α subunit of PDH from nonvertebrate organisms has been described, the Ca2+-mediated PDP activation has not been studied. In this work, we investigated the Ca2+ sensitivity of two recombinant PDPs from the protozoan human parasites Trypanosoma cruzi (TcPDP) and T. brucei (TbPDP) and generated a TcPDP-KO cell line to establish TcPDP's role in cell bioenergetics and survival. Moreover, the mitochondrial localization of the TcPDP was studied by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated endogenous tagging. Our results indicate that TcPDP and TbPDP both are Ca2+-sensitive phosphatases. Of note, TcPDP-KO epimastigotes exhibited increased levels of phosphorylated TcPDH, slower growth and lower oxygen consumption rates than control cells, an increased AMP/ATP ratio and autophagy under starvation conditions, and reduced differentiation into infective metacyclic forms. Furthermore, TcPDP-KO trypomastigotes were impaired in infecting cultured host cells. We conclude that TcPDP is a Ca2+-stimulated mitochondrial phosphatase that dephosphorylates TcPDH and is required for normal growth, differentiation, infectivity, and energy metabolism in T. cruzi Our results support the view that one of the main roles of the MCU is linked to the regulation of intramitochondrial dehydrogenases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Lander
- From the Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083, Brazil and
| | - Miguel A Chiurillo
- From the Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083, Brazil and
| | - Mayara S Bertolini
- From the Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083, Brazil and
| | - Melissa Storey
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Anibal E Vercesi
- From the Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083, Brazil and
| | - Roberto Docampo
- From the Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083, Brazil and .,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
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Abstract
Amino acids participate in several critical processes in the biology of trypanosomatids, such as osmoregulation, cell differentiation, and host cell invasion. Some of them provide reducing power for mitochondrial ATP synthesis. It was previously shown that alanine, which is formed mainly by the amination of pyruvate, is a metabolic end product formed when parasites are replicating in a medium rich in glucose and amino acids. It was shown as well that this amino acid can also be used for the regulation of cell volume and resistance to osmotic stress. In this work, we demonstrate that, despite it being an end product of its metabolism, Trypanosoma cruzi can take up and metabolize l-Ala through a low-specificity nonstereoselective active transport system. The uptake was dependent on the temperature in the range between 10 and 40°C, which allowed us to calculate an activation energy of 66.4 kJ/mol and estimate the number of transporters per cell at ~436,000. We show as well that, once taken up by the cells, l-Ala can be completely oxidized to CO2, supplying electrons to the electron transport chain, maintaining the electrochemical proton gradient across the mitochondrial inner membrane, and supporting ATP synthesis in T. cruzi epimastigotes. Our data demonstrate a dual role for Ala in the parasite's bioenergetics, by being a secreted end product of glucose catabolism and taken up as nutrient for oxidative mitochondrial metabolism.IMPORTANCE It is well known that trypanosomatids such as the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, produce alanine as a main end product of their energy metabolism when they grow in a medium containing glucose and amino acids. In this work, we investigated if under starvation conditions (which happen during the parasite life cycle) the secreted alanine could be recovered from the extracellular medium and used as an energy source. Herein we show that indeed, in parasites submitted to metabolic stress, this metabolite can be taken up and used as an energy source for ATP synthesis, allowing the parasite to extend its survival under starvation conditions. The obtained results point to a dual role for Ala in the parasite's bioenergetics, by being a secreted end product of glucose catabolism and taken up as nutrient for oxidative mitochondrial metabolism.
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Kalem MC, Gerasimov ES, Vu PK, Zimmer SL. Gene expression to mitochondrial metabolism: Variability among cultured Trypanosoma cruzi strains. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197983. [PMID: 29847594 PMCID: PMC5976161 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The insect-transmitted protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi experiences changes in nutrient availability and rate of flux through different metabolic pathways across its life cycle. The species encompasses much genetic diversity of both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes among isolated strains. The genetic or expression variation of both genomes are likely to impact metabolic responses to environmental stimuli, and even steady state metabolic function, among strains. To begin formal characterization these differences, we compared aspects of metabolism between genetically similar strains CL Brener and Tulahuen with less similar Esmeraldo and Sylvio X10 strains in a culture environment. Epimastigotes of all strains took up glucose at similar rates. However, the degree of medium acidification that could be observed when glucose was absent from the medium varied by strain, indicating potential differences in excreted metabolic byproducts. Our main focus was differences related to electron transport chain function. We observed differences in ATP-coupled respiration and maximal respiratory capacity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial morphology between strains, despite the fact that abundances of two nuclear-encoded proteins of the electron transport chain are similar between strains. RNA sequencing reveals strain-specific differences in abundances of mRNAs encoding proteins of the respiratory chain but also other metabolic processes. From these differences in metabolism and mitochondrial phenotypes we have generated tentative models for the differential metabolic fluxes or differences in gene expression that may underlie these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat C. Kalem
- Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
| | | | - Pamela K. Vu
- Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Sara L. Zimmer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
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da Costa KM, Valente RC, Salustiano EJ, Gentile LB, Freire-de-Lima L, Mendonça-Previato L, Previato JO. Functional Characterization of ABCC Proteins from Trypanosoma cruzi and Their Involvement with Thiol Transport. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:205. [PMID: 29491856 PMCID: PMC5817095 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and affects 8 million people worldwide. The main chemotherapy is based on benznidazole. The efficacy in the treatment depends on factors such as the parasite strain, which may present different sensitivity to treatment. In this context, the expression of ABC transporters has been related to chemotherapy failure. ABC transporters share a well-conserved ABC domain, responsible for ATP binding and hydrolysis, whose the energy released is coupled to transport of molecules through membranes. The most known ABC transporters are ABCB1 and ABCC1, involved in the multidrug resistance phenotype in cancer, given their participation in cellular detoxification. In T. cruzi, 27 ABC genes were identified in the genome. Nonetheless, only four ABC genes were characterized: ABCA3, involved in vesicular trafficking; ABCG1, overexpressed in strains naturally resistant to benznidazole, and P-glycoprotein 1 and 2, whose participation in drug resistance is controversial. Considering P-glycoprotein genes are related to ABCC subfamily in T. cruzi according to the demonstration using BLASTP alignment, we evaluated both ABCB1-like and ABCC-like activities in epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of the Y strain. The transport activities were evaluated by the efflux of the fluorescent dyes Rhodamine 123 and Carboxyfluorescein in a flow cytometer. Results indicated that there was no ABCB1-like activity in both T. cruzi forms. Conversely, results demonstrated ABCC-like activity in both epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi. This activity was inhibited by ABCC transport modulators (probenecid, indomethacin, and MK-571), by ATP-depleting agents (sodium azide and iodoacetic acid) and by the thiol-depleting agent N-ethylmaleimide. Additionally, the presence of ABCC-like activity was supported by direct inhibition of the thiol-conjugated compound efflux with indomethacin, characteristic of ABCC subfamily members. Taken together, the results provide the first description of native ABCC-like activity in T. cruzi epimastigote and trypomastigote forms, indicating that the study of the biological role for that thiol transporter is crucial to reveal new molecular mechanisms for therapeutic approaches in the Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli Monteiro da Costa
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raphael C Valente
- Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo J Salustiano
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana B Gentile
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José O Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Vacchina P, Lambruschi DA, Uttaro AD. Lipoic acid metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi as putative target for chemotherapy. Exp Parasitol 2018; 186:17-23. [PMID: 29409741 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Lipoic acid (LA) is a cofactor of relevant enzymatic complexes including the glycine cleave system and 2-ketoacid dehydrogenases. Intervention on LA de novo synthesis or salvage could have pleiotropic deleterious effect in cells, making both pathways attractive for chemotherapy. We show that Trypanosoma cruzi was susceptible to treatment with LA analogues. 8-Bromo-octanic acid (BrO) inhibited the growth of epimastigote forms of both Dm28c and CL Brener strains, although only at high (chemotherapeutically irrelevant) concentrations. The methyl ester derivative MBrO, was much more effective, with EC50 values one order of magnitude lower (62-66 μM). LA did not bypass the toxic effect of its analogues. Small monocarboxylic acids appear to be poorly internalized by T. cruzi: [14C]-octanoic acid was taken up 12 fold less efficiently than [14C]-palmitic acid. Western blot analysis of lipoylated proteins allowed the detection of the E2 subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), branched chain 2-ketoacid dehydrogenase and 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes. Growth of parasites in medium with 10 fold lower glucose content, notably increased PDH activity and the level of its lipoylated E2 subunit. Treatment with BrO (1 mM) and MBrO (0.1 mM) completely inhibited E2 lipoylation and all three dehydrogenases activities. These observations indicate the lack of specific transporters for octanoic acid and most probably also for BrO and LA, which is in agreement with the lack of a LA salvage pathway, as previously suggested for T. brucei. They also indicate that the LA synthesis/protein lipoylation pathway could be a valid target for drug intervention. Moreover, the free LA available in the host would not interfere with such chemotherapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Vacchina
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Daniel A Lambruschi
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Antonio D Uttaro
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
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An Intracellular Ammonium Transporter Is Necessary for Replication, Differentiation, and Resistance to Starvation and Osmotic Stress in Trypanosoma cruzi. mSphere 2018; 3:mSphere00377-17. [PMID: 29359189 PMCID: PMC5770540 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00377-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, undergoes drastic metabolic changes when it transits between a vector and mammalian hosts. Amino acid catabolism leads to the production of ammonium (NH4+), which needs to be detoxified. However, T. cruzi does not possess a urea cycle, and it is unknown how intracellular levels of ammonium are controlled. In this work, we identified an intracellular ammonium transporter of T. cruzi (TcAMT) that localizes to acidic compartments (reservosomes, lysosomes). TcAMT has 11 transmembrane domains and possesses all conserved and functionally important amino acid residues that form the pore in other ammonium transporters. Functional expression in Xenopus oocytes followed by a two-electrode voltage clamp showed an inward current that is NH4+ dependent at a resting membrane potential (Vh ) lower than -120 mV and is not pH dependent, suggesting that TcAMT is not an NH4+/H+ cotransporter but an NH4+ or NH3/H+ transporter. Ablation of TcAMT by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat analysis with Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) resulted in significant defects in epimastigote and amastigote replication, differentiation, and resistance to starvation and osmotic stress. IMPORTANCETrypanosoma cruzi is an important human and animal pathogen and the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The parasite undergoes drastic changes in its metabolism during its life cycle. Amino acid consumption becomes important in the infective stages and leads to the production of ammonia (NH3), which needs to be detoxified. We report here the identification of an ammonium (NH4+) transporter that localizes to acidic compartments and is important for replication, differentiation, and resistance to starvation and osmotic stress.
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Belew AT, Junqueira C, Rodrigues-Luiz GF, Valente BM, Oliveira AER, Polidoro RB, Zuccherato LW, Bartholomeu DC, Schenkman S, Gazzinelli RT, Burleigh BA, El-Sayed NM, Teixeira SMR. Comparative transcriptome profiling of virulent and non-virulent Trypanosoma cruzi underlines the role of surface proteins during infection. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006767. [PMID: 29240831 PMCID: PMC5746284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan that causes Chagas disease, has a complex life cycle involving several morphologically and biochemically distinct stages that establish intricate interactions with various insect and mammalian hosts. It has also a heterogeneous population structure comprising strains with distinct properties such as virulence, sensitivity to drugs, antigenic profile and tissue tropism. We present a comparative transcriptome analysis of two cloned T. cruzi strains that display contrasting virulence phenotypes in animal models of infection: CL Brener is a virulent clone and CL-14 is a clone that is neither infective nor pathogenic in in vivo models of infection. Gene expression analysis of trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes harvested at 60 and 96 hours post-infection (hpi) of human fibroblasts revealed large differences that reflect the parasite’s adaptation to distinct environments during the infection of mammalian cells, including changes in energy sources, oxidative stress responses, cell cycle control and cell surface components. While extensive transcriptome remodeling was observed when trypomastigotes of both strains were compared to 60 hpi amastigotes, differences in gene expression were much less pronounced when 96 hpi amastigotes and trypomastigotes of CL Brener were compared. In contrast, the differentiation of the avirulent CL-14 from 96 hpi amastigotes to extracellular trypomastigotes was associated with considerable changes in gene expression, particularly in gene families encoding surface proteins such as trans-sialidases, mucins and the mucin associated surface proteins (MASPs). Thus, our comparative transcriptome analysis indicates that the avirulent phenotype of CL-14 may be due, at least in part, to a reduced or delayed expression of genes encoding surface proteins that are associated with the transition of amastigotes to trypomastigotes, an essential step in the establishment of the infection in the mammalian host. Confirming the role of members of the trans-sialidase family of surface proteins for parasite differentiation, transfected CL-14 constitutively expressing a trans-sialidase gene displayed faster kinetics of trypomastigote release in the supernatant of infected cells compared to wild type CL-14. Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is an infection that occurs in several Latin American countries, resulting in a mild illness or in severe damage of the heart and intestinal tract. Such a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations observed in Chagas disease patients is likely due to differences in host susceptibility as well as to a large heterogeneity among T. cruzi isolates. The identification of virulence factors that are differentially expressed in the parasite population is a valuable strategy for understanding of the distinct interactions that occur between this pathogen and its host, which may or may not lead to pathogenesis. By comparing the gene expression profiles of two T. cruzi strains that display contrasting virulence phenotypes in animal models of infection, we identified a central role for genes encoding surface proteins that is associated with the differentiation from intracellular replicative amastigotes to infective trypomastigotes. We showed that the expression of these genes occurs differentially within the two strains and this difference may be a factor that impacts parasite survival and dissemination in the mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Trey Belew
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Caroline Junqueira
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Gabriela F. Rodrigues-Luiz
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruna M. Valente
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Antonio Edson R. Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rafael B. Polidoro
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana W. Zuccherato
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniella C. Bartholomeu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo T. Gazzinelli
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Barbara A. Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Najib M. El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SMRT); (NES)
| | - Santuza M. R. Teixeira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail: (SMRT); (NES)
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Modulation of host central carbon metabolism and in situ glucose uptake by intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006747. [PMID: 29176805 PMCID: PMC5720825 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Obligate intracellular pathogens satisfy their nutrient requirements by coupling to host metabolic processes, often modulating these pathways to facilitate access to key metabolites. Such metabolic dependencies represent potential targets for pathogen control, but remain largely uncharacterized for the intracellular protozoan parasite and causative agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. Perturbations in host central carbon and energy metabolism have been reported in mammalian T. cruzi infection, with no information regarding the impact of host metabolic changes on the intracellular amastigote life stage. Here, we performed cell-based studies to elucidate the interplay between infection with intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes and host cellular energy metabolism. T. cruzi infection of non-phagocytic cells was characterized by increased glucose uptake into infected cells and increased mitochondrial respiration and mitochondrial biogenesis. While intracellular amastigote growth was unaffected by decreased host respiratory capacity, restriction of extracellular glucose impaired amastigote proliferation and sensitized parasites to further growth inhibition by 2-deoxyglucose. These observations led us to consider whether intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes utilize glucose directly as a substrate to fuel metabolism. Consistent with this prediction, isolated T. cruzi amastigotes transport extracellular glucose with kinetics similar to trypomastigotes, with subsequent metabolism as demonstrated in 13C-glucose labeling and substrate utilization assays. Metabolic labeling of T. cruzi-infected cells further demonstrated the ability of intracellular parasites to access host hexose pools in situ. These findings are consistent with a model in which intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes capitalize on the host metabolic response to parasite infection, including the increase in glucose uptake, to fuel their own metabolism and replication in the host cytosol. Our findings enrich current views regarding available carbon sources for intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes and underscore the metabolic flexibility of this pathogen, a feature predicted to underlie successful colonization of tissues with distinct metabolic profiles in the mammalian host. The kinetoplastid protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, is a highly successful parasite with a broad mammalian host range and the capacity to colonize a variety of tissues within a given host to establish life-long infection. T. cruzi infection causes Chagas disease in humans, characterized by severe cardiomyopathy and gastrointestinal motility disorders, with limited treatment options. Despite the critical role of T. cruzi amastigotes in sustaining mammalian infection, little is known about their metabolic requirements or the range of nutrients available to these parasites in the host cell cytoplasm. Here, we demonstrate that T. cruzi infection triggers a host response in infected cells that includes increased mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis and increased glucose uptake into infected cells. We show that exogenous glucose supports optimal intracellular parasite replication and that cytosolic T. cruzi amastigotes access glucose in situ, potentially via a facilitated transport process characterized here. These findings expand our view of the range of carbons available to the intracellular parasite and suggest even greater metabolic flexibility of the tissue-infective stages of T. cruzi than previously appreciated, a capability predicted to contribute to successful host colonization.
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Different Roles of Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Complex Subunits in Growth and Infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi. mBio 2017; 8:mBio.00574-17. [PMID: 28487431 PMCID: PMC5424207 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00574-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the agent of Chagas disease, and the finding that this parasite possesses a mitochondrial calcium uniporter (TcMCU) with characteristics similar to that of mammalian mitochondria was fundamental for the discovery of the molecular nature of MCU in eukaryotes. We report here that ablation of TcMCU, or its paralog TcMCUb, by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 led to a marked decrease in mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake without affecting the membrane potential of these cells, whereas overexpression of each gene caused a significant increase in the ability of mitochondria to accumulate Ca2+ While TcMCU-knockout (KO) epimastigotes were viable and able to differentiate into trypomastigotes, infect host cells, and replicate normally, ablation of TcMCUb resulted in epimastigotes having an important growth defect, lower rates of respiration and metacyclogenesis, more pronounced autophagy changes under starvation, and significantly reduced infectivity. Overexpression of TcMCUb, in contrast to what was proposed for its mammalian ortholog, did not result in a dominant negative effect on TcMCU.IMPORTANCE The finding of a mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) in Trypanosoma cruzi was essential for the discovery of the molecular nature of this transporter in mammals. In this work, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 technique that we recently developed for T. cruzi to knock out two components of the uniporter: MCU, the pore subunit, and MCUb, which was proposed as a negative regulator of MCU in human cells. In contrast to what occurs in human cells, MCU is not essential, while MCUb is essential for growth, differentiation, and infectivity; has a bioenergetic role; and does not act as a dominant negative subunit of MCU.
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Barisón MJ, Rapado LN, Merino EF, Furusho Pral EM, Mantilla BS, Marchese L, Nowicki C, Silber AM, Cassera MB. Metabolomic profiling reveals a finely tuned, starvation-induced metabolic switch in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:8964-8977. [PMID: 28356355 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.778522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle involving a triatomine insect and mammals. Throughout its life cycle, the T. cruzi parasite faces several alternating events of cell division and cell differentiation in which exponential and stationary growth phases play key biological roles. It is well accepted that arrest of the cell division in the epimastigote stage, both in the midgut of the triatomine insect and in vitro, is required for metacyclogenesis, and it has been previously shown that the parasites change the expression profile of several proteins when entering this quiescent stage. However, little is known about the metabolic changes that epimastigotes undergo before they develop into the metacyclic trypomastigote stage. We applied targeted metabolomics to measure the metabolic intermediates in the most relevant pathways for energy metabolism and oxidative imbalance in exponentially growing and stationary growth-arrested epimastigote parasites. We show for the first time that T. cruzi epimastigotes transitioning from the exponential to the stationary phase exhibit a finely tuned adaptive metabolic mechanism that enables switching from glucose to amino acid consumption, which is more abundant in the stationary phase. This metabolic plasticity appears to be crucial for survival of the T. cruzi parasite in the myriad different environmental conditions to which it is exposed during its life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Julia Barisón
- From the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps-LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ludmila Nakamura Rapado
- From the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps-LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Emilio F Merino
- the Department of Biochemistry and Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, and
| | - Elizabeth Mieko Furusho Pral
- From the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps-LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Brian Suarez Mantilla
- From the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps-LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia Marchese
- From the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps-LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristina Nowicki
- the Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológica (IQUIFIB-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ariel Mariano Silber
- From the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps-LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, Brazil,
| | - Maria Belen Cassera
- the Department of Biochemistry and Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, and
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Shah-Simpson S, Pereira CFA, Dumoulin PC, Caradonna KL, Burleigh BA. Bioenergetic profiling of Trypanosoma cruzi life stages using Seahorse extracellular flux technology. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2016; 208:91-5. [PMID: 27392747 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Energy metabolism is an attractive target for the development of new therapeutics against protozoan pathogens, including Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of human Chagas disease. Despite emerging evidence that mitochondrial electron transport is essential for the growth of intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes in mammalian cells, fundamental knowledge of mitochondrial energy metabolism in this parasite life stage remains incomplete. The Clark-type electrode, which measures the rate of oxygen consumption, has served as the traditional tool to study mitochondrial energetics and has contributed to our understanding of it in T. cruzi. Here, we evaluate the Seahorse XF(e)24 extracellular flux platform as an alternative method to assess mitochondrial bioenergetics in isolated T. cruzi parasites. We report optimized assay conditions used to perform mitochondrial stress tests with replicative life cycle stages of T. cruzi using the XF(e)24 instrument, and discuss the advantages and potential limitations of this methodology, as applied to T. cruzi and other trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena Shah-Simpson
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Camila F A Pereira
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Av, Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco G, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Peter C Dumoulin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Barbara A Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Ortiz C, Moraca F, Medeiros A, Botta M, Hamilton N, Comini MA. Binding Mode and Selectivity of Steroids towards Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase from the Pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. Molecules 2016; 21:368. [PMID: 26999093 PMCID: PMC6273692 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21030368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) plays a housekeeping role in cell metabolism by generating reducing power (NADPH) and fueling the production of nucleotide precursors (ribose-5-phosphate). Based on its indispensability for pathogenic parasites from the genus Trypanosoma, G6PDH is considered a drug target candidate. Several steroid-like scaffolds were previously reported to target the activity of G6PDH. Epiandrosterone (EA) is an uncompetitive inhibitor of trypanosomal G6PDH for which its binding site to the enzyme remains unknown. Molecular simulation studies with the structure of Trypanosoma cruzi G6PDH revealed that EA binds in a pocket close to the G6P binding-site and protrudes into the active site blocking the interaction between substrates and hence catalysis. Site directed mutagenesis revealed the important steroid-stabilizing effect of residues (L80, K83 and K84) located on helix α-1 of T. cruzi G6PDH. The higher affinity and potency of 16α-Br EA by T. cruzi G6PDH is explained by the formation of a halogen bond with the hydrogen from the terminal amide of the NADP+-nicotinamide. At variance with the human enzyme, the inclusion of a 21-hydroxypregnane-20-one moiety to a 3β-substituted steroid is detrimental for T. cruzi G6PDH inhibition. The species-specificity of certain steroid derivatives towards the parasite G6PDH and the corresponding biochemically validated binding models disclosed in this work may prove valuable for the development of selective inhibitors against the pathogen's enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Ortiz
- Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Francesca Moraca
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy.
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, BioLife Science Building, Suite 333, 1900 N 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
| | - Andrea Medeiros
- Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. Gral. Flores 2125, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay.
| | - Maurizio Botta
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy.
| | - Niall Hamilton
- Drug Discovery Unit, Cancer Research, UK Manchester Institute, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M204BX, UK.
| | - Marcelo A Comini
- Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
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Alves LR, Oliveira C, Goldenberg S. Eukaryotic translation elongation factor-1 alpha is associated with a specific subset of mRNAs in Trypanosoma cruzi. BMC Microbiol 2015; 15:104. [PMID: 25986694 PMCID: PMC4436862 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-015-0436-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Regulation of gene expression in trypanosomatids is mainly posttranscriptional. Tight regulation of mRNA stability and access to polysomes allows Trypanosoma cruzi to adapt to different environmental conditions during its life cycle. Posttranscriptional regulation requires association between mRNAs and specific proteins to form mRNP complexes. Proteins that lack a canonical RNA-binding domain, such as eukaryotic elongation factor-1α (EF-1α), may also associate with mRNPs. EF-1α is conserved in many organisms, and it plays roles in many cellular processes other than translation, including RNA transport, the cell cycle, and apoptosis. Results In a previous study, EF-1α was found associated with mRNP-forming mRNAs in polysome-free fractions both in epimastigotes growing under normal conditions and in nutritionally stressed parasites. This finding suggested the possibility that EF-1α has a non-canonical function. Thus, we investigated the dynamics of EF-1α in association with T. cruzi epimastigote mRNAs under normal and stressed nutritional conditions. EF-1α is expressed throughout the parasite life cycle, but it shows a slight decrease in protein levels in the metacyclic trypomastigote form. The protein is cytoplasmically localized with a granular pattern in all forms analyzed. Following puromycin treatment, EF-1α migrated with the heaviest gradient fractions in a sucrose polysome profile, indicating that its association with large protein complexes was independent of the translation machinery. We next characterized the EF-1α-associated mRNAs in unstressed and stressed epimastigotes. We observed that specific subsets of mRNAs were associated with EF-1α-mRNPs in unstressed or stressed epimastigotes. Some mRNAs were identified in both physiological conditions, whereas others were condition-specific. Gene ontology analysis identified enrichment of gene sets involved in single-organism metabolic processes, amino acid metabolic processes, ATP and metal ion binding, glycolysis, glutamine metabolic processes, and cobalt and iron ion binding. Conclusion These results indicate that in T. cruzi, as in other eukaryotes, EF-1α may play a non-canonical cellular role. We observed the enrichment of functionally related transcripts bound to EF-1α in normal growth conditions as well as in nutritionally stressed cell indicating a potential role of EF-1α mRNP in stress response. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-015-0436-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Camila Oliveira
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz - PR, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
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Acosta H, Cáceres A, González-Marcano E, Quiñones W, Avilán L, Dubourdieu M, Concepción JL. Hysteresis and positive cooperativity as possible regulatory mechanisms of Trypanosoma cruzi hexokinase activity. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2015; 198:82-91. [PMID: 25683029 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2015.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, the first six or seven steps of glycolysis are compartmentalized in glycosomes, which are authentic but specialized peroxisomes. Hexokinase (HK), the first enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, has been an important research object, particularly as a potential drug target. Here we present the results of a specific kinetics study of the native HK from T. cruzi epimastigotes; a sigmoidal behavior was apparent when the velocity of the reaction was determined as a function of the concentration of its substrates, glucose and ATP. This behavior was only observed at low enzyme concentration, while at high concentration classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics was displayed. The progress curve of the enzyme's activity displays a lag phase of which the length is dependent on the protein concentration, suggesting that HK is a hysteretic enzyme. The hysteretic behavior may be attributed to slow changes in the conformation of T. cruzi HK as a response to variations of glucose and ATP concentrations in the glycosomal matrix. Variations in HK's substrate concentrations within the glycosomes may be due to variations in the trypanosome's environment. The hysteretic and cooperative behavior of the enzyme may be a form of regulation by which the parasite can more readily adapt to these environmental changes, occurring within each of its hosts, or during the early phase of transition to a new host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Acosta
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela.
| | - Ana Cáceres
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | | | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Luisana Avilán
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Michel Dubourdieu
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Juan Luis Concepción
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
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Szöör B, Haanstra JR, Gualdrón-López M, Michels PAM. Evolution, dynamics and specialized functions of glycosomes in metabolism and development of trypanosomatids. Curr Opin Microbiol 2014; 22:79-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Translocation of solutes and proteins across the glycosomal membrane of trypanosomes; possibilities and limitations for targeting with trypanocidal drugs. Parasitology 2012; 140:1-20. [PMID: 22914253 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182012001278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Glycosomes are specialized peroxisomes found in all kinetoplastid organisms. The organelles are unique in harbouring most enzymes of the glycolytic pathway. Matrix proteins, synthesized in the cytosol, cofactors and metabolites have to be transported across the membrane. Recent research on Trypanosoma brucei has provided insight into how these translocations across the membrane occur, although many details remain to be elucidated. Proteins are imported by a cascade of reactions performed by specialized proteins, called peroxins, in which a cytosolic receptor with bound matrix protein inserts itself in the membrane to deliver its cargo into the organelle and is subsequently retrieved from the glycosome to perform further rounds of import. Bulky solutes, such as cofactors and acyl-CoAs, seem to be translocated by specific transporter molecules, whereas smaller solutes such as glycolytic intermediates probably cross the membrane through pore-forming channels. The presence of such channels is in apparent contradiction with previous results that suggested a low permeability of the glycosomal membrane. We propose 3 possible, not mutually exclusive, solutions for this paradox. Glycosomal glycolytic enzymes have been validated as drug targets against trypanosomatid-borne diseases. We discuss the possible implications of the new data for the design of drugs to be delivered into glycosomes.
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