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Baroni L, Abreu-Filho PG, Pereira LM, Nagl M, Yatsuda AP. Recombinant actin-depolymerizing factor of the apicomplexan Neospora caninum (NcADF) is susceptible to oxidation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:952720. [PMID: 36601306 PMCID: PMC9806845 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.952720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neospora caninum is a member of Apicomplexa Phylum and the causative agent of neosporosis, a disease responsible for abortions in cattle. Apicomplexan parasites have a limited set of actin-binding proteins conducting the regulation of the dynamics of nonconventional actin. The parasite actin-based motility is implicated in the parasite invasion process in the host cell. Once no commercial strategy for the neosporosis control is available, the interference in the parasite actin function may result in novel drug targets. Actin-depolymerization factor (ADF) is a member of the ADF/cofilin family, primarily known for its function in actin severing and depolymerization. ADF/cofilins are versatile proteins modulated by different mechanisms, including reduction and oxidation. In apicomplexan parasites, the mechanisms involved in the modulation of ADF function are barely explored and the effects of oxidation in the protein are unknown so far. In this study, we used the oxidants N-chlorotaurine (NCT) and H2O2 to investigate the susceptibility of the recombinant N. caninum ADF (NcADF) to oxidation. After exposing the protein to either NCT or H2O2, the dimerization status and cysteine residue oxidation were determined. Also, the interference of NcADF oxidation in the interaction with actin was assessed. The treatment of the recombinant protein with oxidants reversibly induced the production of dimers, indicating that disulfide bonds between NcADF cysteine residues were formed. In addition, the exposure of NcADF to NCT resulted in more efficient oxidation of the cysteine residues compared to H2O2. Finally, the oxidation of NcADF by NCT reduced the ability of actin-binding and altered the function of NcADF in actin polymerization. Altogether, our results clearly show that recombinant NcADF is sensitive to redox conditions, indicating that the function of this protein in cellular processes involving actin dynamics may be modulated by oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Baroni
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Péricles Gama Abreu-Filho
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiz Miguel Pereira
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Markus Nagl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ana Patricia Yatsuda
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil,*Correspondence: Ana Patricia Yatsuda,
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2
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Das S, Stortz JF, Meissner M, Periz J. The multiple functions of actin in apicomplexan parasites. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13345. [PMID: 33885206 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The cytoskeletal protein actin is highly abundant and conserved in eukaryotic cells. It occurs in two different states- the globular (G-actin) form, which can polymerise into the filamentous (F-actin) form, fulfilling various critical functions including cytokinesis, cargo trafficking and cellular motility. In higher eukaryotes, there are several actin isoforms with nearly identical amino acid sequences. Despite the high level of amino acid identity, they display regulated expression patterns and unique non-redundant roles. The number of actin isoforms together with conserved sequences may reflect the selective pressure exerted by scores of actin binding proteins (ABPs) in higher eukaryotes. In contrast, in many protozoans such as apicomplexan parasites which possess only a few ABPs, the regulatory control of actin and its multiple functions are still obscure. Here, we provide a summary of the regulation and biological functions of actin in higher eukaryotes and compare it with the current knowledge in apicomplexans. We discuss future experiments that will help us understand the multiple, critical roles of this fascinating system in apicomplexans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujaan Das
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Felix Stortz
- Department Metabolism of Infection, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Markus Meissner
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Javier Periz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Experimental Parasitology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
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3
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Chen ZL, Meng JM, Cao Y, Yin JL, Fang RQ, Fan SB, Liu C, Zeng WF, Ding YH, Tan D, Wu L, Zhou WJ, Chi H, Sun RX, Dong MQ, He SM. A high-speed search engine pLink 2 with systematic evaluation for proteome-scale identification of cross-linked peptides. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3404. [PMID: 31363125 PMCID: PMC6667459 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11337-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe pLink 2, a search engine with higher speed and reliability for proteome-scale identification of cross-linked peptides. With a two-stage open search strategy facilitated by fragment indexing, pLink 2 is ~40 times faster than pLink 1 and 3~10 times faster than Kojak. Furthermore, using simulated datasets, synthetic datasets, 15N metabolically labeled datasets, and entrapment databases, four analysis methods were designed to evaluate the credibility of ten state-of-the-art search engines. This systematic evaluation shows that pLink 2 outperforms these methods in precision and sensitivity, especially at proteome scales. Lastly, re-analysis of four published proteome-scale cross-linking datasets with pLink 2 required only a fraction of the time used by pLink 1, with up to 27% more cross-linked residue pairs identified. pLink 2 is therefore an efficient and reliable tool for cross-linking mass spectrometry analysis, and the systematic evaluation methods described here will be useful for future software development. The identification of cross-linked peptides at a proteome scale for interactome analyses represents a complex challenge. Here the authors report an efficient and reliable search engine pLink 2 for proteome-scale cross-linking mass spectrometry analyses, and demonstrate how to systematically evaluate the credibility of search engines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Lin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jia-Ming Meng
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yong Cao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Ji-Li Yin
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Run-Qian Fang
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Sheng-Bo Fan
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wen-Feng Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yue-He Ding
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Dan Tan
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Long Wu
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wen-Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hao Chi
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rui-Xiang Sun
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Meng-Qiu Dong
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Si-Min He
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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4
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Biswal R A, Aishwarya A, Sharma A, Pazhamalai V. 2D QSAR, Admet prediction and multiple receptor molecular docking strategy in bioactive compounds of Gracilaria corticata against Plasmodium falciparum (contractile Protein). INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2019.100258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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5
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Ziemianowicz DS, Ng D, Schryvers AB, Schriemer DC. Photo-Cross-Linking Mass Spectrometry and Integrative Modeling Enables Rapid Screening of Antigen Interactions Involving Bacterial Transferrin Receptors. J Proteome Res 2018; 18:934-946. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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6
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Baroni L, Pereira LM, Maciver SK, Yatsuda AP. Functional characterisation of the actin-depolymerising factor from the apicomplexan Neospora caninum (NcADF). Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 224:26-36. [PMID: 30040977 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite that causes infectious abortion in cows. As an obligate intracellular parasite, N. caninum requires a host cell environment to survive and replicate. The locomotion and invasion mechanisms of apicomplexan parasites are centred on the actin-myosin system to propel the parasite forwards and into the host cell. The functions of actin, an intrinsically dynamic protein, are modulated by actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Actin-depolymerising factor (ADF) is a ubiquitous ABP responsible for accelerating actin turnover in eukaryotic cells and is one of the few known conserved ABPs from apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan ADFs have nonconventional properties compared with ADF/cofilins from higher eukaryotes. In the present paper, we characterised the ADF from N. caninum (NcADF) using computational and in vitro biochemical approaches to investigate its function in rabbit muscle actin dynamics. Our predicted computational tertiary structure of NcADF demonstrated a conserved structure and phylogeny with respect to other ADF/cofilins, although certain differences in filamentous actin (F-actin) binding sites were present. The activity of recombinant NcADF on heterologous actin was regulated in part by pH and the presence of inorganic phosphate. In addition, our data suggest a comparatively weak disassembly of F-actin by NcADF. Taken together, the data presented herein represent a contribution to the field towards the understanding of the role of ADF in N. caninum and a comparative analysis of ABPs in the phylum Apicomplexa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Baroni
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-930, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiz M Pereira
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-930, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Ana P Yatsuda
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-930, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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7
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Abstract
An enormous amount of research has been performed to characterize actin dynamics. Structural biology investigations have determined the localization of main chains and their changes coupled with G (Globular)-F (Filamentous) transformation of actin, whereas local thermal fluctuations that may be caused by free rotations of the tips of side chains are not yet fully investigated. This paper argues if the entropy change of actin accompanied by the G-F transformation is simply attributable to the changes in hydration. It took almost 10 years to understand that the actin filament is semi-flexible. This flexibility was visually confirmed as the development of optical microscope techniques, and the direct observation of actin severing events in the presence of actin binding proteins became possible. Finally, I expect the deep understanding of actin dynamics will lead to the elucidation of self-assembly mechanisms of the living creature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumio Oosawa
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan.,Institute of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan.,Department of Biophysical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan
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8
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Sampaio NG, Emery SJ, Garnham AL, Tan QY, Sisquella X, Pimentel MA, Jex AR, Regev-Rudzki N, Schofield L, Eriksson EM. Extracellular vesicles from early stage Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells contain PfEMP1 and induce transcriptional changes in human monocytes. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20:e12822. [PMID: 29349926 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Pathogens can release extracellular vesicles (EVs) for cell-cell communication and host modulation. EVs from Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite species, can transfer drug resistance genes between parasites. EVs from late-stage parasite-infected RBC (iRBC-EVs) are immunostimulatory and affect endothelial cell permeability, but little is known about EVs from early stage iRBC. We detected the parasite virulence factor PfEMP1, which is responsible for iRBC adherence and a major contributor to disease severity, in EVs, only up to 12-hr post-RBC invasion. Furthermore, using PfEMP1 transport knockout parasites, we determined that EVs originated from inside the iRBC rather than the iRBC surface. Proteomic analysis detected 101 parasite and 178 human proteins in iRBC-EVs. Primary human monocytes stimulated with iRBC-EVs released low levels of inflammatory cytokines and showed transcriptomic changes. Stimulation with iRBC-EVs from PfEMP1 knockout parasites induced more gene expression changes and affected pathways involved in defence response, stress response, and response to cytokines, suggesting a novel function of PfEMP1 when present in EVs. We show for the first time the presence of PfEMP1 in early stage P. falciparum iRBC-EVs and the effects of these EVs on primary human monocytes, uncovering a new mechanism of potential parasite pathogenesis and host interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália G Sampaio
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samantha J Emery
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alexandra L Garnham
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Bioinformatics Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Qiao Y Tan
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xavier Sisquella
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew A Pimentel
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aaron R Jex
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Neta Regev-Rudzki
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louis Schofield
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Emily M Eriksson
- Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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9
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Kumar S, Mansson A. Covalent and non-covalent chemical engineering of actin for biotechnological applications. Biotechnol Adv 2017; 35:867-888. [PMID: 28830772 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The cytoskeletal filaments are self-assembled protein polymers with 8-25nm diameters and up to several tens of micrometres length. They have a range of pivotal roles in eukaryotic cells, including transportation of intracellular cargoes (primarily microtubules with dynein and kinesin motors) and cell motility (primarily actin and myosin) where muscle contraction is one example. For two decades, the cytoskeletal filaments and their associated motor systems have been explored for nanotechnological applications including miniaturized sensor systems and lab-on-a-chip devices. Several developments have also revolved around possible exploitation of the filaments alone without their motor partners. Efforts to use the cytoskeletal filaments for applications often require chemical or genetic engineering of the filaments such as specific conjugation with fluorophores, antibodies, oligonucleotides or various macromolecular complexes e.g. nanoparticles. Similar conjugation methods are also instrumental for a range of fundamental biophysical studies. Here we review methods for non-covalent and covalent chemical modifications of actin filaments with focus on critical advantages and challenges of different methods as well as critical steps in the conjugation procedures. We also review potential uses of the engineered actin filaments in nanotechnological applications and in some key fundamental studies of actin and myosin function. Finally, we consider possible future lines of investigation that may be addressed by applying chemical conjugation of actin in new ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saroj Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Delhi 110042, India; Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Alf Mansson
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
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10
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article discusses recent advances and unsolved questions in our understanding of actin filament organization and dynamics in the red blood cell (RBC) membrane skeleton, a two-dimensional quasi-hexagonal network consisting of (α1β1)2-spectrin tetramers interconnecting short actin filament-based junctional complexes. RECENT FINDINGS In contrast to the long-held view that RBC actin filaments are static structures that do not exchange subunits with the cytosol, RBC actin filaments are dynamic structures that undergo subunit exchange and turnover, as evidenced by monomer incorporation experiments with rhodamine-actin and filament disruption experiments with actin-targeting drugs. The malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, co-opts RBC actin dynamics to construct aberrantly branched actin filament networks. Even though RBC actin filaments are dynamic, RBC actin filament lengths are highly uniform (∼37 nm). RBC actin filament lengths are thought to be stabilized by the capping proteins, tropomodulin-1 and αβ-adducin, as well as the side-binding protein tropomyosin, present in an equimolar combination of two isoforms, TM5b (Tpm1.9) and TM5NM1 (Tpm3.1). SUMMARY New evidence indicates that RBC actin filaments are not simply passive cytolinkers, but rather dynamic structures whose assembly and disassembly play important roles in RBC membrane function.
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11
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Utilization of paramagnetic relaxation enhancements for structural analysis of actin-binding proteins in complex with actin. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33690. [PMID: 27654858 PMCID: PMC5031973 DOI: 10.1038/srep33690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics are controlled by various actin binding proteins (ABPs) that modulate the polymerization of the monomeric G-actin and the depolymerization of filamentous F-actin. Although revealing the structures of the actin/ABP complexes is crucial to understand how the ABPs regulate actin dynamics, the X-ray crystallography and cryoEM methods are inadequate to apply for the ABPs that interact with G- or F-actin with lower affinity or multiple binding modes. In this study, we aimed to establish the alternative method to build a structural model of G-actin/ABP complexes, utilizing the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) experiments. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) was used as a test case for validation, since its structure in complex with G-actin was reported recently. Recombinantly expressed G-actin, containing a cysteine mutation, was conjugated with a nitroxyl spin label at the specific site. Based on the intensity ratio of the 1H-15N HSQC spectra of Tβ4 in the complex with G-actin in the paramagnetic and diamagnetic states, the distances between the amide groups of Tβ4 and the spin label of G-actin were estimated. Using the PRE-derived distance constraints, we were able to compute a well-converged docking structure of the G-actin/Tβ4 complex that shows great accordance with the reference structure.
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12
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Aniweh Y, Gao X, Gunalan K, Preiser PR. PfRH2b specific monoclonal antibodies inhibit merozoite invasion. Mol Microbiol 2016; 102:386-404. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yaw Aniweh
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Cell biology, School of Biological Sciences; Nanyang Technological University; 637551 Singapore
| | - Xiaohong Gao
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Cell biology, School of Biological Sciences; Nanyang Technological University; 637551 Singapore
| | - Karthigayan Gunalan
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Cell biology, School of Biological Sciences; Nanyang Technological University; 637551 Singapore
| | - Peter R. Preiser
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Cell biology, School of Biological Sciences; Nanyang Technological University; 637551 Singapore
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13
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Sato Y, Hliscs M, Dunst J, Goosmann C, Brinkmann V, Montagna GN, Matuschewski K. Comparative Plasmodium gene overexpression reveals distinct perturbation of sporozoite transmission by profilin. Mol Biol Cell 2016; 27:2234-44. [PMID: 27226484 PMCID: PMC4945141 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e15-10-0734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The roles of vital genes, such as those of G-actin–binding proteins, in malaria parasites are underexplored. Overexpression of Plasmodium profilin perturbs actin dynamics only in sporozoites. Strict actin regulation is particularly important for malaria transmission. Mapping of phenotypes can be done by comparative Plasmodium gene overexpression. Plasmodium relies on actin-based motility to migrate from the site of infection and invade target cells. Using a substrate-dependent gliding locomotion, sporozoites are able to move at fast speed (1–3 μm/s). This motility relies on a minimal set of actin regulatory proteins and occurs in the absence of detectable filamentous actin (F-actin). Here we report an overexpression strategy to investigate whether perturbations of F-actin steady-state levels affect gliding locomotion and host invasion. We selected two vital Plasmodium berghei G-actin–binding proteins, C-CAP and profilin, in combination with three stage-specific promoters and mapped the phenotypes afforded by overexpression in all three extracellular motile stages. We show that in merozoites and ookinetes, additional expression does not impair life cycle progression. In marked contrast, overexpression of C-CAP and profilin in sporozoites impairs circular gliding motility and salivary gland invasion. The propensity for productive motility correlates with actin accumulation at the parasite tip, as revealed by combinations of an actin-stabilizing drug and transgenic parasites. Strong expression of profilin, but not C-CAP, resulted in complete life cycle arrest. Comparative overexpression is an alternative experimental genetic strategy to study essential genes and reveals effects of regulatory imbalances that are not uncovered from deletion-mutant phenotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Sato
- Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany Infectious Diseases Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alliance for Research and Technology, 138602 Singapore
| | - Marion Hliscs
- Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010 Victoria, Australia
| | - Josefine Dunst
- Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Goosmann
- Imaging Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Brinkmann
- Imaging Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Georgina N Montagna
- Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany Departamento de Microbiologia, Immunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 04039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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14
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Olshina MA, Angrisano F, Marapana DS, Riglar DT, Bane K, Wong W, Catimel B, Yin MX, Holmes AB, Frischknecht F, Kovar DR, Baum J. Plasmodium falciparum coronin organizes arrays of parallel actin filaments potentially guiding directional motility in invasive malaria parasites. Malar J 2015; 14:280. [PMID: 26187846 PMCID: PMC4506582 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0801-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gliding motility in Plasmodium parasites, the aetiological agents of malaria disease, is mediated by
an actomyosin motor anchored in the outer pellicle of the motile cell. Effective motility is dependent on a parasite myosin motor and turnover of dynamic parasite actin filaments. To date, however, the basis for directional motility is not known. Whilst myosin is very likely orientated as a result of its anchorage within the parasite, how actin filaments are orientated to facilitate directional force generation remains unexplained. In addition, recent evidence has questioned the linkage between actin filaments and secreted surface antigens leaving the way by which motor force is transmitted to the extracellular milieu unknown. Malaria parasites possess a markedly reduced repertoire of actin regulators, among which few are predicted to interact with filamentous (F)-actin directly. One of these, PF3D7_1251200, shows strong homology to the coronin family of actin-filament binding proteins, herein referred to as PfCoronin. Methods Here the N terminal beta propeller domain of PfCoronin (PfCor-N) was expressed to assess its ability to bind and bundle pre-formed actin filaments by sedimentation assay, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and confocal imaging as well as to explore its ability to bind phospholipids. In parallel a tagged PfCoronin line in Plasmodium falciparum was generated to determine the cellular localization of the protein during asexual parasite development and blood-stage merozoite invasion. Results A combination of biochemical approaches demonstrated that the N-terminal beta-propeller domain of PfCoronin is capable of binding F-actin and facilitating formation of parallel filament bundles. In parasites, PfCoronin is expressed late in the asexual lifecycle and localizes to the pellicle region of invasive merozoites before and during erythrocyte entry. PfCoronin also associates strongly with membranes within the cell, likely mediated by interactions with phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) at the plasma membrane. Conclusions These data suggest PfCoronin may fulfil a key role as the critical determinant of actin filament organization in the Plasmodium cell. This raises the possibility that macro-molecular organization of actin mediates directional motility in gliding parasites. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0801-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya A Olshina
- Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Fiona Angrisano
- Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Danushka S Marapana
- Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - David T Riglar
- Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave WAB 536, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Kartik Bane
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Wilson Wong
- Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Bruno Catimel
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne Tumour Biology Branch, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Systems Biology and Personalised Medicine Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Meng-Xin Yin
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Andrew B Holmes
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - David R Kovar
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, USA.
| | - Jake Baum
- Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Level 6, South Kensington, London, SW72AZ, UK.
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15
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Woo YH, Ansari H, Otto TD, Klinger CM, Kolisko M, Michálek J, Saxena A, Shanmugam D, Tayyrov A, Veluchamy A, Ali S, Bernal A, del Campo J, Cihlář J, Flegontov P, Gornik SG, Hajdušková E, Horák A, Janouškovec J, Katris NJ, Mast FD, Miranda-Saavedra D, Mourier T, Naeem R, Nair M, Panigrahi AK, Rawlings ND, Padron-Regalado E, Ramaprasad A, Samad N, Tomčala A, Wilkes J, Neafsey DE, Doerig C, Bowler C, Keeling PJ, Roos DS, Dacks JB, Templeton TJ, Waller RF, Lukeš J, Oborník M, Pain A. Chromerid genomes reveal the evolutionary path from photosynthetic algae to obligate intracellular parasites. eLife 2015; 4:e06974. [PMID: 26175406 PMCID: PMC4501334 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic phylum Apicomplexa encompasses thousands of obligate intracellular parasites of humans and animals with immense socio-economic and health impacts. We sequenced nuclear genomes of Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, free-living non-parasitic photosynthetic algae closely related to apicomplexans. Proteins from key metabolic pathways and from the endomembrane trafficking systems associated with a free-living lifestyle have been progressively and non-randomly lost during adaptation to parasitism. The free-living ancestor contained a broad repertoire of genes many of which were repurposed for parasitic processes, such as extracellular proteins, components of a motility apparatus, and DNA- and RNA-binding protein families. Based on transcriptome analyses across 36 environmental conditions, Chromera orthologs of apicomplexan invasion-related motility genes were co-regulated with genes encoding the flagellar apparatus, supporting the functional contribution of flagella to the evolution of invasion machinery. This study provides insights into how obligate parasites with diverse life strategies arose from a once free-living phototrophic marine alga. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06974.001 Single-celled parasites cause many severe diseases in humans and animals. The apicomplexans form probably the most successful group of these parasites and include the parasites that cause malaria. Apicomplexans infect a broad range of hosts, including humans, reptiles, birds, and insects, and often have complicated life cycles. For example, the malaria-causing parasites spread by moving from humans to female mosquitoes and then back to humans. Despite significant differences amongst apicomplexans, these single-celled parasites also share a number of features that are not seen in other living species. How and when these features arose remains unclear. It is known from previous work that apicomplexans are closely related to single-celled algae. But unlike apicomplexans, which depend on a host animal to survive, these algae live freely in their environment, often in close association with corals. Woo et al. have now sequenced the genomes of two photosynthetic algae that are thought to be close living relatives of the apicomplexans. These genomes were then compared to each other and to the genomes of other algae and apicomplexans. These comparisons reconfirmed that the two algae that were studied were close relatives of the apicomplexans. Further analyses suggested that thousands of genes were lost as an ancient free-living algae evolved into the apicomplexan ancestor, and further losses occurred as these early parasites evolved into modern species. The lost genes were typically those that are important for free-living organisms, but are either a hindrance to, or not needed in, a parasitic lifestyle. Some of the ancestor's genes, especially those that coded for the building blocks of flagella (structures which free-living algae use to move around), were repurposed in ways that helped the apicomplexans to invade their hosts. Understanding this repurposing process in greater detail will help to identify key molecules in these deadly parasites that could be targeted by drug treatments. It will also offer answers to one of the most fascinating questions in evolutionary biology: how parasites have evolved from free-living organisms. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06974.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong H Woo
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hifzur Ansari
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thomas D Otto
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Martin Kolisko
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jan Michálek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Alka Saxena
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Annageldi Tayyrov
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaguraj Veluchamy
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Section, Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR8197 INSERM U1024, Paris, France
| | - Shahjahan Ali
- Bioscience Core Laboratory, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Axel Bernal
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Javier del Campo
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jaromír Cihlář
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Flegontov
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Eva Hajdušková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Horák
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Janouškovec
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Fred D Mast
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, United States
| | - Diego Miranda-Saavedra
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC/Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tobias Mourier
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Raeece Naeem
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mridul Nair
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aswini K Panigrahi
- Bioscience Core Laboratory, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Neil D Rawlings
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Eriko Padron-Regalado
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abhinay Ramaprasad
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadira Samad
- School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Aleš Tomčala
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jon Wilkes
- Wellcome Trust Centre For Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel E Neafsey
- Broad Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Christian Doerig
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Chris Bowler
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Section, Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR8197 INSERM U1024, Paris, France
| | - Patrick J Keeling
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - David S Roos
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Joel B Dacks
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Thomas J Templeton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States
| | - Ross F Waller
- School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Oborník
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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16
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Haase S, Zimmermann D, Olshina MA, Wilkinson M, Fisher F, Tan YH, Stewart RJ, Tonkin CJ, Wong W, Kovar DR, Baum J. Disassembly activity of actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) is associated with distinct cellular processes in apicomplexan parasites. Mol Biol Cell 2015; 26:3001-12. [PMID: 26157165 PMCID: PMC4551315 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e14-10-1427] [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: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Complementation of a conditional KO of actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) in Toxoplasma gondii demonstrates that ADF-dependent actin filament disassembly is essential for parasite development but not for cell motility. Furthermore, trans-genera complementation highlights genus-specific coevolution between ADF proteins and their native actins. Proteins of the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin family have been shown to be crucial for the motility and survival of apicomplexan parasites. However, the mechanisms by which ADF proteins fulfill their function remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the comparative activities of ADF proteins from Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, the human malaria parasite, using a conditional T. gondii ADF-knockout line complemented with ADF variants from either species. We show that P. falciparum ADF1 can fully restore native TgADF activity, demonstrating functional conservation between parasites. Strikingly, mutation of a key basic residue (Lys-72), previously implicated in disassembly in PfADF1, had no detectable phenotypic effect on parasite growth, motility, or development. In contrast, organelle segregation was severely impaired when complementing with a TgADF mutant lacking the corresponding residue (Lys-68). Biochemical analyses of each ADF protein confirmed the reduced ability of lysine mutants to mediate actin depolymerization via filament disassembly although not severing, in contrast to previous reports. These data suggest that actin filament disassembly is essential for apicomplexan parasite development but not for motility, as well as pointing to genus-specific coevolution between ADF proteins and their native actin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Haase
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Dennis Zimmermann
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Maya A Olshina
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Mark Wilkinson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Fisher
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Yan Hong Tan
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Stewart
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Wilson Wong
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - David R Kovar
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Jake Baum
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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17
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Unconventional actins and actin-binding proteins in human protozoan parasites. Int J Parasitol 2015; 45:435-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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18
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Kumpula EP, Kursula I. Towards a molecular understanding of the apicomplexan actin motor: on a road to novel targets for malaria remedies? Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2015; 71:500-13. [PMID: 25945702 PMCID: PMC4427158 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x1500391x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites are the causative agents of notorious human and animal diseases that give rise to considerable human suffering and economic losses worldwide. The most prominent parasites of this phylum are the malaria-causing Plasmodium species, which are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, and Toxoplasma gondii, which infects one third of the world's population. These parasites share a common form of gliding motility which relies on an actin-myosin motor. The components of this motor and the actin-regulatory proteins in Apicomplexa have unique features compared with all other eukaryotes. This, together with the crucial roles of these proteins, makes them attractive targets for structure-based drug design. In recent years, several structures of glideosome components, in particular of actins and actin regulators from apicomplexan parasites, have been determined, which will hopefully soon allow the creation of a complete molecular picture of the parasite actin-myosin motor and its regulatory machinery. Here, current knowledge of the function of this motor is reviewed from a structural perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esa-Pekka Kumpula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- German Electron Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- German Electron Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
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19
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Fan SB, Meng JM, Lu S, Zhang K, Yang H, Chi H, Sun RX, Dong MQ, He SM. Using pLink to Analyze Cross-Linked Peptides. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 49:8.21.1-8.21.19. [PMID: 25754995 DOI: 10.1002/0471250953.bi0821s49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
pLink is a search engine for high-throughput identification of cross-linked peptides from their tandem mass spectra, which is the data-analysis step in chemical cross-linking of proteins coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. pLink has accumulated more than 200 registered users from all over the world since its first release in 2012. After 2 years of continual development, a new version of pLink has been released, which is at least 40 times faster, more versatile, and more user-friendly. Also, the function of the new pLink has been expanded to identifying endogenous protein cross-linking sites such as disulfide bonds and SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier) modification sites. Integrated into the new version are two accessory tools: pLabel, to annotate spectra of cross-linked peptides for visual inspection and publication, and pConfig, to assist users in setting up search parameters. Here, we provide detailed guidance on running a database search for identification of protein cross-links using the 2014 version of pLink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Bo Fan
- Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Ming Meng
- Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Lu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Chi
- Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, China
| | - Rui-Xiang Sun
- Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Qiu Dong
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Min He
- Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Computing Technology, CAS, Beijing, China
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20
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Site-specific cation release drives actin filament severing by vertebrate cofilin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:17821-6. [PMID: 25468977 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1413397111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin polymerization powers the directed motility of eukaryotic cells. Sustained motility requires rapid filament turnover and subunit recycling. The essential regulatory protein cofilin accelerates network remodeling by severing actin filaments and increasing the concentration of ends available for elongation and subunit exchange. Although cofilin effects on actin filament assembly dynamics have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanism of cofilin-induced filament severing is not understood. Here we demonstrate that actin filament severing by vertebrate cofilin is driven by the linked dissociation of a single cation that controls filament structure and mechanical properties. Vertebrate cofilin only weakly severs Saccharomyces cerevisiae actin filaments lacking this "stiffness cation" unless a stiffness cation-binding site is engineered into the actin molecule. Moreover, vertebrate cofilin rescues the viability of a S. cerevisiae cofilin deletion mutant only when the stiffness cation site is simultaneously introduced into actin, demonstrating that filament severing is the essential function of cofilin in cells. This work reveals that site-specific interactions with cations serve a key regulatory function in actin filament fragmentation and dynamics.
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21
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Nadkarni AV, Brieher WM. Aip1 destabilizes cofilin-saturated actin filaments by severing and accelerating monomer dissociation from ends. Curr Biol 2014; 24:2749-57. [PMID: 25448002 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.09.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Revised: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depolymerization of actin filaments is vital for the morphogenesis of dynamic cytoskeletal arrays and actin-dependent cell motility. Cofilin is necessary for actin disassembly in cells, and it severs filaments most efficiently at low cofilin to actin ratios, whereas higher concentrations of cofilin suppress severing. However, the cofilin concentration in thymocytes is too high to allow the severing of single-actin filaments. RESULTS We observed that filaments sever efficiently in thymus cytosol. We identified Aip1 as a critical factor responsible for the severing and destabilization of actin filaments even in the presence of high amounts of cofilin. By fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based spectroscopy and single-filament imaging of actin, we show that, besides driving the rapid severing of cofilin-actin filaments, Aip1 also augments the monomer dissociation rate at both the barbed and pointed ends of actin. Our results also demonstrate that Aip1 does not cap the barbed ends of actin filaments, as was previously thought. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that Aip1 is a cofilin-dependent actin depolymerization factor and not a barbed-end-capping factor as was previously thought. Aip1 inverts the rules of cofilin-mediated actin disassembly such that increasing ratios of cofilin to actin now result in filament destabilization through faster severing and accelerated monomer loss from barbed and pointed ends. Aip1 therefore offers a potential control point for disassembly mechanisms in cells to switch from a regime of cofilin-saturation and stabilization to one that favors fast disassembly and destabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambika V Nadkarni
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - William M Brieher
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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22
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Vahokoski J, Bhargav SP, Desfosses A, Andreadaki M, Kumpula EP, Martinez SM, Ignatev A, Lepper S, Frischknecht F, Sidén-Kiamos I, Sachse C, Kursula I. Structural differences explain diverse functions of Plasmodium actins. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004091. [PMID: 24743229 PMCID: PMC3990709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Actins are highly conserved proteins and key players in central processes in all eukaryotic cells. The two actins of the malaria parasite are among the most divergent eukaryotic actins and also differ from each other more than isoforms in any other species. Microfilaments have not been directly observed in Plasmodium and are presumed to be short and highly dynamic. We show that actin I cannot complement actin II in male gametogenesis, suggesting critical structural differences. Cryo-EM reveals that Plasmodium actin I has a unique filament structure, whereas actin II filaments resemble canonical F-actin. Both Plasmodium actins hydrolyze ATP more efficiently than α-actin, and unlike any other actin, both parasite actins rapidly form short oligomers induced by ADP. Crystal structures of both isoforms pinpoint several structural changes in the monomers causing the unique polymerization properties. Inserting the canonical D-loop to Plasmodium actin I leads to the formation of long filaments in vitro. In vivo, this chimera restores gametogenesis in parasites lacking actin II, suggesting that stable filaments are required for exflagellation. Together, these data underline the divergence of eukaryotic actins and demonstrate how structural differences in the monomers translate into filaments with different properties, implying that even eukaryotic actins have faced different evolutionary pressures and followed different paths for developing their polymerization properties. Malaria parasites have two actin isoforms, which are among the most divergent within the actin family that comprises highly conserved proteins, essential in all eukaryotic cells. In Plasmodium, actin is indispensable for motility and, thus, the infectivity of the deadly parasite. Yet, actin filaments have not been observed in vivo in these pathogens. Here, we show that the two Plasmodium actins differ from each other in both monomeric and filamentous form and that actin I cannot replace actin II during male gametogenesis. Whereas the major isoform actin I cannot form stable filaments alone, the mosquito-stage-specific actin II readily forms long filaments that have dimensions similar to canonical actins. A chimeric actin I mutant that forms long filaments in vitro also rescues gametogenesis in parasites lacking actin II. Both Plasmodium actins rapidly hydrolyze ATP and form short oligomers in the presence of ADP, which is a fundamental difference to all other actins characterized to date. Structural and functional differences in the two Plasmodium actin isoforms compared both to each other and to canonical actins reveal how the polymerization properties of eukaryotic actins have evolved along different avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Vahokoski
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Ambroise Desfosses
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Andreadaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Esa-Pekka Kumpula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Ignatev
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Simone Lepper
- Parasitology – Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Parasitology – Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inga Sidén-Kiamos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Carsten Sachse
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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