1
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Alberione MP, González-Ruiz V, von Rohr O, Rudaz S, Soldati-Favre D, Izquierdo L, Kloehn J. N-acetylglucosamine supplementation fails to bypass the critical acetylation of glucosamine-6-phosphate required for Toxoplasma gondii replication and invasion. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011979. [PMID: 38900808 PMCID: PMC11218972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell surface of Toxoplasma gondii is rich in glycoconjugates which hold diverse and vital functions in the lytic cycle of this obligate intracellular parasite. Additionally, the cyst wall of bradyzoites, that shields the persistent form responsible for chronic infection from the immune system, is heavily glycosylated. Formation of glycoconjugates relies on activated sugar nucleotides, such as uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). The glucosamine-phosphate-N-acetyltransferase (GNA1) generates N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate critical to produce UDP-GlcNAc. Here, we demonstrate that downregulation of T. gondii GNA1 results in a severe reduction of UDP-GlcNAc and a concomitant drop in glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs), leading to impairment of the parasite's ability to invade and replicate in the host cell. Surprisingly, attempts to rescue this defect through exogenous GlcNAc supplementation fail to completely restore these vital functions. In depth metabolomic analyses elucidate diverse causes underlying the failed rescue: utilization of GlcNAc is inefficient under glucose-replete conditions and fails to restore UDP-GlcNAc levels in GNA1-depleted parasites. In contrast, GlcNAc-supplementation under glucose-deplete conditions fully restores UDP-GlcNAc levels but fails to rescue the defects associated with GNA1 depletion. Our results underscore the importance of glucosamine-6-phosphate acetylation in governing T. gondii replication and invasion and highlight the potential of the evolutionary divergent GNA1 in Apicomplexa as a target for the development of much-needed new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pía Alberione
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Olivier von Rohr
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serge Rudaz
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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Qu Z, Li Y, Li W, Zhang N, Olajide JS, Mi X, Fu B. Global profiling of protein S-palmitoylation in the second-generation merozoites of Eimeria tenella. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:190. [PMID: 38647704 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08204-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The intracellular protozoan Eimeria tenella is responsible for avian coccidiosis which is characterized by host intestinal damage. During developmental cycle, E. tenella undergoes versatile transitional stages such as oocyst, sporozoites, merozoites, and gametocytes. These developmental transitions involve changes in cell shape and cell size requiring cytoskeletal remodeling and changes in membrane proteins, which may require transcriptional and translational regulations as well as post-translational modification of proteins. Palmitoylation is a post-translational modification (PTM) of protein that orchestrates protein targeting, folding, stability, regulated enzymatic activity and even epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Previous research revealed that protein palmitoylation play essential role in Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trichomonas vaginalis, and several Plasmodium parasites. Until now, there is little information on the enzymes related to palmitoylation and role of protein acylation or palmitoylation in E. tenella. Therefore, palmitome of the second-generation merozoite of E. tenella was investigated. We identified a total of 2569 palmitoyl-sites that were assigned to 2145 palmitoyl-peptides belonging to 1561 protein-groups that participated in biological processes including parasite morphology, motility and host cell invasion. In addition, RNA biosynthesis, protein biosynthesis, folding, proteasome-ubiquitin degradation, and enzymes involved in PTMs, carbohydrate metabolism, glycan biosynthesis, and mitochondrial respiratory chain as well as vesicle trafficking were identified. The study allowed us to decipher the broad influence of palmitoylation in E. tenella biology, and its potential roles in the pathobiology of E. tenella infection. Raw data are publicly available at iProX with the dataset identifier PXD045061.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zigang Qu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqiong Li
- Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan, 750002, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Nianzhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Joshua Seun Olajide
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyun Mi
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Animal Infectious Diseases, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830013, People's Republic of China.
| | - Baoquan Fu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China.
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Guo Q, Guo X, Ji N, Shen B, Zhong X, Xiao L, Feng Y, Xia N. Role of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase enzyme 1 in growth and virulence of Toxoplasma gondii and development of attenuated live vaccine. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:1957-1970. [PMID: 37556171 PMCID: PMC10527188 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous pathogen that infects all warm-blooded animals, including humans, causing substantial socioeconomic and healthcare burdens. However, there is no ideal vaccine for toxoplasmosis. As metabolism is important in the growth and virulence of Toxoplasma, some key pathways are promising antiparasitic targets. Here, we identified 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase 1 (Tg6PGDH1) in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway as a cytoplasmic protein that is dispensable for tachyzoite growth of T. gondii in vitro but critical for virulence and cyst formation in vivo. The depletion of Tg6PGDH1 causes decreased gene transcription involved in signal transduction, transcriptional regulation and virulence. Furthermore, we analysed the protective effect of the ME49Δ6pgdh1 mutant as an attenuated vaccine and found that ME49Δ6pgdh1 immunization stimulated strong protective immunity against lethal challenges and blocked cyst formation caused by reinfection. Furthermore, we showed that ME49Δ6pgdh1 immunization stimulated increased levels of interferon-gamma, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies. These data highlight the role of Tg6PGDH1 in the growth and virulence of T. gondii and its potential as a target for the development of a live-attenuated vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghong Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and PreventionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xuefang Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and PreventionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Nuo Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and PreventionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary MedicineHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xinhua Zhong
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Materials and EnergySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Lihua Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and PreventionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and PreventionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ningbo Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and PreventionSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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4
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Murphy RD, Troublefield CA, Miracle JS, Young LEA, Brizzee CO, Dhara A, Sun RC, Vander Kooi CW, Gentry MS, Sinai AP. TgLaforin, a glucan phosphatase, reveals the dynamic role of storage polysaccharides in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560185. [PMID: 37808860 PMCID: PMC10557770 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The asexual stages of Toxoplasma gondii are defined by the rapidly growing tachyzoite during the acute infection and by the slow growing bradyzoite housed within tissue cysts during the chronic infection. These stages represent unique physiological states, each with distinct glucans reflecting differing metabolic needs. A defining feature of T. gondii bradyzoites is the presence of insoluble storage glucans known as amylopectin granules (AGs) that are believed to play a role in reactivation, but their functions during the chronic infection remain largely unexplored. More recently, the presence of storage glucans has been recognized in tachyzoites where their precise function and architecture have yet to be fully defined. Importantly, the T. gondii genome encodes activities needed for glucan turnover: a glucan phosphatase (TgLaforin; TGME49_205290) and a glucan kinase (TgGWD; TGME49_214260) that catalyze a cycle of reversible glucan phosphorylation required for glucan degradation by amylases. The expression of these enzymes in tachyzoites supports the existence of a storage glucan, evidence that is corroborated by specific labeling with the anti-glycogen antibody IV58B6. Disruption of reversible glucan phosphorylation via a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (KO) of TgLaforin revealed no growth defects under nutrient-replete conditions in tachyzoites. However, the growth of TgLaforin-KO tachyzoites was severely stunted when starved of glutamine, even under glucose replete conditions. The loss of TgLaforin also resulted in the attenuation of acute virulence in mice accompanied by a lower cyst burden. Defective cyst formation due to profound changes in AG morphology was also observed in TgLaforin-KO parasites, both in vitro and in vivo. Together, these data demonstrate the importance of glucan turnover across the T. gondii asexual cycle. These findings, alongside our previously identified class of small molecules that inhibit TgLaforin, implicate reversible glucan phosphorylation as a legitimate target for the development of new drugs against chronic T. gondii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Murphy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Cortni A Troublefield
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Joy S Miracle
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Lyndsay E A Young
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Corey O Brizzee
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Animesh Dhara
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Ramon C Sun
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Craig W Vander Kooi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Matthew S Gentry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Anthony P Sinai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
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5
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Zhao M, Yang Y, Shi Y, Chen X, Yang Y, Pan L, Du Z, Sun H, Yao C, Ma G, Du A. PP2Acα-B'/PR61 Holoenzyme of Toxoplasma gondii Is Required for the Amylopectin Metabolism and Proliferation of Tachyzoites. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0010423. [PMID: 37199633 PMCID: PMC10269777 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00104-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report that the inhibition of the PP2A subfamily by okadaic acid results in an accumulation of polysaccharides in the acute infection stage (tachyzoites) of Toxoplasma gondii, which is a protozoan of global zoonotic importance and a model for the apicomplexan parasites. The loss of the catalytic subunit α of PP2A (ΔPP2Acα) in RHΔku80 leads to the polysaccharide accumulation phenotype in the base of tachyzoites as well as residual bodies and significantly compromises the intracellular growth in vitro and the virulence in vivo. A metabolomic analysis revealed that the accumulated polysaccharides in ΔPP2Acα are derived from interrupted glucose metabolism, which affects the production of ATP and energy homeostasis in the T. gondii knockout. The assembly of the PP2Acα holoenzyme complex involved in the amylopectin metabolism in tachyzoites is possibly not regulated by LCMT1 or PME1, and this finding contributes to the identification of the regulatory B subunit (B'/PR61). The loss of B'/PR61 results in the accumulation of polysaccharide granules in the tachyzoites as well as reduced plaque formation ability, exactly the same as ΔPP2Acα. Taken together, we have identified a PP2Acα-B'/PR61 holoenzyme complex that plays a crucial role in the carbohydrate metabolism and viability in T. gondii, and its deficiency in function remarkably suppresses the growth and virulence of this important zoonotic parasite both in vitro and in vivo. Hence, rendering the PP2Acα-B'/PR61 holoenzyme functionless should be a promising strategy for the intervention of Toxoplasma acute infection and toxoplasmosis. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii switches back and forth between acute and chronic infections, mainly in response to host immunologic status, which is characterized by flexible but specific energy metabolism. Polysaccharide granules are accumulated in the acute infection stage of T. gondii that have been exposed to a chemical inhibitor of the PP2A subfamily. The genetic depletion of the catalytic subunit α of PP2A leads to this phenotype and significantly affects the cell metabolism, energy production, and viability. Further, a regulatory B subunit PR61 is necessary for the PP2A holoenzyme to function in glucose metabolism and in the intracellular growth of T. gondii tachyzoites. A deficiency of this PP2A holoenzyme complex (PP2Acα-B'/PR61) in T. gondii knockouts results in the abnormal accumulation of polysaccharides and the disruption of energy metabolism, suppressing their growth and virulence. These findings provide novel insights into cell metabolism and identify a potential target for an intervention against a T. gondii acute infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxiu Zhao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yue Shi
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Yazhou Bay Sci-Tech City, Sanya, China
| | - Xueqiu Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yimin Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lingtao Pan
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhendong Du
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hongchao Sun
- Department of Animal Parasitology, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Guangxu Ma
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aifang Du
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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6
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Converting and hoarding driven by protein phosphorylation in Toxoplasma gondii. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:232-234. [PMID: 36804381 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Successful parasitism relies on the evasion of adversarial host responses. Wang et al. have recently shown that Toxoplasma gondii relies on the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) to cause persisting infections. The phosphatase controls the development of dormant parasite stages and the accumulation of sugar supplies.
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7
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Rapid metabolic reprogramming mediated by the AMP-activated protein kinase during the lytic cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Commun 2023; 14:422. [PMID: 36702847 PMCID: PMC9880002 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36084-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous pathogen Toxoplasma gondii has a complex lifestyle with different metabolic activities at different stages that are intimately linked to the parasitic environments. Here we identified the eukaryotic regulator of cellular homeostasis AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in Toxoplasma and discovered its role in metabolic programming during parasite's lytic cycle. The catalytic subunit AMPKα is quickly phosphorylated after the release of intracellular parasites to extracellular environments, driving energy-producing catabolism to power parasite motility and invasion into host cells. Once inside host cells, AMPKα phosphorylation is reduced to basal level to promote a balance between energy production and biomass synthesis, allowing robust parasite replication. AMPKγ depletion abolishes AMPKα phosphorylation and suppresses parasite growth, which can be partially rescued by overexpressing wildtype AMPKα but not the phosphorylation mutants. Thus, through the cyclic reprogramming by AMPK, the parasites' metabolic needs at each stage are satisfied and the lytic cycle progresses robustly.
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8
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Chen K, Huang X, Distler U, Tenzer S, Günay-Esiyok Ö, Gupta N. Apically-located P4-ATPase1-Lem1 complex internalizes phosphatidylserine and regulates motility-dependent invasion and egress in Toxoplasma gondii. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:1893-1906. [PMID: 36936814 PMCID: PMC10015115 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The membrane asymmetry regulated by P4-ATPases is crucial for the functioning of eukaryotic cells. The underlying spatial translocation or flipping of specific lipids is usually assured by respective P4-ATPases coupled to conforming non-catalytic subunits. Our previous work has identified five P4-ATPases (TgP4-ATPase1-5) and three non-catalytic partner proteins (TgLem1-3) in the intracellular protozoan pathogen, Toxoplasma gondii. However, their flipping activity, physiological relevance and functional coupling remain unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that TgP4-ATPase1 and TgLem1 work together to translocate phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) during the lytic cycle of T. gondii. Both proteins localize in the plasma membrane at the invasive (apical) end of its acutely-infectious tachyzoite stage. The genetic knockout of P4-ATPase1 and conditional depletion of Lem1 in tachyzoites severely disrupt the asexual reproduction and translocation of PtdSer across the plasma membrane. Moreover, the phenotypic analysis of individual mutants revealed a requirement of lipid flipping for the motility, egress and invasion of tachyzoites. Not least, the proximity-dependent biotinylation and reciprocal immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated the physical interaction of P4-ATPase1 and Lem1. Our findings disclose the mechanism and significance of PtdSer flipping during the lytic cycle and identify the P4-ATPase1-Lem1 heterocomplex as a potential drug target in T. gondii.
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Key Words
- BSA, bovine serum albumin
- CDC50, Cell Division Control 50
- COS, crossover sequence
- Cdc50
- DAPI, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole
- DHFR-TS, dihydrofolate reductase – thymidylate synthase
- HFF, human foreskin fibroblast
- HXGPRT, hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase
- IAA, indole-3-acetic acid
- LEM, Ligand Effector Module
- Lem1
- NBD, nitrobenzoxadiazole
- NBD-lipid
- P4-ATPase1
- PBS, phosphate-buffered saline
- Phosphatidylserine
- Phospholipid flipping
- PtdCho, phosphatidylcholine
- PtdEtn, phosphatidylethanolamine
- PtdSer, phosphatidylserine
- PtdThr, phosphatidylthreonine
- UTR, untranslated region
- cGMP, cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate
- mAID, (mini) auxin-inducible degron
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiyu Huang
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ute Distler
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Tenzer
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Özlem Günay-Esiyok
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- Intracellular Parasite Education and Research Labs (iPEARL), Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India
- Corresponding author at: Department of Molecular Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
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9
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Wang JL, Li TT, Elsheikha HM, Liang QL, Zhang ZW, Wang M, Sibley LD, Zhu XQ. The protein phosphatase 2A holoenzyme is a key regulator of starch metabolism and bradyzoite differentiation in Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7560. [PMID: 36476594 PMCID: PMC9729606 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35267-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic switching between tachyzoite and bradyzoite is the fundamental mechanism underpinning the pathogenicity and adaptability of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Although accumulation of cytoplasmic starch granules is a hallmark of the quiescent bradyzoite stage, the regulatory factors and mechanisms contributing to amylopectin storage in bradyzoites are incompletely known. Here, we show that T. gondii protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) holoenzyme is composed of a catalytic subunit PP2A-C, a scaffold subunit PP2A-A and a regulatory subunit PP2A-B. Disruption of any of these subunits increased starch accumulation and blocked the tachyzoite-to-bradyzoite differentiation. PP2A contributes to the regulation of amylopectin metabolism via dephosphorylation of calcium-dependent protein kinase 2 at S679. Phosphoproteomics identified several putative PP2A holoenzyme substrates that are involved in bradyzoite differentiation. Our findings provide novel insight into the role of PP2A as a key regulator of starch metabolism and bradyzoite differentiation in T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ting-Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Qin-Li Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - L David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, People's Republic of China.
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10
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The beta subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase is critical for cell cycle progression and parasite development in Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:532. [DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04556-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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11
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Murphy RD, Chen T, Lin J, He R, Wu L, Pearson CR, Sharma S, Vander Kooi CD, Sinai AP, Zhang ZY, Vander Kooi CW, Gentry MS. The Toxoplasma glucan phosphatase TgLaforin utilizes a distinct functional mechanism that can be exploited by therapeutic inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102089. [PMID: 35640720 PMCID: PMC9254107 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that generates amylopectin granules (AGs), a polysaccharide associated with bradyzoites that define chronic T. gondii infection. AGs are postulated to act as an essential energy storage molecule that enable bradyzoite persistence, transmission, and reactivation. Importantly, reactivation can result in the life-threatening symptoms of toxoplasmosis. T. gondii encodes glucan dikinase and glucan phosphatase enzymes that are homologous to the plant and animal enzymes involved in reversible glucan phosphorylation and which are required for efficient polysaccharide degradation and utilization. However, the structural determinants that regulate reversible glucan phosphorylation in T. gondii are unclear. Herein, we define key functional aspects of the T. gondii glucan phosphatase TgLaforin (TGME49_205290). We demonstrate that TgLaforin possesses an atypical split carbohydrate-binding-module domain. AlphaFold2 modeling combined with hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and differential scanning fluorimetry also demonstrate the unique structural dynamics of TgLaforin with regard to glucan binding. Moreover, we show that TgLaforin forms a dual specificity phosphatase domain-mediated dimer. Finally, the distinct properties of the glucan phosphatase catalytic domain were exploited to identify a small molecule inhibitor of TgLaforin catalytic activity. Together, these studies define a distinct mechanism of TgLaforin activity, opening up a new avenue of T. gondii bradyzoite biology as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Murphy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Tiantian Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Jianping Lin
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Rongjun He
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Li Wu
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Caden R Pearson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Savita Sharma
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Carl D Vander Kooi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Anthony P Sinai
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Zhong-Yin Zhang
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
| | - Craig W Vander Kooi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
| | - Matthew S Gentry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
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12
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Yang J, He Z, Chen C, Zhao J, Fang R. Starch Branching Enzyme 1 Is Important for Amylopectin Synthesis and Cyst Reactivation in Toxoplasma gondii. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0189121. [PMID: 35446124 PMCID: PMC9241709 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01891-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) bradyzoites facilitate chronic infections that evade host immune response. Furthermore, reactivation in immunocompromised individuals causes severe toxoplasmosis. The presence of abundant granules containing the branched starch amylopectin is major characteristic of bradyzoites that is nearly absent from tachyzoites that drive acute disease. T. gondii genome encodes to potential Starch branching enzyme 1 (SBE1) that creates branching during amylopectin biosynthesis. However, the physiological function of the amylopectin in T. gondii remains unclear. In this study, we generated a SBE1 knockout parasites and revealed that deletion of SBE1 caused amylopectin synthesis defects while having no significant impact on the growth of tachyzoites under normal culture conditions in vitro as well as virulence and brain cyst formation. Nevertheless, SBE1 knockout decreased the influx of exogenous glucose and reduced tachyzoites proliferation in nutrition-deficient conditions. Deletion of SBE1 together with the α-amylase (α-AMY), responsible for starch digestion, abolished amylopectin production and attenuated virulence while restoring brain cyst formation. In addition, cysts with defective amylopectin metabolism showed abnormal morphology and were avirulent to mice. In conclusion, SBE1 is essential for the synthesis of amylopectin, which serves as energy storage during the development and reactivation of bradyzoites. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasmosis has become a global, serious public health problem due to the extensiveness of the host. There are great differences in the energy metabolism in the different stages of infection. The most typical difference is the abundant accumulation of amylopectin granules in bradyzoites, which is almost absent in tachyzoites. Until now, the physiological functions of amylopectin have not been clearly elucidated. We focused on starch branching enzyme 1 (SBE1) in the synthesis pathway to reveal the exact physiological significance of amylopectin. Our study clarified the role of SBE1 in the synthesis pathway and amylopectin in tachyzoites and bradyzoites, and demonstrated that amylopectin, as an important carbon source, was critical to parasites growth under an unfavorable environment and the reactivation of bradyzoites to tachyzoites. The findings obtained from our study provides a new avenue for the development of Toxoplasma vaccines and anti-chronic toxoplasmosis drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhengming He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chengjie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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