1
|
Tevere E, Di Capua CB, Chasen NM, Etheridge RD, Cricco JA. Trypanosoma cruzi heme responsive gene (TcHRG) plays a central role in orchestrating heme uptake in epimastigotes. FEBS J 2024; 291:1186-1198. [PMID: 38087972 PMCID: PMC10939882 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17030] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, a heme auxotrophic parasite, can control intracellular heme content by modulating heme responsive gene (TcHRG) expression when a free heme source is added to an axenic culture. Herein, we explored the role of TcHRG protein in regulating the uptake of heme derived from hemoglobin in epimastigotes. We demonstrate that the endogenous TcHRG (protein and mRNA) responded similarly to bound (hemoglobin) and free (hemin) heme. Endogenous TcHRG was found in the flagellar pocket boundaries and partially overlapping with the mitochondrion. On the other hand, endocytic null parasites were able to develop and exhibited a similar heme content compared to wild-type when fed with hemoglobin, indicating that endocytosis is not the main entrance pathway for hemoglobin-derived heme in this parasite. Moreover, the overexpression of TcHRG led to an increase in heme content when hemoglobin was used as the heme source. Taken together, these results suggest that the uptake of hemoglobin-derived heme likely occurs through extracellular proteolysis of hemoglobin via the flagellar pocket, and this process is governed by TcHRG. In sum, T. cruzi epimastigotes control heme homeostasis by modulating TcHRG expression independently of the available source of heme.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Tevere
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Beatriz Di Capua
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nathan Michael Chasen
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Julia Alejandra Cricco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
- Área Biofísica, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen C, Hamza I. Notes from the Underground: Heme Homeostasis in C. elegans. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1149. [PMID: 37509184 PMCID: PMC10377359 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Heme is an iron-containing tetrapyrrole that plays a critical role in various biological processes, including oxygen transport, electron transport, signal transduction, and catalysis. However, free heme is hydrophobic and potentially toxic to cells. Organisms have evolved specific pathways to safely transport this essential but toxic macrocycle within and between cells. The bacterivorous soil-dwelling nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful animal model for studying heme-trafficking pathways, as it lacks the ability to synthesize heme but instead relies on specialized trafficking pathways to acquire, distribute, and utilize heme. Over the past 15 years, studies on this microscopic animal have led to the identification of a number of heme-trafficking proteins, with corresponding functional homologs in vertebrates. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the heme-trafficking proteins identified in C. elegans and their corresponding homologs in related organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caiyong Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Iqbal Hamza
- Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen Y, Wei E, Chen Y, He P, Wang R, Wang Q, Tang X, Zhang Y, Zhu F, Shen Z. Identification and subcellular localization analysis of membrane protein Ycf 1 in the microsporidian Nosema bombycis. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13530. [PMID: 35833014 PMCID: PMC9272817 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that can infect a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates including humans and insects, such as silkworm and bees. The microsporidium Nosema bombycis can cause pebrine in Bombyx mori, which is the most destructive disease in the sericulture industry. Although membrane proteins are involved in a wide range of cellular functions and part of many important metabolic pathways, there are rare reports about the membrane proteins of microsporidia up to now. We screened a putative membrane protein Ycf 1 from the midgut transcriptome of the N. bombycis-infected silkworm. Gene cloning and bioinformatics analysis showed that the Ycf 1 gene contains a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 969 bp in length encoding a 322 amino acid polypeptide that has one signal peptide and one transmembrane domain. Indirect immunofluorescence results showed that Ycf 1 protein is distributed on the plasma membrane. Expression pattern analysis showed that the Ycf 1 gene expressed in all developmental stages of N. bombycis. Knockdown of the Ycf 1 gene by RNAi effectively inhibited the proliferation of N. bombycis. These results indicated that Ycf 1 is a membrane protein and plays an important role in the life cycle of N. bombycis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Chen
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Erjun Wei
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Chen
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping He
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Runpeng Wang
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Sericulture, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xudong Tang
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Sericulture, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yiling Zhang
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Sericulture, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang, Shangdong, China
| | - Zhongyuan Shen
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Sericulture, Zhenjiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Elso OG, Puente V, Barrera P, Sosa-Escudero MA, Sülsen VP, Lombardo ME. Mode of action of the sesquiterpene lactones eupatoriopicrin and estafietin on Trypanosoma cruzi. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 96:153900. [PMID: 35026518 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) eupatoriopicrin (EP) and estafietin (ES), isolated from Stevia alpina Griseb. (Asteraceae) and Stevia maimarensis (Hieron.) Cabrera (Asteraceae) respectively, have previously showed promising trypanocidal activity, both in vitro and in vivo. PURPOSE In this work, using biochemical studies and electron microscopy, we aimed at characterizing the mode of action of both STLs on Trypanosoma cruzi. METHODS The interaction of STLs with hemin was examined by measuring modifications in the Soret absorption band of hemin; the thiol groups interaction was determined spectrophotometrically through its reaction with 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoate; the effect on cruzipain activity was also assayed by spectrophotometry. The synthesis of sterols were qualitatively and quantitatively tested by TLC. Mitochondrial functionality was assessed by measuring mitochondrial membrane potential and the activity of NADH-cytochrome c reductase and succinate-cytochrome c reductase enzymes. The status of the antioxidant system was assessed by quantifying the level of free thiols by spectrophotometry, together with the intracellular oxidative state by flow cytometry. Ultrastructural changes were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS EP and ES were found to impair the functionality and the redox status of the parasite. ES produced a greater decrease in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase than eupatoriopicrin, affecting the functioning of the respiratory chain and the Krebs cycle. EP increased the formation of triglycerides leading to the presence of cytoplasmic lipid droplets. By electron microscopy, alterations in the kinetoplast and the appearance of large translucent vacuoles in the cytoplasm were observed for both compounds. CONCLUSIONS Both sesquiterpenelactones proved to act additively on T. cruzi, supporting the hypothesis that each compound would be acting on different primary targets.. The treatment combining eupatoriopicrin and estafietin could be considered a promising alternative for the treatment of Chagas' disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Orlando G Elso
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°piso, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina; Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°piso, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
| | - Vanesa Puente
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias (CIPYP), CONICET- Universidad de Buenos Aires Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Córdoba 2351, Buenos Aires 1120, Argentina
| | - Patricia Barrera
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos" (IHEM), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, CC 56 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Miguel A Sosa-Escudero
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos" (IHEM), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, CC 56 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Valeria P Sülsen
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°piso, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina; Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°piso, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina.
| | - María E Lombardo
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias (CIPYP), CONICET- Universidad de Buenos Aires Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Córdoba 2351, Buenos Aires 1120, Argentina; Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Perner J, Hatalova T, Cabello-Donayre M, Urbanova V, Sojka D, Frantova H, Hartmann D, Jirsova D, Pérez-Victoria JM, Kopacek P. Haem-responsive gene transporter enables mobilization of host haem in ticks. Open Biol 2021; 11:210048. [PMID: 34465215 PMCID: PMC8437232 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks, notorious blood-feeders and disease-vectors, have lost a part of their genetic complement encoding haem biosynthetic enzymes and are, therefore, dependent on the acquisition and distribution of host haem. Solute carrier protein SLC48A1, aka haem-responsive gene 1 protein (HRG1), has been implicated in haem transport, regulating the availability of intracellular haem. HRG1 transporter has been identified in both free-living and parasitic organisms ranging from unicellular kinetoplastids, nematodes, up to vertebrates. However, an HRG1 homologue in the arthropod lineage has not yet been identified. We have identified a single HRG1 homologue in the midgut transcriptome of the tick Ixodes ricinus, denoted as IrHRG, and have elucidated its role as a haem transporter. Data from haem biosynthesis-deficient yeast growth assays, systemic RNA interference and the evaluation of gallium protoporphyrin IX-mediated toxicity through tick membrane feeding clearly show that IrHRG is the bona fide tetrapyrrole transporter. We argue that during evolution, ticks profited from retaining a functional hrg1 gene in the genome because its protein product facilitates host haem escort from intracellularly digested haemoglobin, rendering haem bioavailable for a haem-dependent network of enzymes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - T. Hatalova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - M. Cabello-Donayre
- Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine ‘López-Neyra’, CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - V. Urbanova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - H. Frantova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Hartmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Jirsova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - J. M. Pérez-Victoria
- Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine ‘López-Neyra’, CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - P. Kopacek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dumoulin PC, Burleigh BA. Metabolic flexibility in Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes: implications for persistence and drug sensitivity. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:244-249. [PMID: 34455305 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Throughout their life cycle, parasitic organisms experience a variety of environmental conditions. To ensure persistence and transmission, some protozoan parasites are capable of adjusting their replication or converting to distinct life cycle stages. Trypanosoma cruzi is a 'generalist' parasite that is competent to infect various insect (triatomine) vectors and mammalian hosts. Within the mammalian host, T. cruzi replicates intracellularly as amastigotes and can persist for the lifetime of the host. The persistence of the parasites in tissues can lead to the development of Chagas disease. Recent work has identified growth plasticity and metabolic flexibility as aspects of amastigote biology that are important determinants of persistence in varied growth conditions and under drug pressure. A better understanding of the link between amastigote and host/tissue metabolism will aid in the development of new drugs or therapies that can limit disease pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Dumoulin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
| | - Barbara A Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dighal A, De Sarkar S, Gille L, Chatterjee M. Can the iron content of culture media impact on the leishmanicidal effect of artemisinin? Free Radic Res 2021; 55:282-295. [PMID: 34121571 DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2021.1939325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Endoperoxides (EPs) like artemisinin following cleavage of their EP bridge can kill parasites via generation of carbon-centered radicals. As the presence of low molecular mass iron and/or heme is crucial, this study aimed to establish the influence of iron on the leishmanicidal action of artemisinin when present in differing amounts in culture media. In promastigotes cultured in Schneiders insect medium (SIM), that had a 8.0-fold higher amount of iron as compared to Medium 199 (M199), the impact of artemisinin on cell viability, redox status, labile iron pool (LIP), and Annexin-V positivity was evaluated. In SIM, the IC50 of artemisinin was 25.50-fold lower than M199, and in both media its cytotoxicity was decreased by the addition of hemin or following chelation of Fe2+ by Deferoxamine (DFO). In SIM vis-a-vis M199, artemisinin caused a greater redox imbalance which translated into a higher degree of externalization of phosphatidylserine and depletion of the LIP. The presence of a higher proportion of iron in SIM as compared to M199 significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of artemisinin in Leishmania promastigotes, and was attributed to a higher degree of iron-mediated cleavage of its EP bridge that led to a higher generation of free radicals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Dighal
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Sritama De Sarkar
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Lars Gille
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mitali Chatterjee
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| |
Collapse
|