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Martinez M, Bouillon A, Brûlé S, Raynal B, Haouz A, Alzari PM, Barale JC. Prodomain-driven enzyme dimerization: a pH-dependent autoinhibition mechanism that controls Plasmodium Sub1 activity before merozoite egress. mBio 2024; 15:e0019824. [PMID: 38386597 PMCID: PMC10936178 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00198-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria symptoms are associated with the asexual multiplication of Plasmodium falciparum within human red blood cells (RBCs) and fever peaks coincide with the egress of daughter merozoites following the rupture of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and the RBC membranes. Over the last two decades, it has emerged that the release of competent merozoites is tightly regulated by a complex cascade of events, including the unusual multi-step activation mechanism of the pivotal subtilisin-like protease 1 (Sub1) that takes place in three different cellular compartments and remains poorly understood. Following an initial auto-maturation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) between its pro- and catalytic domains, the Sub1 prodomain (PD) undergoes further cleavages by the parasite aspartic protease plasmepsin X (PmX) within acidic secretory organelles that ultimately lead to full Sub1 activation upon discharge into the PV. Here, we report the crystal structure of full-length P. falciparum Sub1 (PfS1FL) and demonstrate, through structural, biochemical, and biophysical studies, that the atypical Plasmodium-specific Sub1 PD directly promotes the assembly of inactive enzyme homodimers at acidic pH, whereas Sub1 is primarily monomeric at neutral pH. Our results shed new light into the finely tuned Sub1 spatiotemporal activation during secretion, explaining how PmX processing and full activation of Sub1 can occur in different cellular compartments, and uncover a robust mechanism of pH-dependent subtilisin autoinhibition that plays a key role in P. falciparum merozoites egress from infected host cells.IMPORTANCEMalaria fever spikes are due to the rupture of infected erythrocytes, allowing the egress of Plasmodium sp. merozoites and further parasite propagation. This fleeting tightly regulated event involves a cascade of enzymes, culminating with the complex activation of the subtilisin-like protease 1, Sub1. Differently than other subtilisins, Sub1 activation strictly depends upon the processing by a parasite aspartic protease within acidic merozoite secretory organelles. However, Sub1 biological activity is required in the pH neutral parasitophorous vacuole, to prime effectors involved in the rupture of the vacuole and erythrocytic membranes. Here, we show that the unusual, parasite-specific Sub1 prodomain is directly responsible for its acidic-dependent dimerization and autoinhibition, required for protein secretion, before its full activation at neutral pH in a monomeric form. pH-dependent Sub1 dimerization defines a novel, essential regulatory element involved in the finely tuned spatiotemporal activation of the egress of competent Plasmodium merozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Martinez
- Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anthony Bouillon
- Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Brûlé
- Plate-forme de Biophysique Moleculaire-C2RT, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Raynal
- Plate-forme de Biophysique Moleculaire-C2RT, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Ahmed Haouz
- Plate-forme de Cristallographie-C2RT, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Pedro M. Alzari
- Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Barale
- Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3528, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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2
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Thornton LB, Key M, Micchelli C, Stasic AJ, Kwain S, Floyd K, Moreno SN, Dominy BN, Whitehead DC, Dou Z. A cathepsin C-like protease mediates the post-translation modification of Toxoplasma gondii secretory proteins for optimal invasion and egress. mBio 2023; 14:e0017423. [PMID: 37326431 PMCID: PMC10470614 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00174-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial pathogens use proteases for their infections, such as digestion of proteins for nutrients and activation of their virulence factors. As an obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii must invade host cells to establish its intracellular propagation. To facilitate invasion, the parasites secrete invasion effectors from microneme and rhoptry, two unique organelles in apicomplexans. Previous work has shown that some micronemal invasion effectors experience a series of proteolytic cleavages within the parasite's secretion pathway for maturation, such as the aspartyl protease (TgASP3) and the cathepsin L-like protease (TgCPL), localized within the post-Golgi compartment and the endolysosomal system, respectively. Furthermore, it has been shown that the precise maturation of micronemal effectors is critical for Toxoplasma invasion and egress. Here, we show that an endosome-like compartment (ELC)-residing cathepsin C-like protease (TgCPC1) mediates the final trimming of some micronemal effectors, and its loss further results in defects in the steps of invasion, egress, and migration throughout the parasite's lytic cycle. Notably, the deletion of TgCPC1 completely blocks the activation of subtilisin-like protease 1 (TgSUB1) in the parasites, which globally impairs the surface-trimming of many key micronemal invasion and egress effectors. Additionally, we found that Toxoplasma is not efficiently inhibited by the chemical inhibitor targeting the malarial CPC ortholog, suggesting that these cathepsin C-like orthologs are structurally different within the apicomplexan phylum. Collectively, our findings identify a novel function of TgCPC1 in processing micronemal proteins within the Toxoplasma parasite's secretory pathway and expand the understanding of the roles of cathepsin C protease. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is a microbial pathogen that is well adapted for disseminating infections. It can infect virtually all warm-blooded animals. Approximately one-third of the human population carries toxoplasmosis. During infection, the parasites sequentially secrete protein effectors from the microneme, rhoptry, and dense granule, three organelles exclusively found in apicomplexan parasites, to help establish their lytic cycle. Proteolytic cleavage of these secretory proteins is required for the parasite's optimal function. Previous work has revealed that two proteases residing within the parasite's secretory pathway cleave micronemal and rhoptry proteins, which mediate parasite invasion and egress. Here, we demonstrate that a cathepsin C-like protease (TgCPC1) is involved in processing several invasion and egress effectors. The genetic deletion of TgCPC1 prevented the complete maturation of some effectors in the parasites. Strikingly, the deletion led to a full inactivation of one surface-anchored protease, which globally impaired the trimming of some key micronemal proteins before secretion. Therefore, this finding represents a novel post-translational mechanism for the processing of virulence factors within microbial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Brock Thornton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Melanie Key
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Chiara Micchelli
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Andrew J. Stasic
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Samuel Kwain
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Katherine Floyd
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Silvia N.J. Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Brian N. Dominy
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel C. Whitehead
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Zhicheng Dou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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3
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Mukherjee S, Nasamu AS, Rubiano KC, Goldberg DE. Activation of the Plasmodium Egress Effector Subtilisin-Like Protease 1 Is Mediated by Plasmepsin X Destruction of the Prodomain. mBio 2023; 14:e0067323. [PMID: 37036362 PMCID: PMC10128010 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00673-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Following each round of replication, daughter merozoites of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum escape (egress) from the infected host red blood cell (RBC) by rupturing the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) and the RBC membrane (RBCM). A proteolytic cascade orchestrated by a parasite serine protease, subtilisin-like protease 1 (SUB1), regulates the membrane breakdown. SUB1 activation involves primary autoprocessing of the 82-kDa zymogen to a 54-kDa (p54) intermediate that remains bound to its inhibitory propiece (p31) postcleavage. A second processing step converts p54 to the terminal 47-kDa (p47) form of SUB1. Although the aspartic protease plasmepsin X (PM X) has been implicated in the activation of SUB1, the mechanism remains unknown. Here, we show that upon knockdown of PM X, the inhibitory p31-p54 complex of SUB1 accumulates in the parasites. Using recombinant PM X and SUB1, we show that PM X can directly cleave both p31 and p54. We have mapped the cleavage sites on recombinant p31. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the conversion of p54 to p47 can be effected by cleavage at either SUB1 or PM X cleavage sites that are adjacent to one another. Importantly, once the p31 is removed, p54 is fully functional inside the parasites, suggesting that the conversion to p47 is dispensable for SUB1 activity. Relief of propiece inhibition via a heterologous protease is a novel mechanism for subtilisin activation. IMPORTANCE Malaria parasites replicate inside a parasitophorous vacuole within the host red blood cells. The exit of mature progeny from the infected host cells is essential for further dissemination. Parasite exit is a highly regulated, explosive process that involves membrane breakdown. To do this, the parasite utilizes a serine protease called SUB1 that proteolytically activates various effector proteins. SUB1 activity is dependent on an upstream protease called PM X, although the mechanism was unknown. Here, we describe the molecular basis for PM X-mediated SUB1 activation. PM X proteolytically degrades the inhibitory segment of SUB1, thereby activating it. The involvement of a heterologous protease is a novel mechanism for subtilisin activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Mukherjee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Armiyaw S. Nasamu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kelly C. Rubiano
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel E. Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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4
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Thornton LB, Key M, Micchelli C, Stasic AJ, Kwain S, Floyd K, Moreno SNJ, Dominy BN, Whitehead DC, Dou Z. A cathepsin C-like protease post-translationally modifies Toxoplasma gondii secretory proteins for optimal invasion and egress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.21.525043. [PMID: 36712013 PMCID: PMC9882377 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.21.525043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Microbial pathogens use proteases for their infections, such as digestion of proteins for nutrients and activation of their virulence factors. As an obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii must invade host cells to establish its intracellular propagation. To facilitate invasion, the parasites secrete invasion effectors from microneme and rhoptry, two unique organelles in apicomplexans. Previous work has shown that some micronemal invasion effectors experience a series of proteolytic cleavages within the parasite's secretion pathway for maturation, such as the aspartyl protease (TgASP3) and the cathepsin L-like protease (TgCPL), localized within the post-Golgi compartment (1) and the endolysosomal system (2), respectively. Furthermore, it has been shown that the precise maturation of micronemal effectors is critical for Toxoplasma invasion and egress (1). Here, we show that an endosome-like compartment (ELC)-residing cathepsin C-like protease (TgCPC1) mediates the final trimming of some micronemal effectors, and its loss further results in defects in the steps of invasion, egress, and migration throughout the parasite's lytic cycle. Notably, the deletion of TgCPC1 completely blocks the activation of subtilisin-like protease 1 (TgSUB1) in the parasites, which globally impairs the surface-trimming of many key micronemal invasion and egress effectors. Additionally, we found that TgCPC1 was not efficiently inhibited by the chemical inhibitor targeting its malarial ortholog, suggesting that these cathepsin C-like orthologs are structurally different within the apicomplexan phylum. Taken together, our findings identify a novel function of TgCPC1 in the processing of micronemal proteins within the secretory pathway of Toxoplasma parasites and expand the understanding of the roles of cathepsin C protease. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is a microbial pathogen that is well adapted for disseminating infections. It can infect virtually all warm-blooded animals. Approximately one-third of the human population carries toxoplasmosis. During infection, the parasites sequentially secrete protein effectors from the microneme, rhoptry, and dense granule, three organelles exclusively found in apicomplexan parasites, to help establish their lytic cycle. Proteolytic cleavage of these secretory proteins is required for the parasite's optimal function. Previous work has revealed that two proteases residing within the parasite's secretory pathway cleave micronemal and rhoptry proteins, which mediate parasite invasion and egress. Here, we demonstrate that a cathepsin C-like protease (TgCPC1) is involved in processing several invasion and egress effectors. The genetic deletion of TgCPC1 prevented the complete maturation of some effectors in the parasites. Strikingly, the deletion led to a full inactivation of one surface-anchored protease, which globally impaired the trimming of some key micronemal proteins before secretion. Therefore, this finding represents a novel post-translational mechanism for the processing of virulence factors within microbial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Brock Thornton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Melanie Key
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Chiara Micchelli
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Stasic
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Samuel Kwain
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Katherine Floyd
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Silvia N. J. Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Brian N. Dominy
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Daniel C. Whitehead
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Zhicheng Dou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
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Mukherjee S, Nasamu AS, Rubiano K, Goldberg DE. Activation of the Plasmodium egress effector subtilisin-like protease 1 is achieved by plasmepsin X destruction of the propiece. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.13.524002. [PMID: 36712005 PMCID: PMC9882241 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.13.524002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Following each round of replication, daughter merozoites of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum escape (egress) from the infected host red blood cell (RBC) by rupturing the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) and the RBC membrane (RBCM). A proteolytic cascade orchestrated by the parasite’s serine protease, subtilisin-like protease 1 (SUB1) regulates the membrane breakdown. SUB1 activation involves primary auto-processing of the 82 kDa zymogen to a 54 kDa (p54) intermediate that remains bound to its inhibitory propiece (p31) post cleavage. A second processing step converts p54 to the terminal 47 kDa (p47) form of SUB1. Although the aspartic protease plasmepsin X (PM X) has been implicated in the activation of SUB1, the mechanism remains unknown. Here, we show that upon knockdown of PM X the inhibitory p31/p54 complex of SUB1 accumulates in the parasites. Using recombinant PM X and SUB1, we show that PM X can directly cleave both p31 and p54. We have mapped the cleavage sites on recombinant p31. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the conversion of p54 to p47 can be effected by cleavage at either a SUB1 or PM X cleavage site that are adjacent to one another. Importantly once the p31 is removed, p54 is fully functional inside the parasites suggesting that the conversion to p47 is dispensable for SUB1 activity. Relief of propiece inhibition via a heterologous protease is a novel mechanism for subtilisin activation. Significance Statement Malaria parasites replicate inside a parasitophorous vacuole within the host red blood cells. Exit of mature progeny from the infected host cells is essential for further dissemination. Parasite exit is a highly regulated, explosive process that involves membrane breakdown. To do this, the parasite utilizes a serine protease, called the subtilisin-like protease 1 or SUB1 that proteolytically activates various effector proteins. SUB1 activity is dependent on an upstream protease, called plasmepsin X (PM X), although the mechanism was unknown. Here we describe the molecular basis for PM X mediated SUB1 activation. PM X proteolytically degrades the inhibitory segment of SUB1, thereby activating it. Involvement of a heterologous protease is a novel mechanism for subtilisin activation.
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6
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Wang R, Li Q, Liu F, Dang X, Sun Q, Sheng X, Hu M, Bao J, Chen J, Pan G, Zhou Z. Maturation of subtilisin-like protease NbSLP1 from microsporidia Nosema bombycis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:897509. [PMID: 36046739 PMCID: PMC9421246 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.897509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites and possess a unique way of invading hosts, namely germination. Microsporidia are able to infect almost all animal cells by germination. During the process, the polar tube extrudes from the spores within, thus injecting infectious sporoplasm into the host cells. Previous studies indicated that subtilisin-like protease 1 (NbSLP1) of microsporidia Nosema bombycis were located at the polar cap of germinated spores where the polar tube extrusion. We hypothesized that NbSLP1 is an essential player in the germination process. Normally, SLP need to be activated by autoproteolysis under conditions. In this study, we found that the signal peptide of NbSLP1 affected the activation of protease, two self-cleavage sites were involved in NbSLP1 maturation between Ala104Asp105 and Ala124Asp125 respectively. Mutants at catalytic triad of NbSLP1 confirmed the decreasing of autoproteolysis. This study demonstrates that intramolecular proteolysis is required for NbSLP1 maturation. The protease undergoes a series of sequential N-terminal cleavage events to generate the mature enzyme. Like other subtilisin-like enzymes, catalytic triad of NbSLP1 are significant for the self-activation of NbSLP1. In conclusion, clarifying the maturation of NbSLP1 will be valuable for understanding the polar tube ejection mechanism of germination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fangyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoqun Dang
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Quan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaotian Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mingyu Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jialing Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
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7
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Gomes PS, Carneiro MPD, Machado PDA, de Andrade-Neto VV, da Fonseca-Martins AM, Goundry A, Pereira da Silva JVM, Gomes DCO, Lima APCDA, Ennes-Vidal V, Sodero ACR, De-Simone SG, de Matos Guedes HL. Subtilisin of Leishmania amazonensis as Potential Druggable Target: Subcellular Localization, In Vitro Leishmanicidal Activity and Molecular Docking of PF-429242, a Subtilisin Inhibitor. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:2089-2106. [PMID: 35678670 PMCID: PMC9164065 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44050141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Subtilisin proteases, found in all organisms, are enzymes important in the post-translational steps of protein processing. In Leishmania major and L. donovani, this enzyme has been described as essential to their survival; however, few compounds that target subtilisin have been investigated for their potential as an antileishmanial drug. In this study, we first show, by electron microscopy and flow cytometry, that subtilisin has broad localization throughout the cytoplasm and membrane of the parasite in the promastigote form with foci in the flagellar pocket. Through in silico analysis, the similarity between subtilisin of different Leishmania species and that of humans were determined, and based on molecular docking, we evaluated the interaction capacity of a serine protease inhibitor against both life cycle forms of Leishmania. The selected inhibitor, known as PF-429242, has already been used against the dengue virus, arenaviruses, and the hepatitis C virus. Moreover, it proved to have antilipogenic activity in a mouse model and caused hypolipidemia in human cells in vitro. Here, PF-429242 significantly inhibited the growth of L. amazonensis promastigotes of four different strains (IC50 values = 3.07 ± 0.20; 0.83 ± 0.12; 2.02 ± 0.27 and 5.83 ± 1.2 µM against LTB0016, PH8, Josefa and LV78 strains) whilst having low toxicity in the host macrophages (CC50 = 170.30 µM). We detected by flow cytometry that there is a greater expression of subtilisin in the amastigote form; however, PF-429242 had a low effect against this intracellular form with an IC50 of >100 µM for intracellular amastigotes, as well as against axenic amastigotes (94.12 ± 2.8 µM for the LV78 strain). In conclusion, even though PF-429242 does not affect the intracellular forms, this drug will serve as a tool to explore pharmacological and potentially leishmanicidal targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pollyanna Stephanie Gomes
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Monique Pacheco Duarte Carneiro
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular de Proteases, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil; (A.G.); (A.P.C.d.A.L.)
| | - Patrícia de Almeida Machado
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Valter Viana de Andrade-Neto
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil;
| | - Alessandra Marcia da Fonseca-Martins
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Amy Goundry
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular de Proteases, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil; (A.G.); (A.P.C.d.A.L.)
| | | | | | - Ana Paula Cabral de Araujo Lima
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular de Proteases, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil; (A.G.); (A.P.C.d.A.L.)
| | - Vítor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil;
| | - Ana Carolina Rennó Sodero
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil; (J.V.M.P.d.S.); (A.C.R.S.)
| | - Salvatore Giovanni De-Simone
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil
| | - Herbert L. de Matos Guedes
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
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8
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A malaria parasite subtilisin propeptide-like protein is a potent inhibitor of the egress protease SUB1. Biochem J 2020; 477:525-540. [PMID: 31942933 PMCID: PMC6993865 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20190918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Subtilisin-like serine peptidases (subtilases) play important roles in the life cycle of many organisms, including the protozoan parasites that are the causative agent of malaria, Plasmodium spp. As with other peptidases, subtilase proteolytic activity has to be tightly regulated in order to prevent potentially deleterious uncontrolled protein degradation. Maturation of most subtilases requires the presence of an N-terminal propeptide that facilitates folding of the catalytic domain. Following its proteolytic cleavage, the propeptide acts as a transient, tightly bound inhibitor until its eventual complete removal to generate active protease. Here we report the identification of a stand-alone malaria parasite propeptide-like protein, called SUB1-ProM, encoded by a conserved gene that lies in a highly syntenic locus adjacent to three of the four subtilisin-like genes in the Plasmodium genome. Template-based modelling and ab initio structure prediction showed that the SUB1-ProM core structure is most similar to the X-ray crystal structure of the propeptide of SUB1, an essential parasite subtilase that is discharged into the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) to trigger parasite release (egress) from infected host cells. Recombinant Plasmodium falciparum SUB1-ProM was found to be a fast-binding, potent inhibitor of P. falciparum SUB1, but not of the only other essential blood-stage parasite subtilase, SUB2, or of other proteases examined. Mass-spectrometry and immunofluorescence showed that SUB1-ProM is expressed in the PV of blood stage P. falciparum, where it may act as an endogenous inhibitor to regulate SUB1 activity in the parasite.
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9
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Albuquerque-Wendt A, Jacot D, Dos Santos Pacheco N, Seegers C, Zarnovican P, Buettner FFR, Bakker H, Soldati-Favre D, Routier FH. C-Mannosylation of Toxoplasma gondii proteins promotes attachment to host cells and parasite virulence. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:1066-1076. [PMID: 31862733 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
C-Mannosylation is a common modification of thrombospondin type 1 repeats present in metazoans and recently identified also in apicomplexan parasites. This glycosylation is mediated by enzymes of the DPY19 family that transfer α-mannoses to tryptophan residues in the sequence WX 2WX 2C, which is part of the structurally essential tryptophan ladder. Here, deletion of the dpy19 gene in the parasite Toxoplasma gondii abolished C-mannosyltransferase activity and reduced levels of the micronemal protein MIC2. The loss of C-mannosyltransferase activity was associated with weakened parasite adhesion to host cells and with reduced parasite motility, host cell invasion, and parasite egress. Interestingly, the C-mannosyltransferase-deficient Δdpy19 parasites were strongly attenuated in virulence and induced protective immunity in mice. This parasite attenuation could not simply be explained by the decreased MIC2 level and strongly suggests that absence of C-mannosyltransferase activity leads to an insufficient level of additional proteins. In summary, our results indicate that T. gondii C-mannosyltransferase DPY19 is not essential for parasite survival, but is important for adhesion, motility, and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Damien Jacot
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Carla Seegers
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry OE4340, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Patricia Zarnovican
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry OE4340, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Falk F R Buettner
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry OE4340, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hans Bakker
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry OE4340, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Françoise H Routier
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry OE4340, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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10
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Albuquerque-Wendt A, Jacot D, Dos Santos Pacheco N, Seegers C, Zarnovican P, Buettner FF, Bakker H, Soldati-Favre D, Routier FH. C-Mannosylation of Toxoplasma gondii proteins promotes attachment to host cells and parasite virulence. J Biol Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(17)49916-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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11
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Thornton LB, Teehan P, Floyd K, Cochrane C, Bergmann A, Riegel B, Stasic AJ, Di Cristina M, Moreno SNJ, Roepe PD, Dou Z. An ortholog of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the endolysosomal system in Toxoplasma gondii to facilitate host invasion. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007775. [PMID: 31170269 PMCID: PMC6553793 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with the ability to use foodborne, zoonotic, and congenital routes of transmission that causes severe disease in immunocompromised patients. The parasites harbor a lysosome-like organelle, termed the "Vacuolar Compartment/Plant-Like Vacuole" (VAC/PLV), which plays an important role in maintaining the lytic cycle and virulence of T. gondii. The VAC supplies proteolytic enzymes that contribute to the maturation of invasion effectors and that digest autophagosomes and endocytosed host proteins. Previous work identified a T. gondii ortholog of the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) that localized to the VAC. Here, we show that TgCRT is a membrane transporter that is functionally similar to PfCRT. We also genetically ablate TgCRT and reveal that the TgCRT protein plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the parasite’s endolysosomal system by controlling morphology of the VAC. When TgCRT is absent, the VAC dramatically increases in volume by ~15-fold and overlaps with adjacent endosome-like compartments. Presumably to reduce aberrant swelling, transcription and translation of endolysosomal proteases are decreased in ΔTgCRT parasites. Expression of subtilisin protease 1 is significantly reduced, which impedes trimming of microneme proteins, and significantly decreases parasite invasion. Chemical or genetic inhibition of proteolysis within the VAC reverses these effects, reducing VAC size and partially restoring integrity of the endolysosomal system, microneme protein trimming, and invasion. Taken together, these findings reveal for the first time a physiological role of TgCRT in substrate transport that impacts VAC volume and the integrity of the endolysosomal system in T. gondii. Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa and that infects virtually all warm-blooded organisms. Approximately one-third of the human population is infected with Toxoplasma. Toxoplasma invades host cells using processed invasion effectors. A lysosome-like organelle (VAC) is involved in refining these invasion effectors to reach their final forms. A T. gondii ortholog of the malarial chloroquine resistance transporter protein (TgCRT) was found to be localized to the VAC membrane. Although the mutated version of the malarial chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) has been shown to confer resistance to chloroquine treatment, its physiologic function remains poorly understood. Comparison between the related PfCRT and TgCRT facilitates definition of the physiologic role of CRT proteins. Here, we report that TgCRT plays a key role in affecting the integrity and proteolytic activity of the VAC and adjacent organelles, the secretion of invasion effectors, and parasite invasion and virulence. To relieve osmotic stress caused by VAC swelling when TgCRT is deleted, parasites repress proteolysis within this organelle to decrease solute accumulation, which then has secondary effects on parasite invasion. Our findings highlight a common function for PfCRT and TgCRT in mediating small solute transport to affect apicomplexan parasite vacuolar size and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Brock Thornton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Paige Teehan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Katherine Floyd
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christian Cochrane
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Amy Bergmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Bryce Riegel
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, NW, Washington DC, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, NW, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Stasic
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Manlio Di Cristina
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Silvia N. J. Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Paul D. Roepe
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, NW, Washington DC, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, NW, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Zhicheng Dou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Dogga SK, Mukherjee B, Jacot D, Kockmann T, Molino L, Hammoudi PM, Hartkoorn RC, Hehl AB, Soldati-Favre D. A druggable secretory protein maturase of Toxoplasma essential for invasion and egress. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28898199 PMCID: PMC5595437 DOI: 10.7554/elife.27480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Micronemes and rhoptries are specialized secretory organelles that deploy their contents at the apical tip of apicomplexan parasites in a regulated manner. The secretory proteins participate in motility, invasion, and egress and are subjected to proteolytic maturation prior to organellar storage and discharge. Here we establish that Toxoplasma gondii aspartyl protease 3 (ASP3) resides in the endosomal-like compartment and is crucially associated to rhoptry discharge during invasion and to host cell plasma membrane lysis during egress. A comparison of the N-terminome, by terminal amine isotopic labelling of substrates between wild type and ASP3 depleted parasites identified microneme and rhoptry proteins as repertoire of ASP3 substrates. The role of ASP3 as a maturase for previously described and newly identified secretory proteins is confirmed in vivo and in vitro. An antimalarial compound based on a hydroxyethylamine scaffold interrupts the lytic cycle of T. gondii at submicromolar concentration by targeting ASP3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Dogga
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Budhaditya Mukherjee
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Damien Jacot
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kockmann
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich/University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Luca Molino
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ruben C Hartkoorn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Chemical Biology of Antibiotics, Center for Infection and Immunity, Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Adrian B Hehl
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Liu Q, Li FC, Zhou CX, Zhu XQ. Research advances in interactions related to Toxoplasma gondii microneme proteins. Exp Parasitol 2017; 176:89-98. [PMID: 28286325 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii microneme proteins (TgMICs), secreted by micronemes upon contact with host cells, are reported to play important roles in multiple stages of the T. gondii life cycle, including parasite motility, invasion, intracellular survival, and egress from host cells. Meanwhile, during these processes, TgMICs participate in many protein-protein and protein-carbohydrate interactions, such as undergoing proteolytic maturation, binding to aldolase, engaging the host cell receptors and forming the moving junction (MJ), relying on different types of ectodomains, transmembrane (TM) domains and cytoplasmic domains (CDs). In this review, we summarize the research advances in protein-protein and protein-carbohydrate interactions related to TgMICs, and their intimate associations with corresponding biological processes during T. gondii infection, which will contribute to an improved understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of T. gondii infection, and provide a basis for developing effective control strategies against T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, PR China.
| | - Fa-Cai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China.
| | - Chun-Xue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, PR China.
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14
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Microbial peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases): virulence factors and potential alternative drug targets. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2015; 78:544-71. [PMID: 25184565 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00015-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Initially discovered in the context of immunomodulation, peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) were soon identified as enzymes catalyzing the rate-limiting protein folding step at peptidyl bonds preceding proline residues. Intense searches revealed that PPIases are a superfamily of proteins consisting of three structurally distinguishable families with representatives in every described species of prokaryote and eukaryote and, recently, even in some giant viruses. Despite the clear-cut enzymatic activity and ubiquitous distribution of PPIases, reports on solely PPIase-dependent biological roles remain scarce. Nevertheless, they have been found to be involved in a plethora of biological processes, such as gene expression, signal transduction, protein secretion, development, and tissue regeneration, underscoring their general importance. Hence, it is not surprising that PPIases have also been identified as virulence-associated proteins. The extent of contribution to virulence is highly variable and dependent on the pleiotropic roles of a single PPIase in the respective pathogen. The main objective of this review is to discuss this variety in virulence-related bacterial and protozoan PPIases as well as the involvement of host PPIases in infectious processes. Moreover, a special focus is given to Legionella pneumophila macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) and Mip-like PPIases of other pathogens, as the best-characterized virulence-related representatives of this family. Finally, the potential of PPIases as alternative drug targets and first tangible results are highlighted.
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15
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Zhang Z, Huang J, Li M, Sui Y, Wang S, Liu L, Xu L, Yan R, Song X, Li X. Identification and molecular characterization of microneme 5 of Eimeria acervulina. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115411. [PMID: 25531898 PMCID: PMC4274027 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the microneme 5 gene of Eimeria acervulina (E. acervulina) (EaMIC5) was cloned and characterized. Specific primers for the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) were designed based on the expressed sequence tag (EST, GenBank Accession No. EH386430.1) to amplify the 3'- and 5'-ends of EaMIC5. The full length cDNA of this gene was obtained by overlapping the sequences of 3'- and 5'-extremities and amplification by reverse transcription PCR. Sequence analysis revealed that the open reading frame (ORF) of EaMIC5 was 336 bp and encoded a protein of 111 amino acids with 12.18 kDa. The ORF was inserted into pET-32a (+) to produce recombinant EaMIC5. Using western blotting assay, the recombinant protein was successfully recognized by the sera of chicks experimentally infected with E. acervulina, while the native protein in the somatic extract of sporozoites was as well detected by sera from rats immunized with the recombinant protein of EaMIC5. Immunofluorescence analysis using antibody against recombinant protein EaMIC5 indicated that this protein was expressed in the sporozoites and merozoites stages of E. acervulina. Animal challenge experiments demonstrated that the recombinant protein of EaMIC5 could significantly increase the average body weight gains, decrease the mean lesion scores and the oocyst outputs of the immunized chickens, and presented anti-coccidial index (ACI) more than 160. All the above results suggested that the EaMIC5 was a novel E. acervulina antigen and could be an effective candidate for the development of a new vaccine against this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- ZhenChao Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - JingWei Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - MengHui Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - YuXia Sui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Shuai Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - LianRui Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - LiXin Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - RuoFeng Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - XiaoKai Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - XiangRui Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
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16
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Lee WK, Ahn HJ, Baek JH, Lee CH, Yu YG, Nam HW. Comprehensive Proteome Analysis of the Excretory/Secretory Proteins of Toxoplasma gondii. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2014. [DOI: 10.5012/bkcs.2014.35.10.3071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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17
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Giganti D, Bouillon A, Tawk L, Robert F, Martinez M, Crublet E, Weber P, Girard-Blanc C, Petres S, Haouz A, Hernandez JF, Mercereau-Puijalon O, Alzari PM, Barale JC. A novel Plasmodium-specific prodomain fold regulates the malaria drug target SUB1 subtilase. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4833. [PMID: 25204226 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium subtilase SUB1 plays a pivotal role during the egress of malaria parasites from host hepatocytes and erythrocytes. Here we report the crystal structure of full-length SUB1 from the human-infecting parasite Plasmodium vivax, revealing a bacterial-like catalytic domain in complex with a Plasmodium-specific prodomain. The latter displays a novel architecture with an amino-terminal insertion that functions as a 'belt', embracing the catalytic domain to further stabilize the quaternary structure of the pre-protease, and undergoes calcium-dependent autoprocessing during subsequent activation. Although dispensable for recombinant enzymatic activity, the SUB1 'belt' could not be deleted in Plasmodium berghei, suggesting an essential role of this domain for parasite development in vivo. The SUB1 structure not only provides a valuable platform to develop new anti-malarial candidates against this promising drug target, but also defines the Plasmodium-specific 'belt' domain as a key calcium-dependent regulator of SUB1 during parasite egress from host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Giganti
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Département de Biologie Structurale et Chimie, F-75015 Paris, France [2] CNRS UMR 3528, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Anthony Bouillon
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Unité d'Immunologie Moléculaires des Parasites, Département de Parasitologie et de Mycologie, F-75015 Paris, France [2] CNRS URA 2581, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Lina Tawk
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Unité d'Immunologie Moléculaires des Parasites, Département de Parasitologie et de Mycologie, F-75015 Paris, France [2] CNRS URA 2581, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Fabienne Robert
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Unité d'Immunologie Moléculaires des Parasites, Département de Parasitologie et de Mycologie, F-75015 Paris, France [2] CNRS URA 2581, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Mariano Martinez
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Département de Biologie Structurale et Chimie, F-75015 Paris, France [2] CNRS UMR 3528, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Elodie Crublet
- Institut Pasteur, Proteopole &CNRS UMR 3528, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Patrick Weber
- Institut Pasteur, Proteopole &CNRS UMR 3528, F-75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Stéphane Petres
- Institut Pasteur, Proteopole &CNRS UMR 3528, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Ahmed Haouz
- Institut Pasteur, Proteopole &CNRS UMR 3528, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Hernandez
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR5247, CNRS, Universités Montpellier 1 &2, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 34093 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Odile Mercereau-Puijalon
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Unité d'Immunologie Moléculaires des Parasites, Département de Parasitologie et de Mycologie, F-75015 Paris, France [2] CNRS URA 2581, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Pedro M Alzari
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Département de Biologie Structurale et Chimie, F-75015 Paris, France [2] CNRS UMR 3528, F-75015 Paris, France [3] Institut Pasteur, Proteopole &CNRS UMR 3528, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Barale
- 1] Institut Pasteur, Unité d'Immunologie Moléculaires des Parasites, Département de Parasitologie et de Mycologie, F-75015 Paris, France [2] CNRS URA 2581, F-75015 Paris, France
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18
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The malaria parasite egress protease SUB1 is a calcium-dependent redox switch subtilisin. Nat Commun 2014; 5:3726. [PMID: 24785947 PMCID: PMC4024747 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite that replicates within an intraerythrocytic parasitophorous vacuole. Release (egress) of malaria merozoites from the host erythrocyte is a highly regulated and calcium-dependent event that is critical for disease progression. Minutes before egress, an essential parasite serine protease called SUB1 is discharged into the parasitophorous vacuole, where it proteolytically processes a subset of parasite proteins that play indispensable roles in egress and invasion. Here we report the first crystallographic structure of Plasmodium falciparum SUB1 at 2.25 Å, in complex with its cognate prodomain. The structure highlights the basis of the calcium dependence of SUB1, as well as its unusual requirement for interactions with substrate residues on both prime and non-prime sides of the scissile bond. Importantly, the structure also reveals the presence of a solvent-exposed redox-sensitive disulphide bridge, unique among the subtilisin family, that likely acts as a regulator of protease activity in the parasite.
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19
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Macêdo AG, Cunha JP, Cardoso THS, Silva MV, Santiago FM, Silva JS, Pirovani CP, Silva DAO, Mineo JR, Mineo TWP. SAG2A protein from Toxoplasma gondii interacts with both innate and adaptive immune compartments of infected hosts. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:163. [PMID: 23735002 PMCID: PMC3706231 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that causes relevant clinical disease in humans and animals. Several studies have been performed in order to understand the interactions between proteins of the parasite and host cells. SAG2A is a 22 kDa protein that is mainly found in the surface of tachyzoites. In the present work, our aim was to correlate the predicted three-dimensional structure of this protein with the immune system of infected hosts. Methods To accomplish our goals, we performed in silico analysis of the amino acid sequence of SAG2A, correlating the predictions with in vitro stimulation of antigen presenting cells and serological assays. Results Structure modeling predicts that SAG2A protein possesses an unfolded C-terminal end, which varies its conformation within distinct strain types of T. gondii. This structure within the protein shelters a known B-cell immunodominant epitope, which presents low identity with its closest phyllogenetically related protein, an orthologue predicted in Neospora caninum. In agreement with the in silico observations, sera of known T. gondii infected mice and goats recognized recombinant SAG2A, whereas no serological cross-reactivity was observed with samples from N. caninum animals. Additionally, the C-terminal end of the protein was able to down-modulate pro-inflammatory responses of activated macrophages and dendritic cells. Conclusions Altogether, we demonstrate herein that recombinant SAG2A protein from T. gondii is immunologically relevant in the host-parasite interface and may be targeted in therapeutic and diagnostic procedures designed against the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlindo G Macêdo
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia "Dr, Mário Endsfeldz Camargo", Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av, Pará 1720-Bloco 4C, Campus Umuarama, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais 38.400-902, Brazil
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