Protein targeting of an unusual, evolutionarily conserved adenylate kinase to a eukaryotic flagellum

Structure, function and druggability of the African trypanosome flagellum

African trypanosomes are early branching protists that cause human and animal diseases, termed trypanosomiases. They have been under intensive study for more than 100 years and have contributed significantly to our understanding of eukaryotic biology. The combination of conserved and parasite-specific features mean that their flagellum has gained particular attention. Here, we discuss the different structural features of the flagellum and their role in transmission and virulence. We highlight the possibilities of targeting flagellar function to cure trypanosome infections and help in the fight to eliminate trypanosomiases.

Structure of the trypanosome paraflagellar rod and insights into non-planar motility of eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic flagella (synonymous with cilia) rely on a microtubule-based axoneme, together with accessory filaments to carryout motility and signaling functions. While axoneme structures are well characterized, 3D ultrastructure of accessory filaments and their axoneme interface are mostly unknown, presenting a critical gap in understanding structural foundations of eukaryotic flagella. In the flagellum of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), the axoneme is accompanied by a paraflagellar rod (PFR) that supports non-planar motility and signaling necessary for disease transmission and pathogenesis. Here, we employed cryogenic electron tomography (cryoET) with sub-tomographic averaging, to obtain structures of the PFR, PFR-axoneme connectors (PACs), and the axonemal central pair complex (CPC). The structures resolve how the 8 nm repeat of the axonemal tubulin dimer interfaces with the 54 nm repeat of the PFR, which consist of proximal, intermediate, and distal zones. In the distal zone, stacked "density scissors" connect with one another to form a "scissors stack network (SSN)" plane oriented 45° to the axoneme axis; and ~370 parallel SSN planes are connected by helix-rich wires into a paracrystalline array with ~90% empty space. Connections from these wires to the intermediate zone, then to overlapping layers of the proximal zone and to the PACs, and ultimately to the CPC, point to a contiguous pathway for signal transmission. Together, our findings provide insights into flagellum-driven, non-planar helical motility of T. brucei and have broad implications ranging from cell motility and tensegrity in biology, to engineering principles in bionics.

Basic Biology of Trypanosoma brucei with Reference to the Development of Chemotherapies

Trypanosoma brucei are protozoan parasites that cause the lethal human disease African sleeping sickness and the economically devastating disease of cattle, Nagana. African sleeping sickness, also known as Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), threatens 65 million people and animal trypanosomiasis makes large areas of farmland unusable. There is no vaccine and licensed therapies against the most severe, late-stage disease are toxic, impractical and ineffective. Trypanosomes are transmitted by tsetse flies, and HAT is therefore predominantly confined to the tsetse fly belt in sub-Saharan Africa. They are exclusively extracellular and they differentiate between at least seven developmental forms that are highly adapted to host and vector niches. In the mammalian (human) host they inhabit the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (late-stage disease), skin, and adipose fat. In the tsetse fly vector they travel from the tsetse midgut to the salivary glands via the ectoperitrophic space and proventriculus. Trypanosomes are evolutionarily divergent compared with most branches of eukaryotic life. Perhaps most famous for their extraordinary mechanisms of monoallelic gene expression and antigenic variation, they have also been investigated because much of their biology is either highly unconventional or extreme. Moreover, in addition to their importance as pathogens, many researchers have been attracted to the field because trypanosomes have some of the most advanced molecular genetic tools and database resources of any model system. The following will cover just some aspects of trypanosome biology and how its divergent biochemistry has been leveraged to develop drugs to treat African sleeping sickness. This is by no means intended to be a comprehensive survey of trypanosome features. Rather, I hope to present trypanosomes as one of the most fascinating and tractable systems to do discovery biology.

Control of assembly of extra-axonemal structures: the paraflagellar rod of trypanosomes

Eukaryotic flagella are complex microtubule-based organelles that, in many organisms, contain extra-axonemal structures, such as the outer dense fibres of mammalian sperm and the paraflagellar rod (PFR) of trypanosomes. Flagellum assembly is a complex process occurring across three main compartments, the cytoplasm, the transition zone and the flagellum itself. The process begins with the translation of protein components followed by their sorting and trafficking into the flagellum, transport to the assembly site and incorporation. Flagella are formed from over 500 proteins and the principles governing assembly of the axonemal components are relatively clear. However, the coordination and location of assembly of extra-axonemal structures are less clear. We have discovered two cytoplasmic proteins in Trypanosoma brucei that are required for PFR formation, PFR assembly factors 1 and 2 (PFR-AF1 and PFR-AF2, respectively). Deletion of either PFR-AF1 or PFR-AF2 dramatically disrupted PFR formation and caused a reduction in the amount of major PFR proteins. The existence of cytoplasmic factors required for PFR formation aligns with the concept that processes facilitating axoneme assembly occur across multiple compartments, and this is likely a common theme for extra-axonemal structure assembly.

Mutations in TTC29, Encoding an Evolutionarily Conserved Axonemal Protein, Result in Asthenozoospermia and Male Infertility

In humans, structural or functional defects of the sperm flagellum induce asthenozoospermia, which accounts for the main sperm defect encountered in infertile men. Herein we focused on morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagellum (MMAF), a phenotype also termed "short tails," which constitutes one of the most severe sperm morphological defects resulting in asthenozoospermia. In previous work based on whole-exome sequencing of a cohort of 167 MMAF-affected individuals, we identified bi-allelic loss-of-function mutations in more than 30% of the tested subjects. In this study, we further analyzed this cohort and identified five individuals with homozygous truncating variants in TTC29, a gene preferentially and highly expressed in the testis, and encoding a tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein related to the intraflagellar transport (IFT). One individual carried a frameshift variant, another one carried a homozygous stop-gain variant, and three carried the same splicing variant affecting a consensus donor site. The deleterious effect of this last variant was confirmed on the corresponding transcript and protein product. In addition, we produced and analyzed TTC29 loss-of-function models in the flagellated protist T. brucei and in M. musculus. Both models confirmed the importance of TTC29 for flagellar beating. We showed that in T. brucei the TPR structural motifs, highly conserved between the studied orthologs, are critical for TTC29 axonemal localization and flagellar beating. Overall our work demonstrates that TTC29 is a conserved axonemal protein required for flagellar structure and beating and that TTC29 mutations are a cause of male sterility due to MMAF.

Leishmania donovani adenylate kinase 2a prevents ATP-mediated cell cytolysis in macrophages

In Leishmania spp. ATP utilizing enzymes serves as a key role in preserving integrity of host cells for survival of parasite. Earlier reports suggested that Adenylate kinase (AK) a phosphotransferase enzyme released by Leishmania donovani secretome, involved in modulating levels of NTPs. In the present study, we cloned, expressed and characterized recombinant putative AK. Based on a sequence and phylogeny analysis, we identified the prominent features of the seven AK isoforms of Leishmania donovani and assigned our putative AK as LdAK2a. The K_m value of LdAK2a for ATP and AMP substrate were 204 μM and 184 μM, respectively and V_max was calculated as 1.6 μmol min^-1 mg^-1 protein. Ap5A, a known inhibitor of AK inhibited LdAK2a with estimated K_i values of 280 nM and 230 nM for ATP and AMP respectively. CD spectral studies were carried out to estimate its structural stability. Recombinant LdAK2a was found to prevent ATP mediated cell cytolysis of Raw 264.7 macrophages in vitro, which was determined by LDH assay and MMP assay. This is the first report which validates that Leishmanial AK2a can prevent ATP mediated cytolysis of macrophage cells and thereby probably play a role in preserving integrity of host cells for survival of parasite.

Phosphagen kinase function in flagellated spores of the oomycete Phytophthora infestans integrates transcriptional regulation, metabolic dynamics and protein retargeting

Flagellated spores play important roles in the infection of plants and animals by many eukaryotic microbes. The oomycete Phytophthora infestans, which causes potato blight, expresses two phosphagen kinases (PKs). These enzymes store energy in taurocyamine, and are hypothesized to resolve spatial and temporal imbalances between rates of ATP creation and use in zoospores. A dimeric PK is found at low levels in vegetative mycelia, but high levels in ungerminated sporangia and zoospores. In contrast, a monomeric PK protein is at similar levels in all tissues, although is transcribed primarily in mycelia. Subcellular localization studies indicate that the monomeric PK is mitochondrial. In contrast, the dimeric PK is cytoplasmic in mycelia and sporangia but is retargeted to flagellar axonemes during zoosporogenesis. This supports a model in which PKs shuttle energy from mitochondria to and through flagella. Metabolite analysis indicates that deployment of the flagellar PK is coordinated with a large increase in taurocyamine, synthesized by sporulation-induced enzymes that were lost during the evolution of zoospore-lacking oomycetes. Thus, PK function is enabled by coordination of the transcriptional, metabolic and protein targeting machinery during the life cycle. Since plants lack PKs, the enzymes may be useful targets for inhibitors of oomycete plant pathogens.

Farming, slaving and enslavement: histories of endosymbioses during kinetoplastid evolution

Parasitic trypanosomatids diverged from free-living kinetoplastid ancestors several hundred million years ago. These parasites are relatively well known, due in part to several unusual cell biological and molecular traits and in part to the significance of a few - pathogenic Leishmania and Trypanosoma species - as aetiological agents of serious neglected tropical diseases. However, the majority of trypanosomatid biodiversity is represented by osmotrophic monoxenous parasites of insects. In two lineages, novymonads and strigomonads, osmotrophic lifestyles are supported by cytoplasmic endosymbionts, providing hosts with macromolecular precursors and vitamins. Here we discuss the two independent origins of endosymbiosis within trypanosomatids and subsequently different evolutionary trajectories that see entrainment vs tolerance of symbiont cell divisions cycles within those of the host. With the potential to inform on the transition to obligate parasitism in the trypanosomatids, interest in the biology and ecology of free-living, phagotrophic kinetoplastids is beginning to enjoy a renaissance. Thus, we take the opportunity to additionally consider the wider relevance of endosymbiosis during kinetoplastid evolution, including the indulged lifestyle and reductive evolution of basal kinetoplastid Perkinsela.

Mutations in CFAP43 and CFAP44 cause male infertility and flagellum defects in Trypanosoma and human

Spermatogenesis defects concern millions of men worldwide, yet the vast majority remains undiagnosed. Here we report men with primary infertility due to multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella with severe disorganization of the sperm axoneme, a microtubule-based structure highly conserved throughout evolution. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 78 patients allowing the identification of 22 men with bi-allelic mutations in DNAH1 (n = 6), CFAP43 (n = 10), and CFAP44 (n = 6). CRISPR/Cas9 created homozygous CFAP43/44 male mice that were infertile and presented severe flagellar defects confirming the human genetic results. Immunoelectron and stimulated-emission-depletion microscopy performed on CFAP43 and CFAP44 orthologs in Trypanosoma brucei evidenced that both proteins are located between the doublet microtubules 5 and 6 and the paraflagellar rod. Overall, we demonstrate that CFAP43 and CFAP44 have a similar structure with a unique axonemal localization and are necessary to produce functional flagella in species ranging from Trypanosoma to human.

Asthenozoospermia is a major cause of male infertility, and multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) is a particularly severe form. Here, using whole-exome sequencing of 78 MMAF patients, the authors identify mutations in two WDR proteins, CFAP43 and CFAP44, and confirm that these proteins are required for flagellogenesis in mouse and Trypanosoma brucei.

Intraflagellar transport is required for the maintenance of the trypanosome flagellum composition but not its length

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is required for construction of most cilia and flagella. Here, we used electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and live video microscopy to show that IFT is absent or arrested in the mature flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei upon RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of IFT88 and IFT140, respectively. Flagella assembled prior to RNAi did not shorten, showing that IFT is not essential for the maintenance of flagella length. Although the ultrastructure of the axoneme was not visibly affected, flagellar beating was strongly reduced and the distribution of several flagellar components was drastically modified. The R subunit of the protein kinase A was no longer concentrated in the flagellum but was largely found in the cell body whereas the kinesin 9B motor was accumulating at the distal tip of the flagellum. In contrast, the distal tip protein FLAM8 was dispersed along the flagellum. This reveals that IFT also functions in maintaining the distribution of some flagellar proteins after construction of the organelle is completed.

TbFlabarin, a flagellar protein of Trypanosoma brucei, highlights differences between Leishmania and Trypanosoma flagellar-targeting signals

TbFlabarin is the Trypanosoma brucei orthologue of the Leishmania flagellar protein LdFlabarin but its sequence is 33% shorter than LdFlabarin, as it lacks a C-terminal domain that is indispensable for LdFlabarin to localize to the Leishmania flagellum. TbFlabarin is mainly expressed in the procyclic forms of the parasite and localized to the flagellum, but only when two palmitoylable cysteines at positions 3 and 4 are present. TbFlabarin is more strongly attached to the membrane fraction than its Leishmania counterpart, as it resists complete solubilization with as much as 0.5% NP-40. Expression ablation by RNA interference did not change parasite growth in culture, its morphology or apparent motility. Heterologous expression showed that neither TbFlabarin in L. amazonensis nor LdFlabarin in T. brucei localized to the flagellum, revealing non-cross-reacting targeting signals between the two species.

Regulating a Post-Transcriptional Regulator: Protein Phosphorylation, Degradation and Translational Blockage in Control of the Trypanosome Stress-Response RNA-Binding Protein ZC3H11

The life cycle of the mammalian pathogen Trypanosoma brucei involves commuting between two markedly different environments: the homeothermic mammalian host and the poikilothermic invertebrate vector. The ability to resist temperature and other stresses is essential for trypanosome survival. Trypanosome gene expression is mainly post-transcriptional, but must nevertheless be adjusted in response to environmental cues, including host-specific physical and chemical stresses. We investigate here the control of ZC3H11, a CCCH zinc finger protein which stabilizes stress response mRNAs. ZC3H11 protein levels increase at least 10-fold when trypanosomes are stressed by heat shock, proteasome inhibitors, ethanol, arsenite, and low doses of puromycin, but not by various other stresses. We found that increases in protein stability and translation efficiency both contribute to ZC3H11 accumulation. ZC3H11 is an in vitro substrate for casein kinase 1 isoform 2 (CK1.2), and results from CK1.2 depletion and other experiments suggest that phosphorylation of ZC3H11 can promote its instability in vivo. Results from sucrose density centrifugation indicate that under normal culture conditions translation initiation on the ZC3H11 mRNA is repressed, but after suitable stresses the ZC3H11 mRNA moves to heavy polysomes. The ZC3H11 3'-UTR is sufficient for translation suppression and a region of 71 nucleotides is required for the regulation. Since the control works in both bloodstream forms, where ZC3H11 translation is repressed at 37°C, and in procyclic forms, where ZC3H11 translation is activated at 37°C, we predict that this regulatory RNA sequence is targeted by repressive trans acting factor that is released upon stress.

Like other organisms, the mammalian pathogen Trypanosoma brucei is able to sense environmental changes and to change its gene expression accordingly. In contrast with other organisms, however, trypanosomes and related kinetoplastids effect these changes almost exclusively by controlling the translation of mRNAs into protein, and by adjusting the rate at which the mRNAs are degraded. ZC3H11 is an RNA binding protein, which stabilizes mRNAs that encode chaperones. Chaperones are needed to refold proteins after stress. Under normal growth conditions ZC3H11 protein is very unstable, and in addition, not much of the protein is made. Although ZC3H11 mRNA is present under normal, unstressed conditions, most of it is not translated. However, when the cells were stressed by elevated temperature, arsenite, ethanol, puromycin or proteasome inhibitors the amount of ZC3H11 rose almost 10-fold. This was caused by a combination of increased protein stability and enhanced translation of the mRNA. We found that a 71 nucleotide segment of the 3'-untranslated region of the ZC3H11 mRNA was responsible for the regulated translational blockage. We also obtained evidence that casein kinase 1 isoform 2 might phosphorylate ZC3H11, and that phosphorylation can promote ZC3H11 protein degradation. Overall, our results show that the increase in the ZC3H11 level after stress occurs because of changes in protein synthesis, phosphorylation, and stability.

An overview on kinetoplastid paraflagellar rod

Kinetoplastids, the evolutionary ancient organisms exhibit a rich and diverse biology which epitomizes many of the fascinating topics of recent interest and study. These organisms possess a multifunctional organelle, the flagellum containing a canonical 9 + 2 axoneme which is involved in vital roles, viz. parasite cell division, morphogenesis, motility and immune evasion. Since Antony Van Leeuwenhoek's innovative explanation of 'little legs' helping the movements of microbes in 1975, this biological nanomachine has captured the thoughts of scientists. The core structure of kinetoplastid flagellum is embroidered with a range of extra-axonemal structures such as paraflagellar rod (PFR), a large lattice like structure which extends alongside the axoneme from the flagellar pocket to the flagellar tip. The coding sequences for significant components of PFR are highly conserved throughout the Kinetoplastida and Euglenida. The high order organization and restricted evolutionary distribution of the PFR components and structure makes the PFR a particularly valuable therapeutic and prophylactic target. This review focuses on the recent developments in identification of ultra structural components of PFR in order to understand the function of this intriguing organelle and devising strategies for therapeutic interventions.

Enzyme activity in energy supply of spermatozoon motility in two taxonomically distant fish species (sterlet Acipenser ruthenus, Acipenseriformes and common carp Cyprinus carpio, Cypriniformes)

As spermatozoon motility duration differs significantly among fish species, the mechanism of ATP generation-regeneration and its distribution along the flagellum may be species-dependent. The present study compared the role of creatine kinase (CK) with that of adenylate kinase (AK) in ATP regeneration during motility of demembranated spermatozoa of taxonomically distant fish species, sterlet, and common carp, allowing investigation for the presence of the creatine-phosphocreatine (PCr) shuttle in sterlet spermatozoa. The flagellar beat frequency of demembranated spermatozoa was measured in reactivating media in the presence or absence of ATP, ADP, PCr, and CK and AK inhibitors. After demembranation, AK, CK, and total ATPase activity was measured in spermatozoon extracts. Beat frequency of demembranated spermatozoa was found to be positively correlated with ATP levels in reactivating medium and to reach a plateau at 0.8 mM and 0.6 mM ATP for carp and sterlet, respectively. It was shown for the first time that sterlet axonemal dynein ATPases have a higher affinity for ATP than do those of carp. Supplementation of reactivating medium with ADP and PCr without ATP resulted in beat frequencies comparable to that measured with 0.3 to 0.5-mM ATP for both studied species. The presence of the PCr-CK phosphagen system and its essential role in ATP regeneration were first confirmed for sturgeon spermatozoa. The inhibition of CK exerted a high impact on spermatozoon energy supply in both species, whereas the inhibition of AK was more pronounced in sterlet than in carp. This was confirmed by the quantification of enzyme activity in spermatozoon extracts. We concluded that spermatozoa of these taxonomically distant species use similar systems to supply energy for flagella motility, but with different efficacy.

The Flagellar Arginine Kinase in Trypanosoma brucei Is Important for Infection in Tsetse Flies

African trypanosomes are flagellated parasites that cause sleeping sickness. Parasites are transmitted from one mammalian host to another by the bite of a tsetse fly. Trypanosoma brucei possesses three different genes for arginine kinase (AK) including one (AK3) that encodes a protein localised to the flagellum. AK3 is characterised by the presence of a unique amino-terminal insertion that specifies flagellar targeting. We show here a phylogenetic analysis revealing that flagellar AK arose in two independent duplication events in T. brucei and T. congolense, the two species of African trypanosomes that infect the tsetse midgut. In T. brucei, AK3 is detected in all stages of parasite development in the fly (in the midgut and in the salivary glands) as well as in bloodstream cells, but with predominance at insect stages. Genetic knockout leads to a slight reduction in motility and impairs parasite infectivity towards tsetse flies in single and competition experiments, both phenotypes being reverted upon expression of an epitope-tagged version of AK3. We speculate that this flagellar arginine kinase is important for T. brucei infection of tsetse, especially in the context of mixed infections and that its flagellar targeting relies on a system equivalent to that discovered for calflagins, a family of trypanosome flagellum calcium binding proteins.

The flagellar adenylate kinases of Trypanosoma cruzi

Adenylate kinases (ADK) are key enzymes involved in cell energy management. Trypanosomatids present the highest number of variants in a single cell in comparison with the rest of the living organisms. In this work, we characterized two flagellar ADKs from Trypanosoma cruzi, called TcADK1 and TcADK4, which are also located in the cell cytosol. Interestingly, TcADK1 presents a stage-specific expression. This variant was detected in epimastigotes cells, and was completely absent in trypomastigotes and amastigotes, while TcADK4 is present in the major life cycle stages of T. cruzi. Both variants are also regulated, in opposite ways, along the parasite growth curve suggesting that their expression depends on the intra- and extracellular conditions. Both, TcADK1 and TcADK4 present N-terminal extension that could be responsible for their subcellular localization. The presence of ADK variants in the flagellum would be critical for the provision of energy in a process of high ATP consumption such as cell motility.

Evidence for loss of a partial flagellar glycolytic pathway during trypanosomatid evolution

Classically viewed as a cytosolic pathway, glycolysis is increasingly recognized as a metabolic pathway exhibiting surprisingly wide-ranging variations in compartmentalization within eukaryotic cells. Trypanosomatid parasites provide an extreme view of glycolytic enzyme compartmentalization as several glycolytic enzymes are found exclusively in peroxisomes. Here, we characterize Trypanosoma brucei flagellar proteins resembling glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK): we show the latter associates with the axoneme and the former is a novel paraflagellar rod component. The paraflagellar rod is an essential extra-axonemal structure in trypanosomes and related protists, providing a platform into which metabolic activities can be built. Yet, bioinformatics interrogation and structural modelling indicate neither the trypanosome PGK-like nor the GAPDH-like protein is catalytically active. Orthologs are present in a free-living ancestor of the trypanosomatids, Bodo saltans: the PGK-like protein from B. saltans also lacks key catalytic residues, but its GAPDH-like protein is predicted to be catalytically competent. We discuss the likelihood that the trypanosome GAPDH-like and PGK-like proteins constitute molecular evidence for evolutionary loss of a flagellar glycolytic pathway, either as a consequence of niche adaptation or the re-localization of glycolytic enzymes to peroxisomes and the extensive changes to glycolytic flux regulation that accompanied this re-localization. Evidence indicating loss of localized ATP provision via glycolytic enzymes therefore provides a novel contribution to an emerging theme of hidden diversity with respect to compartmentalization of the ubiquitous glycolytic pathway in eukaryotes. A possibility that trypanosome GAPDH-like protein additionally represents a degenerate example of a moonlighting protein is also discussed.

The limits on trypanosomatid morphological diversity

Cell shape is one, often overlooked, way in which protozoan parasites have adapted to a variety of host and vector environments and directional transmissions between these environments. Consequently, different parasite life cycle stages have characteristic morphologies. Trypanosomatid parasites are an excellent example of this in which large morphological variations between species and life cycle stage occur, despite sharing well-conserved cytoskeletal and membranous structures. Here, using previously published reports in the literature of the morphology of 248 isolates of trypanosomatid species from different hosts, we perform a meta-analysis of the occurrence and limits on morphological diversity of different classes of trypanosomatid morphology (trypomastigote, promastigote, etc.) in the vertebrate bloodstream and invertebrate gut environments. We identified several limits on cell body length, cell body width and flagellum length diversity which can be interpreted as biomechanical limits on the capacity of the cell to attain particular dimensions. These limits differed for morphologies with and without a laterally attached flagellum which we suggest represent two morphological superclasses, the ‘juxtaform’ and ‘liberform’ superclasses. Further limits were identified consistent with a selective pressure from the mechanical properties of the vertebrate bloodstream environment; trypanosomatid size showed limits relative to host erythrocyte dimensions. This is the first comprehensive analysis of the limits of morphological diversity in any protozoan parasite, revealing the morphogenetic constraints and extrinsic selection pressures associated with the full diversity of trypanosomatid morphology.

The eukaryotic flagellum makes the day: novel and unforeseen roles uncovered after post-genomics and proteomics data

This review will summarize and discuss the current biological understanding of the motile eukaryotic flagellum, as posed out by recent advances enabled by post-genomics and proteomics approaches. The organelle, which is crucial for motility, survival, differentiation, reproduction, division and feeding, among other activities, of many eukaryotes, is a great example of a natural nanomachine assembled mostly by proteins (around 350-650 of them) that have been conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution. Flagellar proteins are discussed in terms of their arrangement on to the axoneme, the canonical “9+2” microtubule pattern, and also motor and sensorial elements that have been detected by recent proteomic analyses in organisms such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, sea urchin, and trypanosomatids. Such findings can be remarkably matched up to important discoveries in vertebrate and mammalian types as diverse as sperm cells, ciliated kidney epithelia, respiratory and oviductal cilia, and neuro-epithelia, among others. Here we will focus on some exciting work regarding eukaryotic flagellar proteins, particularly using the flagellar proteome of C. reinhardtii as a reference map for exploring motility in function, dysfunction and pathogenic flagellates. The reference map for the eukaryotic flagellar proteome consists of 652 proteins that include known structural and intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins, less well-characterized signal transduction proteins and flagellar associated proteins (FAPs), besides almost two hundred unannotated conserved proteins, which lately have been the subject of intense investigation and of our present examination.

LdFlabarin, a new BAR domain membrane protein of Leishmania flagellum

During the Leishmania life cycle, the flagellum undergoes successive assembly and disassembly of hundreds of proteins. Understanding these processes necessitates the study of individual components. Here, we investigated LdFlabarin, an uncharacterized L. donovani flagellar protein. The gene is conserved within the Leishmania genus and orthologous genes only exist in the Trypanosoma genus. LdFlabarin associates with the flagellar plasma membrane, extending from the base to the tip of the flagellum as a helicoidal structure. Site-directed mutagenesis, deletions and chimera constructs showed that LdFlabarin flagellar addressing necessitates three determinants: an N-terminal potential acylation site and a central BAR domain for membrane targeting and the C-terminal domain for flagellar specificity. In vitro, the protein spontaneously associates with liposomes, triggering tubule formation, which suggests a structural/morphogenetic function. LdFlabarin is the first characterized Leishmania BAR domain protein, and the first flagellum-specific BAR domain protein.

Calmodulin is required for paraflagellar rod assembly and flagellum-cell body attachment in trypanosomes

In the flagellum of the African sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei calmodulin (CaM) is found within the paraflagellar rod (PFR), an elaborate extra-axonemal structure, and the axoneme. In dissecting mechanisms of motility regulation we analysed CaM function using RNAi. Unexpectedly CaM depletion resulted in total and catastrophic failure in PFR assembly; even connections linking axoneme to PFR failed to form following CaM depletion. This provides an intriguing parallel with the role in the green alga Chlamydomonas of a CaM-related protein in docking outer-dynein arms to axoneme outer-doublet microtubules. Absence of CaM had no discernible effect on axoneme assembly, but the failure in PFR assembly was further compounded by loss of the normal linkage between PFR and axoneme to the flagellum attachment zone of the cell body. Thus, flagellum detachment was a secondary, time-dependent consequence of CaM RNAi, and coincided with the loss of normal trypomastigote morphology, thereby linking the presence of PFR architecture with maintenance of cell form, as well as cell motility. Finally, wider comparison between the flagellum detachment phenotypes of RNAi mutants for CaM and the FLA1 glycoprotein potentially provides new perspective into the function of the latter into establishing and maintaining flagellum-cell body attachment.

The phosphoarginine energy-buffering system of trypanosoma brucei involves multiple arginine kinase isoforms with different subcellular locations

Phosphagen energy-buffering systems play an essential role in regulating the cellular energy homeostasis in periods of high-energy demand or energy supply fluctuations. Here we describe the phosphoarginine/arginine kinase system of the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei, consisting of three highly similar arginine kinase isoforms (TbAK1-3). Immunofluorescence microscopy using myc-tagged protein versions revealed that each isoform is located in a specific subcellular compartment: TbAK1 is exclusively found in the flagellum, TbAK2 in the glycosome, and TbAK3 in the cytosol of T. brucei. The flagellar location of TbAK1 is dependent on a 22 amino acid long N-terminal sequence, which is sufficient for targeting a GFP-fusion protein to the trypanosome flagellum. The glycosomal location of TbAK2 is in agreement with the presence of a conserved peroxisomal targeting signal, the C-terminal tripeptide ‘SNL’. TbAK3 lacks any apparent targeting sequences and is accordingly located in the cytosol of the parasite. Northern blot analysis indicated that each TbAK isoform is differentially expressed in bloodstream and procyclic forms of T. brucei, while the total cellular arginine kinase activity was 3-fold higher in bloodstream form trypanosomes. These results suggest a substantial change in the temporal and spatial energy requirements during parasite differentiation. Increased arginine kinase activity improved growth of procyclic form T. brucei during oxidative challenges with hydrogen peroxide. Elimination of the total cellular arginine kinase activity by RNA interference significantly decreased growth (>90%) of procyclic form T. brucei under standard culture conditions and was lethal for this life cycle stage in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The putative physiological roles of the different TbAK isoforms in T. brucei are further discussed.

Molecular and functional characterization of a Trypanosoma cruzi nuclear adenylate kinase isoform

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, is an early divergent eukaryote in which control of gene expression relies mainly in post-transcriptional mechanisms. Transcription levels are globally up and down regulated during the transition between proliferating and non-proliferating life-cycle stages. In this work we characterized a nuclear adenylate kinase isoform (TcADKn) that is involved in ribosome biogenesis. Nuclear adenylate kinases have been recently described in a few organisms, being all related to RNA metabolism. Depending on active transcription and translation, TcADKn localizes in the nucleolus or the cytoplasm. A non-canonical nuclear localization signal was mapped towards the N-terminal of the protein, being the phosphate-binding loop essential for its localization. In addition, TcADKn nuclear exportation depends on the nuclear exportation adapter CRM1. TcADKn nuclear shuttling is governed by nutrient availability, oxidative stress and by the equivalent in T. cruzi of the mammalian TOR (Target of Rapamycin) pathway. One of the biological functions of TcADKn is ribosomal 18S RNA processing by direct interaction with ribosomal protein TcRps14. Finally, TcADKn expression is regulated by its 3′ UTR mRNA. Depending on extracellular conditions, cells modulate protein translation rates regulating ribosome biogenesis and nuclear adenylate kinases are probably key components in these processes.

Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi produces a condition known as Chagas disease which affects at least 17 million people. Adenylate kinases, so called myokinases, are involved in a wide variety of processes, mainly related to their role in nucleotide interconversion and energy management. Recently, nuclear isoforms have been described in several organisms. This “atypical” isoform in terms of primary structure was associated to ribosomes biogenesis in yeast and to Cajal body organization in humans. Moreover nuclear adenylate kinases are essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. In this manuscript we characterized T. cruzi nuclear adenylate kinase (TcADKn). TcADKn localizes in the nucleolus or cell cytoplasm. Nuclear shuttling mechanisms were also studied for the first time, being dependent on nutrient availability, oxidative stress and by the equivalent of the mammalian TOR pathway in T. cruzi. Furthermore we characterized the signals involved in nuclear importation and exportation processes. In addition, TcADKn expression levels are regulated at an mRNA level, being its 3′UTR involved in this process. These findings are the first steps in the understanding of ribosome processing in trypanosomatids.

Proteomics and the Trypanosoma brucei cytoskeleton: advances and opportunities

Trypanosoma brucei is the etiological agent of devastating parasitic disease in humans and livestock in sub-saharan Africa. The pathogenicity and growth of the parasite are intimately linked to its shape and form. This is in turn derived from a highly ordered microtubule cytoskeleton that forms a tightly arrayed cage directly beneath the pellicular membrane and numerous other cytoskeletal structures such as the flagellum. The parasite undergoes extreme changes in cellular morphology during its life cycle and cell cycles which require a high level of integration and coordination of cytoskeletal processes. In this review we will discuss the role that proteomics techniques have had in advancing our understanding of the molecular composition of the cytoskeleton and its functions. We then consider future opportunities for the application of these techniques in terms of addressing some of the unanswered questions of trypanosome cytoskeletal cell biology with particular focus on the differences in the composition and organisation of the cytoskeleton through the trypanosome life-cycle.

Both sequence and context are important for flagellar targeting of a glucose transporter

Many of the cilia- and flagella-specific integral membrane proteins identified to date function to sense the extracellular milieu, and there is considerable interest in defining pathways for targeting such proteins to these sensory organelles. The flagellar glucose transporter of Leishmania mexicana, LmxGT1, is targeted selectively to the flagellar membrane, whereas two other isoforms, LmxGT2 and LmxGT3, are targeted to the pellicular plasma membrane of the cell body. To define the flagellar targeting signal, deletions and point mutations were generated in the N-terminal hydrophilic domain of LmxGT1, which mediates flagellar localization. Three amino acids, N95-P96-M97, serve critical roles in flagellar targeting, resulting in strong mistargeting phenotypes when mutagenized. However, to facilitate flagellar targeting of other non-flagellar membrane proteins, it was necessary to attach a larger region surrounding the NPM motif containing amino acids 81-113. Molecular modeling suggests that this region might present the critical NPM residues at the surface of the N-terminal domain. It is likely that the NPM motif is recognized by currently unknown protein-binding partners that mediate flagellar targeting of membrane-associated proteins.

Cryo-electron tomography and 3-D analysis of the intact flagellum in Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosoma brucei is a uni-cellular protist that causes African sleeping sickness. These parasites have a flagellum that is attached to the cell body and is indispensible for its motility. The flagellum consists of a canonical 9+2 axoneme and a paraflagellar rod (PFR), an intricate tripartite, fibrous structure that is connected to the axoneme. In this paper we describe results from cryo-electron tomography of unperturbed flagella. This method revealed novel structures that are likely involved in attaching the flagellum to the cell. We also show the first cryo-electron tomographic images of a basal body in situ, revealing electron dense structures inside its triplet microtubules. Sub-tomogram averaging of the PFR revealed that its distal region is organized as an orthorhombic crystal.

Three-dimensional structure of the Trypanosome flagellum suggests that the paraflagellar rod functions as a biomechanical spring

Flagellum motility is critical for normal human development and for transmission of pathogenic protozoa that cause tremendous human suffering worldwide. Biophysical principles underlying motility of eukaryotic flagella are conserved from protists to vertebrates. However, individual cells exhibit diverse waveforms that depend on cell-specific elaborations on basic flagellum architecture. Trypanosoma brucei is a uniflagellated protozoan parasite that causes African sleeping sickness. The T. brucei flagellum is comprised of a 9+2 axoneme and an extra-axonemal paraflagellar rod (PFR), but the three-dimensional (3D) arrangement of the underlying structural units is poorly defined. Here, we use dual-axis electron tomography to determine the 3D architecture of the T. brucei flagellum. We define the T. brucei axonemal repeating unit. We observe direct connections between the PFR and axonemal dyneins, suggesting a mechanism by which mechanochemical signals may be transmitted from the PFR to axonemal dyneins. We find that the PFR itself is comprised of overlapping laths organized into distinct zones that are connected through twisting elements at the zonal interfaces. The overall structure has an underlying 57nm repeating unit. Biomechanical properties inferred from PFR structure lead us to propose that the PFR functions as a biomechanical spring that may store and transmit energy derived from axonemal beating. These findings provide insight into the structural foundations that underlie the distinctive flagellar waveform that is a hallmark of T. brucei cell motility.

[The importance of model organisms to study cilia and flagella biology]

Cilia and flagella are ubiquitous organelles that protrude from the surfaces of many cells, and whose architecture is highly conserved from protists to humans. These complex organelles, composed of over 500 proteins, can be either immotile or motile. They are involved in a myriad of biological processes, including sensing (non-motile cilia) and/or cell motility or movement of extracellular fluids (motile cilia). The ever-expanding list of human diseases linked to defective cilia illustrates the functional importance of cilia and flagella. These ciliopathies are characterised by an impressive diversity of symptoms and an often complex genetic etiology. A precise knowledge of cilia and flagella biology is thus critical to better understand these pathologies. However, multi-ciliated cells are terminally differentiated and difficult to manipulate, and a primary cilium is assembled only when the cell exits from the cell cycle. In this context the use of model organisms, that relies on the high degree of structural but also of molecular conservation of these organelles across evolution, is instrumental to decipher the many facets of cilia and flagella biology. In this review, we highlight the specific strengths of the main model organisms to investigate the molecular composition, mode of assembly, sensing and motility mechanisms and functions of cilia and flagella. Pioneering studies carried out in the green alga Chlamydomonas established the link between cilia and several genetic diseases. Moreover, multicellular organisms such as mouse, zebrafish, Xenopus, C. elegans or Drosophila, and protists like Paramecium, Tetrahymena and Trypanosoma or Leishmania each bring specific advantages to the study of cilium biology. For example, the function of genes involved in primary ciliary dyskinesia (due to defects in ciliary motility) can be efficiently assessed in trypanosomes.

Singular features of trypanosomatids' phosphotransferases involved in cell energy management

Trypanosomatids are responsible for economically important veterinary affections and severe human diseases. In Africa, Trypanosoma brucei causes sleeping sickness or African trypanosomiasis, while in America, Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. These parasites have complex life cycles which involve a wide variety of environments with very different compositions, physicochemical properties, and availability of metabolites. As the environment changes there is a need to maintain the nucleoside homeostasis, requiring a quick and regulated response. Most of the enzymes required for energy management are phosphotransferases. These enzymes present a nitrogenous group or a phosphate as acceptors, and the most clear examples are arginine kinase, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and adenylate kinase. Trypanosoma and Leishmania have the largest number of phosphotransferase isoforms ever found in a single cell; some of them are absent in mammals, suggesting that these enzymes are required in many cellular compartments associated to different biological processes. The presence of such number of phosphotransferases support the hypothesis of the existence of an intracellular enzymatic phosphotransfer network that communicates the spatially separated intracellular ATP consumption and production processes. All these unique features make phosphotransferases a promising start point for rational drug design for the treatment of human trypanosomiasis.

The N terminus of phosphodiesterase TbrPDEB1 of Trypanosoma brucei contains the signal for integration into the flagellar skeleton

The precise subcellular localization of the components of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathways is a crucial aspect of eukaryotic intracellular signaling. In the human pathogen Trypanosoma brucei, the strict control of cAMP levels by cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases is essential for parasite survival, both in cell culture and in the infected host. Among the five cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases identified in this organism, two closely related isoenzymes, T. brucei PDEB1 (TbrPDEB1) (PDEB1) and TbrPDEB2 (PDEB2) are predominantly responsible for the maintenance of cAMP levels. Despite their close sequence similarity, they are distinctly localized in the cell. PDEB1 is mostly located in the flagellum, where it forms an integral part of the flagellar skeleton. PDEB2 is mainly located in the cell body, and only a minor part of the protein localizes to the flagellum. The current study, using transfection of procyclic trypanosomes with green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporters, demonstrates that the N termini of the two enzymes are essential for determining their final subcellular localization. The first 70 amino acids of PDEB1 are sufficient to specifically direct a GFP reporter to the flagellum and to lead to its detergent-resistant integration into the flagellar skeleton. In contrast, the analogous region of PDEB2 causes the GFP reporter to reside predominantly in the cell body. Mutagenesis of selected residues in the N-terminal region of PDEB2 demonstrated that single amino acid changes are sufficient to redirect the reporter from a cell body location to stable integration into the flagellar skeleton.

Membrane protein SMP-1 is required for normal flagellum function in Leishmania

Eukaryotic flagella and cilia are surrounded by a membrane that is continuous with, but distinct from, the rest of the plasma membrane. In Leishmania parasites, the inner leaflet of the flagellar membrane is coated with the acylated membrane protein, SMP-1. Here, we provide evidence that SMP-1 stabilizes the flagellar membrane and is required for flagella elongation and function. The expression and flagella targeting of SMP-1 is tightly associated with flagella elongation during amastigote to promastigote differentiation. Deletion of the genes encoding SMP-1 and the flagellar pocket protein SMP-2, led to the production of short flagella and defects in motility. Alterations in the physical properties of the smp-1/smp-2(-/-) flagellar membrane were suggested by: (1) the accumulation of membrane vesicles in the flagellar matrix, and (2) further retraction of flagella following partial inhibition of sterol and sphingolipid biosynthesis. The flagella phenotype of the smp-1/smp-2(-/-) null mutant was reversed by re-expression of SMP-1, but not SMP-2. SMP-1 contains a jelly-roll beta-sheet structure that is probably conserved in all SMP proteins, and forms stable homo-oligomers in vivo. We propose that the SMP-1 coat generates and/or stabilizes sterol- and sphingolipid-rich domains in the flagellar membrane.

Approaches for functional analysis of flagellar proteins in African trypanosomes

The eukaryotic flagellum is a highly conserved organelle serving motility, sensory, and transport functions. Although genetic, genomic, and proteomic studies have led to the identification of hundreds of flagellar and putative flagellar proteins, precisely how these proteins function individually and collectively to drive flagellum motility and other functions remains to be determined. In this chapter we provide an overview of tools and approaches available for studying flagellum protein function in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. We begin by outlining techniques for in vitro cultivation of both T. brucei life cycle stages, as well as transfection protocols for the delivery of DNA constructs. We then describe specific assays used to assess flagellum function including flagellum preparation and quantitative motility assays. We conclude the chapter with a description of molecular genetic approaches for manipulating gene function. In summary, the availability of potent molecular tools, as well as the health and economic relevance of T. brucei as a pathogen, combine to make the parasite an attractive and integral experimental system for the functional analysis of flagellar proteins.

A protein-protein interaction map of the Trypanosoma brucei paraflagellar rod

We have conducted a protein interaction study of components within a specific sub-compartment of a eukaryotic flagellum. The trypanosome flagellum contains a para-crystalline extra-axonemal structure termed the paraflagellar rod (PFR) with around forty identified components. We have used a Gateway cloning approach coupled with yeast two-hybrid, RNAi and 2D DiGE to define a protein-protein interaction network taking place in this structure. We define two clusters of interactions; the first being characterised by two proteins with a shared domain which is not sufficient for maintaining the interaction. The other cohort is populated by eight proteins, a number of which possess a PFR domain and sub-populations of this network exhibit dependency relationships. Finally, we provide clues as to the structural organisation of the PFR at the molecular level. This multi-strand approach shows that protein interactome data can be generated for insoluble protein complexes.

Trypanosoma brucei AMP-activated kinase subunit homologs influence surface molecule expression

The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, can gauge its environment by sensing nutrient availability. For example, procyclic form (PF) trypanosomes monitor changes in glucose levels to regulate surface molecule expression, which is important for survival in the tsetse fly vector. The molecular connection between glycolysis and surface molecule expression is unknown. Here we partially characterize T. brucei homologs of the beta and gamma subunits of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and determine their roles in regulating surface molecule expression. Using flow cytometry and mass spectrometry, we found that TbAMPKbeta or TbAMPKgamma-deficient parasites express both of the major surface molecules, EP- and GPEET-procyclin, with the latter being a form that is expressed when glucose is low such as in the tsetse fly. Last, we have found that the putative scaffold component of the complex, TbAMPKbeta, fractionates with organellar components and colocalizes in part with a glycosomal marker as well as the flagellum of PF parasites.

The paraflagellar rod of kinetoplastid parasites: from structure to components and function

The role of the eukaryotic flagellum in cell motility is well established but its importance in many other aspects of cell biology, from cell signalling to developmental regulation, is becoming increasingly apparent. In addition to this diversity of function the core structure of the flagellum, which has been inherited from the earliest ancestor of all eukaryotes, is embellished with a range of extra-axonemal structures in many organisms. One of the best studied of these structures is the paraflagellar rod of kinetoplastid protozoa in which the morphological characteristics have been well defined and some of the major protein constituents have been identified. Here we discuss recent advances in the identification of further molecular components of the paraflagellar rod, how these impact on our understanding of its function and regulation and the implications for therapeutic intervention in a number of devastating human pathologies.

Combining RNA interference mutants and comparative proteomics to identify protein components and dependences in a eukaryotic flagellum

Eukaryotic flagella from organisms such as Trypanosoma brucei can be isolated and their protein components identified by mass spectrometry. Here we used a comparative approach utilizing two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation to reveal protein components of flagellar structures via ablation by inducible RNA interference mutation. By this approach we identified 20 novel components of the paraflagellar rod (PFR). Using epitope tagging we validated a subset of these as being present within the PFR by immunofluorescence. Bioinformatic analysis of the PFR cohort reveals a likely calcium/calmodulin regulatory/signaling linkage between some components. We extended the RNA interference mutant/comparative proteomic analysis to individual novel components of our PFR proteome, showing that the approach has the power to reveal dependences between subgroups within the cohort.

The Trypanosoma brucei flagellum: moving parasites in new directions

African trypanosomes are devastating human and animal pathogens. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and T. b. gambiense subspecies cause the fatal human disease known as African sleeping sickness. It is estimated that several hundred thousand new infections occur annually and the disease is fatal if untreated. T. brucei is transmitted by the tsetse fly and alternates between bloodstream-form and insect-form life cycle stages that are adapted to survive in the mammalian host and the insect vector, respectively. The importance of the flagellum for parasite motility and attachment to the tsetse fly salivary gland epithelium has been appreciated for many years. Recent studies have revealed both conserved and novel features of T. brucei flagellum structure and composition, as well as surprising new functions that are outlined here. These discoveries are important from the standpoint of understanding trypanosome biology and identifying novel drug targets, as well as for advancing our understanding of fundamental aspects of eukaryotic flagellum structure and function.

Swimming with protists: perception, motility and flagellum assembly

In unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes, fast cell motility and rapid movement of material over cell surfaces are often mediated by ciliary or flagellar beating. The conserved defining structure in most motile cilia and flagella is the '9+2' microtubule axoneme. Our general understanding of flagellum assembly and the regulation of flagellar motility has been led by results from seminal studies of flagellate protozoa and algae. Here we review recent work relating to various aspects of protist physiology and cell biology. In particular, we discuss energy metabolism in eukaryotic flagella, modifications to the canonical assembly pathway and flagellum function in parasite virulence.

Mutation of murine adenylate kinase 7 underlies a primary ciliary dyskinesia phenotype

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorder, characterized by progressive development of bronchiectasis, inflammation, and features characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We report here that a murine mutation of the evolutionarily conserved adenylate kinase 7 (Ak7) gene results in animals presenting with pathological signs characteristic of PCD, including ultrastructural ciliary defects and decreased ciliary beat frequency in respiratory epithelium. The mutation is associated with hydrocephalus, abnormal spermatogenesis, mucus accumulation in paranasal passages, and a dramatic respiratory pathology upon allergen challenge. Ak7 appears to be a marker for cilia with (9 + 2) microtubular organization. This is suggested by its tissue specificity of expression and also the stringent conservation of Ak7 ortholog structure only in protozoans and metazoans possessing motile (9 + 2) cilia. Collectively, our results indicate an ancestral and crucial role of Ak7 in maintaining ciliary structure and function, and suggest that mutations of the human ortholog may underlie a subset of genetically uncharacterized PCD cases.

The flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei: new tricks from an old dog

African trypanosomes, i.e. Trypanosoma brucei and related sub-species, are devastating human and animal pathogens that cause significant human mortality and limit sustained economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. T. brucei is a highly motile protozoan parasite and coordinated motility is central to both disease pathogenesis in the mammalian host and parasite development in the tsetse fly vector. Therefore, understanding unique aspects of the T. brucei flagellum may uncover novel targets for therapeutic intervention in African sleeping sickness. Moreover, studies of conserved features of the T. brucei flagellum are directly relevant to understanding fundamental aspects of flagellum and cilium function in other eukaryotes, making T. brucei an important model system. The T. brucei flagellum contains a canonical 9+2 axoneme, together with additional features that are unique to kinetoplastids and a few closely-related organisms. Until recently, much of our knowledge of the structure and function of the trypanosome flagellum was based on analogy and inference from other organisms. There has been an explosion in functional studies in T. brucei in recent years, revealing conserved as well as novel and unexpected structural and functional features of the flagellum. Most notably, the flagellum has been found to be an essential organelle, with critical roles in parasite motility, morphogenesis, cell division and immune evasion. This review highlights recent discoveries on the T. brucei flagellum.

Flagellar and ciliary beating in trypanosome motility

The single flagellum of Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites is becoming an increasingly attractive model for the analysis of flagellar function-driven largely by the abundance of genomic and proteomic information available for the organelle, the genetic manipulability of the organisms and the importance of motility for the parasite lifecycle. However, as yet, there is a paucity of published data on the beating of any genetically malleable trypanosomatid species. Here we undertook an in-depth analysis using high-speed videomicroscopy of the beating of free-swimming Leishmania major cells in comparison to Crithidia species (for which there is some existing literature). In so doing, we describe a simple and generally-applicable technique to facilitate the quantitative analysis of free-swimming cells. Our analysis thoroughly defines the parameters of the expected tip-to-base symmetrical flagellar beat in these species. It also describes beat initiation from points other than the flagellum tip and a completely different, base-to-tip highly-asymmetric beat that represents a ciliary beat of trypanosomatid flagella. Moreover, detailed analysis of parameter interrelationships revealed an unexpected dependency of wavelength on oscillator length that may be the result of reversible constraint of doublet sliding at the tip or resonance of the flagellar beat.

A Sea Urchin Sperm Flagellar Adenylate Kinase with Triplicated Catalytic Domains

The mitochondrion of sea urchin sperm is located at the base of the sperm head, and the flagellum extends from the mitochondrion for approximately 40 microM. These sperm have two known flagellar, non-mitochondrial, enzymatic systems to rephosphorylate ADP. The first involves the phosphocreatine shuttle, where flagellar creatine kinase (Sp-CK) uses phosphocreatine to rephosphorylate ADP. The second system, studied in this report, is adenylate kinase (Sp-AK), which uses 2 ADP to make ATP + AMP. Cloning of Sp-AK shows that, like Sp-CK, Sp-AK has three catalytic domains. Sp-AK localizes along the entire flagellum, and most of it is tightly bound to the axoneme. Sp-AK activity and flagellar motility were studied using demembranated sperm. The specific Sp-AK inhibitor Ap5A blocks enzyme activity with an IC50 of 0.41 microM. In 1 mm ADP, flagella reactivate motility in 5 min; 1 microM Ap5A completely inhibits this reactivation. No inhibition of motility occurs in Ap5A when 1 mm ATP is added to the reactivation buffer. The pH optimum for Sp-AK is 7.7, an internal pH at which sperm are fully motile. The pH optimum for Sp-CK is 6.7, an internal pH at which sperm are immotile. In isolated, detergent-permeabilized flagella, assayed at pH 7.6, the Km for Sp-AK is 0.32 mm and the Vmax is 2.80 microM ATP formed/min/mg of protein. When assayed at pH 7.6, the Sp-CK Km is 0.25 mm and the Vmax 5.25. At the measured in vivo concentrations of ADP of 114 microM, at pH 7.6, the axonemal Sp-AK could contribute approximately 31%, and Sp-CK 69%, of the total non-mitochondrial ATP synthesis associated with the demembranated axoneme. Thus, Sp-AK could contribute substantially to ATP synthesis utilized for motility. Alternatively, Sp-AK could function in the removal of ADP, which is a potent inhibitor of dynein ATPase.

Adenylate kinase in sea urchin embryonic cilia

Sea urchin embryos swim by ciliary movement. Hypertonic shock causes deciliation and loss of motility. Within 2-4 h, cilia regenerate and the embryos swim again. Regeneration of cilia occurs multiple times. The adenylate kinase (AK) activity of isolated cilia was studied. A 130-kDa Sp-AK isozyme, present in sperm flagella, is also present in embryonic cilia. AK activity is responsible for approximately 93% of nonmitochondrial ATP regeneration from ADP in embryonic cilia. This is unlike sea urchin sperm flagella, where approximately 31% of the nonmitochondrial ATP regeneration is from the 130-kDa Sp-AK isozyme and approximately 69% from the flagellar creatine kinase (Sp-CK). Embryos were deciliated 1-3 times and after a 2-h period of regeneration the major ciliary axonemal proteins such as the tubulins appeared constant in amount. However, a moderate decrease in ATPase activity, and a large decrease of total AK activity, were measured. The decrease in AK activity paralleled the decrease in embryo swimming velocity. Embryos were deciliated once and cilia regeneration followed for 4 h. ATPase activity recovered to control levels by 3 h, but AK activity and swimming velocity remained lower than in controls. Detergent solubility data and kinetic experiments indicate that, in addition to the 130-kDa Sp-AK, there is at least one additional AK isozyme in embryonic cilia. Analysis of the S. purpuratus genome indicates five AK isozymes in addition to the 130-kDa Sp-AK isozyme. Decreased swimming velocity of embryos with regenerated cilia suggests that regenerated cilia are not as functionally perfect as naturally grown cilia.

Trypanosomes and mammalian sperm: one of a kind?

Flagellar-mediated motility is an indispensable function for cell types as evolutionarily distant as mammalian sperm and kinetoplastid parasites, a large group of flagellated protozoa that includes several important human pathogens. Despite the obvious importance of flagellar motility, little is known about the signalling processes that direct the frequency and wave shape of the flagellar beat, or those that provide the motile cell with the necessary environmental cues that enable it to aim its movement. Similarly, the energetics of the flagellar beat and the problem of a sufficient ATP supply along the entire length of the beating flagellum remain to be explored. Recent proteome projects studying the flagella of mammalian sperm and kinetoplastid parasites have provided important information and have indicated a surprising degree of similarities between the flagella of these two cell types.

Identification of novel lung genes in bronchial epithelium by serial analysis of gene expression

A description of the transcriptome of human bronchial epithelium should provide a basis for studying lung diseases, including cancer. We have deduced global gene expression profiles of bronchial epithelium and lung parenchyma, based on a vast dataset of nearly two million sequence tags from 21 serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries from individuals with a history of smoking. Our analysis suggests that the transcriptome of the bronchial epithelium is distinct from that of lung parenchyma and other tissue types. Moreover, our analysis has identified novel bronchial-enriched genes such as MS4A8B, and has demonstrated the use of SAGE for the discovery of novel transcript variants. Significantly, gene expression associated with ciliogenesis is evident in bronchial epithelium, and includes the expression of transcripts specifying axonemal proteins DNAI2, SPAG6, ASP, and FOXJ1 transcription factor. Moreover, expression of potential regulators of ciliogenesis such as MDAC1, NYD-SP29, ARMC3, and ARMC4 were also identified. This study represents a comprehensive delineation of the bronchial and parenchyma transcriptomes, identifying more than 20,000 known and hypothetical genes expressed in the human lung, and constitutes one of the largest human SAGE studies reported to date.