1
|
Moss WJ, Brusini L, Kuehnel R, Brochet M, Brown KM. Apicomplexan phosphodiesterases in cyclic nucleotide turnover: conservation, function, and therapeutic potential. mBio 2024; 15:e0305623. [PMID: 38132724 PMCID: PMC10865986 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03056-23] [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] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexa encompasses a large number of intracellular parasites infecting a wide range of animals. Cyclic nucleotide signaling is crucial for a variety of apicomplexan life stages and cellular processes. The cyclases and kinases that synthesize and respond to cyclic nucleotides (i.e., 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate and 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate) are highly conserved and essential throughout the parasite phylum. Growing evidence indicates that phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are also critical for regulating cyclic nucleotide signaling via cyclic nucleotide hydrolysis. Here, we discuss recent advances in apicomplexan PDE biology and opportunities for therapeutic interventions, with special emphasis on the major human apicomplexan parasite genera Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, and Babesia. In particular, we show a highly flexible repertoire of apicomplexan PDEs associated with a wide range of cellular requirements across parasites and lifecycle stages. Despite this phylogenetic diversity, cellular requirements of apicomplexan PDEs for motility, host cell egress, or invasion are conserved. However, the molecular wiring of associated PDEs is extremely malleable suggesting that PDE diversity and redundancy are key for the optimization of cyclic nucleotide turnover to respond to the various environments encountered by each parasite and life stage. Understanding how apicomplexan PDEs are regulated and integrating multiple signaling systems into a unified response represent an untapped avenue for future exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William J. Moss
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Lorenzo Brusini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ronja Kuehnel
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kevin M. Brown
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ouologuem DT, Dara A, Kone A, Ouattara A, Djimde AA. Plasmodium falciparum Development from Gametocyte to Oocyst: Insight from Functional Studies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1966. [PMID: 37630530 PMCID: PMC10460021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination may never succeed without the implementation of transmission-blocking strategies. The transmission of Plasmodium spp. parasites from the human host to the mosquito vector depends on circulating gametocytes in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host. Once ingested by the mosquito during blood meals, these sexual forms undergo a series of radical morphological and metabolic changes to survive and progress from the gut to the salivary glands, where they will be waiting to be injected into the vertebrate host. The design of effective transmission-blocking strategies requires a thorough understanding of all the mechanisms that drive the development of gametocytes, gametes, sexual reproduction, and subsequent differentiation within the mosquito. The drastic changes in Plasmodium falciparum shape and function throughout its life cycle rely on the tight regulation of stage-specific gene expression. This review outlines the mechanisms involved in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development in both the human and mosquito vector, and zygote to oocyst differentiation. Functional studies unravel mechanisms employed by P. falciparum to orchestrate the expression of stage-specific functional products required to succeed in its complex life cycle, thus providing us with potential targets for developing new therapeutics. These mechanisms are based on studies conducted with various Plasmodium species, including predominantly P. falciparum and the rodent malaria parasites P. berghei. However, the great potential of epigenetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genetic studies to improve the understanding of malaria as a disease remains partly untapped because of limitations in studies using human malaria parasites and field isolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dinkorma T. Ouologuem
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Antoine Dara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Aminatou Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdoulaye A. Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kuehnel RM, Ganga E, Balestra AC, Suarez C, Wyss M, Klages N, Brusini L, Maco B, Brancucci N, Voss TS, Soldati D, Brochet M. A Plasmodium membrane receptor platform integrates cues for egress and invasion in blood forms and activation of transmission stages. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf2161. [PMID: 37327340 PMCID: PMC10275601 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf2161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Critical events in the life cycle of malaria-causing parasites depend on cyclic guanosine monophosphate homeostasis by guanylyl cyclases (GCs) and phosphodiesterases, including merozoite egress or invasion of erythrocytes and gametocyte activation. These processes rely on a single GCα, but in the absence of known signaling receptors, how this pathway integrates distinct triggers is unknown. We show that temperature-dependent epistatic interactions between phosphodiesterases counterbalance GCα basal activity preventing gametocyte activation before mosquito blood feed. GCα interacts with two multipass membrane cofactors in schizonts and gametocytes: UGO (unique GC organizer) and SLF (signaling linking factor). While SLF regulates GCα basal activity, UGO is essential for GCα up-regulation in response to natural signals inducing merozoite egress and gametocyte activation. This work identifies a GC membrane receptor platform that senses signals triggering processes specific to an intracellular parasitic lifestyle, including host cell egress and invasion to ensure intraerythrocytic amplification and transmission to mosquitoes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ronja Marie Kuehnel
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emma Ganga
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélia C. Balestra
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Catherine Suarez
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Wyss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Klages
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Brusini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Brancucci
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Till S. Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Phosphodiesterase delta governs the mechanical properties of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. Microbes Infect 2023; 25:105102. [PMID: 36708871 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
To persist in the blood circulation and to be available for mosquitoes, Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes modify the deformability and the permeability of their erythrocyte host via cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathway. Cyclic nucleotide levels are tightly controlled by phosphodiesterases (PDE), however in Plasmodium these proteins are poorly characterized. Here, we characterize the P. falciparum phosphodiesterase delta (PfPDEδ) and we investigate its role in the cAMP signaling-mediated regulation of gametocyte-infected erythrocyte mechanical properties. Our results revealed that PfPDEδ is a dual-function enzyme capable of hydrolyzing both cAMP and cGMP, with a higher affinity for cAMP. We also show that PfPDEδ is the most expressed PDE in mature gametocytes and we propose that it is located in parasitophorous vacuole at the interface between the host cell and the parasite. We conclude that PfPDEδ is the master regulator of both the increase in deformability and the inhibition of channel activity in mature gametocyte stages, and may therefore play a crucial role in the persistence of mature gametocytes in the bloodstream.
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Human malaria, caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites, remains one of the most important global public health problems, with the World Health Organization reporting more than 240 million cases and 600,000 deaths annually as of 2020 (World malaria report 2021). Our understanding of the biology of these parasites is critical for development of effective therapeutics and prophylactics, including both antimalarials and vaccines. Plasmodium is a protozoan organism that is intracellular for most of its life cycle. However, to complete its complex life cycle and to allow for both amplification and transmission, the parasite must egress out of the host cell in a highly regulated manner. This review discusses the major pathways and proteins involved in the egress events during the Plasmodium life cycle-merozoite and gametocyte egress out of red blood cells, sporozoite egress out of the oocyst, and merozoite egress out of the hepatocyte. The similarities, as well as the differences, between the various egress pathways of the parasite highlight both novel cell biology and potential therapeutic targets to arrest its life cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Dvorin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine; and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
CDC50 Orthologues in Plasmodium falciparum Have Distinct Roles in Merozoite Egress and Trophozoite Maturation. mBio 2022; 13:e0163522. [PMID: 35862778 PMCID: PMC9426505 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01635-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In model organisms, type IV ATPases (P4-ATPases) require cell division control protein 50 (CDC50) chaperones for their phospholipid flipping activity. In the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, guanylyl cyclase alpha (GCα) is an integral membrane protein that is essential for release (egress) of merozoites from their host erythrocytes. GCα is unusual in that it contains both a C-terminal cyclase domain and an N-terminal P4-ATPase domain of unknown function. We sought to investigate whether any of the three CDC50 orthologues (termed A, B, and C) encoded by P. falciparum are required for GCα function. Using gene tagging and conditional gene disruption, we demonstrate that CDC50B and CDC50C but not CDC50A are expressed in the clinically important asexual blood stages and that CDC50B is a binding partner of GCα whereas CDC50C is the binding partner of another putative P4-ATPase, phospholipid-transporting ATPase 2 (ATP2). Our findings indicate that CDC50B has no essential role for intraerythrocytic parasite maturation but modulates the rate of parasite egress by interacting with GCα for optimal cGMP synthesis. In contrast, CDC50C is essential for blood stage trophozoite maturation. Additionally, we find that the CDC50C-ATP2 complex may influence parasite endocytosis of host cell hemoglobin and consequently hemozoin formation.
Collapse
|
7
|
PfARID Regulates P. falciparum Malaria Parasite Male Gametogenesis and Female Fertility and Is Critical for Parasite Transmission to the Mosquito Vector. mBio 2022; 13:e0057822. [PMID: 35638735 PMCID: PMC9239086 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00578-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction of Plasmodium falciparum parasites is critical to the spread of malaria in the human population. The factors that regulate gene expression underlying formation of fertilization-competent gametes, however, remain unknown. Here, we report that P. falciparum expresses a protein with an AT-rich interaction domain (ARID) which, in other organisms, is part of chromatin remodeling complexes. P. falciparum ARID (PfARID) localized to the parasite nucleus and is critical for the formation of male gametes and fertility of female gametes. PfARID gene deletion (Pfarid–) gametocytes showed downregulation of gene expression important for gametogenesis, antigenic variation, and cell signaling and for parasite development in the mosquito. Our study identifies PfARID as a critical nuclear protein involved in regulating the gene expression landscape of mature gametocytes. This establishes fertility and also prepares the parasite for postfertilization events that are essential for infection of the mosquito vector.
Collapse
|
8
|
Wunderlich J. Updated List of Transport Proteins in Plasmodium falciparum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:926541. [PMID: 35811673 PMCID: PMC9263188 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.926541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a leading cause of death and disease in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Due to the alarming spread of resistance to almost all available antimalarial drugs, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. As the intracellular human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum depends entirely on the host to meet its nutrient requirements and the majority of its transmembrane transporters are essential and lack human orthologs, these have often been suggested as potential targets of novel antimalarial drugs. However, membrane proteins are less amenable to proteomic tools compared to soluble parasite proteins, and have thus not been characterised as well. While it had been proposed that P. falciparum had a lower number of transporters (2.5% of its predicted proteome) in comparison to most reference genomes, manual curation of information from various sources led to the identification of 197 known and putative transporter genes, representing almost 4% of all parasite genes, a proportion that is comparable to well-studied metazoan species. This transporter list presented here was compiled by collating data from several databases along with extensive literature searches, and includes parasite-encoded membrane-resident/associated channels, carriers, and pumps that are located within the parasite or exported to the host cell. It provides updated information on the substrates, subcellular localisation, class, predicted essentiality, and the presence or absence of human orthologs of P. falciparum transporters to quickly identify essential proteins without human orthologs for further functional characterisation and potential exploitation as novel drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Wunderlich
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Juliane Wunderlich,
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Dash M, Sachdeva S, Bansal A, Sinha A. Gametogenesis in Plasmodium: Delving Deeper to Connect the Dots. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:877907. [PMID: 35782151 PMCID: PMC9241518 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.877907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the coming decades, eliminating malaria is the foremost goal of many tropical countries. Transmission control, along with an accurate and timely diagnosis of malaria, effective treatment and prevention are the different aspects that need to be met synchronously to accomplish the goal. The current review is focused on one of these aspects i.e., transmission control, by looking deeper into the event called gametogenesis. In the Plasmodium life cycle, gametocytes are the first life forms of the sexual phase. The transmission of the parasite and the disease is critically dependent on the number, viability and sex ratio of mature gametocytes and their further development inside mosquito vectors. Gametogenesis, the process of conversion of gametocytes into viable gametes, takes place inside the mosquito midgut, and is a tightly regulated event with fast and multiple rounds of DNA replication and diverse cellular changes going on within a short period. Interrupting the gametocyte-gamete transition is ought to restrict the successful transmission and progression of the disease and hence an area worth exploring for designing transmission-blocking strategies. This review summarizes an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of the biochemical and physiological mechanism of gametogenesis in Plasmodium, which could be targeted to control parasite and malaria transmission. This review also raises certain key questions regarding gametogenesis biology in Plasmodium and brings out gaps that still accompany in understanding the spectacular process of gametogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manoswini Dash
- Parasite Host Biology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- Central Molecular Laboratory, Govind Ballabh (GB) Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Sherry Sachdeva
- Parasite Host Biology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Abhisheka Bansal
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Abhinav Sinha
- Parasite Host Biology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Abhinav Sinha,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wang PP, Jiang X, Zhu L, Zhou D, Hong M, He L, Chen L, Yao S, Zhao Y, Chen G, Wang C, Cui L, Cao Y, Zhu X. A G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Modulates Gametogenesis via PKG-Mediated Signaling Cascade in Plasmodium berghei. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0015022. [PMID: 35404079 PMCID: PMC9045217 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00150-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gametogenesis is essential for malaria parasite transmission, but the molecular mechanism of this process remains to be refined. Here, we identified a G-protein-coupled receptor 180 (GPR180) that plays a critical role in signal transduction during gametogenesis in Plasmodium. The P. berghei GPR180 was predominantly expressed in gametocytes and ookinetes and associated with the plasma membrane in female gametes and ookinetes. Knockout of pbgpr180 (Δpbgpr180) had no noticeable effect on blood-stage development but impaired gamete formation and reduced transmission of the parasites to mosquitoes. Transcriptome analysis revealed that a large proportion of the dysregulated genes in the Δpbgpr180 gametocytes had assigned functions in cyclic nucleotide signal transduction. In the Δpbgpr180 gametocytes, the intracellular cGMP level was significantly reduced, and the cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization showed a delay and a reduction in the magnitude during gametocyte activation. These results suggest that PbGPR180 functions upstream of the cGMP-protein kinase G-Ca2+ signaling pathway. In line with this functional prediction, the PbGPR180 protein was found to interact with several transmembrane transporter proteins and the small GTPase Rab6 in activated gametocytes. Allele replacement of pbgpr180 with the P. vivax ortholog pvgpr180 showed equal competence of the transgenic parasite in sexual development, suggesting functional conservation of this gene in Plasmodium spp. Furthermore, an anti-PbGPR180 monoclonal antibody and the anti-PvGPR180 serum possessed robust transmission-blocking activities. These results indicate that GPR180 is involved in signal transduction during gametogenesis in malaria parasites and is a promising target for blocking parasite transmission. IMPORTANCE Environmental changes from humans to mosquitoes activate gametogenesis of the malaria parasite, an obligative process for parasite transmission, but how the signals are relayed remains poorly understood. Here, we show the identification of a Plasmodium G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR180, and the characterization of its function in gametogenesis. In P. berghei, GPR180 is dispensable for asexual development and gametocytogenesis, but its deletion impairs gametogenesis and reduces transmission to mosquitoes. GPR180 appears to function upstream of the cGMP-protein kinase G-Ca2+ signaling pathway and is required for the maximum activity of this pathway. Genetic complementation shows that the GPR180 ortholog from the human malaria parasite P. vivax was fully functional in P. berghei, indicating functional conservation of GPR180 in Plasmodium spp. With predominant expression and membrane association of GPR180 in sexual stages, GPR180 is a promising target for blocking transmission, and antibodies against GPR180 possess robust transmission-blocking activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng-peng Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xuefeng Jiang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liying Zhu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dan Zhou
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Mingyang Hong
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lu He
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lumeng Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shijie Yao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Taizhou University Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, China
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaotong Zhu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
A review of synthetic bioactive tetrahydro-β-carbolines: A medicinal chemistry perspective. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113815. [PMID: 34479038 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
1, 2, 3, 4-Tetrahydro-β-carboline (THβC) scaffold is widespread in many natural products (NPs) and synthetic compounds which show a variety of pharmacological activities. In this article, we reviewed the design, structures and biological characteristics of reported synthetic THβC compounds, and structure and activity relationship (SAR) of them were also discussed. This work might provide a reference for subsequent drug development based on THβC.
Collapse
|
12
|
Alder A, Struck NS, Xu M, Johnson JW, Wang W, Pallant D, Cook MA, Rambow J, Lemcke S, Gilberger TW, Wright GD. A non-reactive natural product precursor of the duocarmycin family has potent and selective antimalarial activity. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 29:840-853.e6. [PMID: 34710358 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We identify a selective nanomolar inhibitor of blood-stage malarial proliferation from a screen of microbial natural product extracts. The responsible compound, PDE-I2, is a precursor of the anticancer duocarmycin family that preserves the class's sequence-specific DNA binding but lacks its signature DNA alkylating cyclopropyl warhead. While less active than duocarmycin, PDE-I2 retains comparable antimalarial potency to chloroquine. Importantly, PDE-I2 is >1,000-fold less toxic to human cell lines than duocarmycin, with mitigated impacts on eukaryotic chromosome stability. PDE-I2 treatment induces severe defects in parasite nuclear segregation leading to impaired daughter cell formation during schizogony. Time-of-addition studies implicate parasite DNA metabolism as the target of PDE-I2, with defects observed in DNA replication and chromosome integrity. We find the effect of duocarmycin and PDE-I2 on parasites is phenotypically indistinguishable, indicating that the DNA binding specificity of duocarmycins is sufficient and the genotoxic cyclopropyl warhead is dispensable for the parasite-specific selectivity of this compound class.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arne Alder
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Cellular Parasitology, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; University of Hamburg, Department of Biology, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nicole S Struck
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Cellular Parasitology, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Min Xu
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Jarrod W Johnson
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Wenliang Wang
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Daniel Pallant
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Michael A Cook
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Janis Rambow
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Cellular Parasitology, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; University of Hamburg, Department of Biology, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Lemcke
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Cellular Parasitology, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; University of Hamburg, Department of Biology, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tim W Gilberger
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Cellular Parasitology, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; University of Hamburg, Department of Biology, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Gerard D Wright
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Nofal SD, Patel A, Blackman MJ, Flueck C, Baker DA. Plasmodium falciparum Guanylyl Cyclase-Alpha and the Activity of Its Appended P4-ATPase Domain Are Essential for cGMP Synthesis and Blood-Stage Egress. mBio 2021; 12:e02694-20. [PMID: 33500341 PMCID: PMC7858053 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02694-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanylyl cyclases (GCs) synthesize cyclic GMP (cGMP) and, together with cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, are responsible for regulating levels of this intracellular messenger which mediates myriad functions across eukaryotes. In malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp), as well as their apicomplexan and ciliate relatives, GCs are associated with a P4-ATPase-like domain in a unique bifunctional configuration. P4-ATPases generate membrane bilayer lipid asymmetry by translocating phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet. Here, we investigate the role of Plasmodium falciparum guanylyl cyclase alpha (GCα) and its associated P4-ATPase module, showing that asexual blood-stage parasites lacking both the cyclase and P4-ATPase domains are unable to egress from host erythrocytes. GCα-null parasites cannot synthesize cGMP or mobilize calcium, a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG)-driven requirement for egress. Using chemical complementation with a cGMP analogue and point mutagenesis of a crucial conserved residue within the P4-ATPase domain, we show that P4-ATPase activity is upstream of and linked to cGMP synthesis. Collectively, our results demonstrate that GCα is a critical regulator of PKG and that its associated P4-ATPase domain plays a primary role in generating cGMP for merozoite egress.IMPORTANCE The clinical manifestations of malaria arise due to successive rounds of replication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells. Once mature, daughter merozoites are released from infected erythrocytes to invade new cells in a tightly regulated process termed egress. Previous studies have shown that the activation of cyclic GMP (cGMP) signaling is critical for initiating egress. Here, we demonstrate that GCα, a unique bifunctional enzyme, is the sole enzyme responsible for cGMP production during the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum and is required for the cellular events leading up to merozoite egress. We further demonstrate that in addition to the GC domain, the appended ATPase-like domain of GCα is also involved in cGMP production. Our results highlight the critical role of GCα in cGMP signaling required for orchestrating malaria parasite egress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie D Nofal
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Baker DA, Matralis AN, Osborne SA, Large JM, Penzo M. Targeting the Malaria Parasite cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase to Develop New Drugs. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:602803. [PMID: 33391223 PMCID: PMC7773720 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.602803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The single-celled apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of deaths due to malaria each year. The selection of drug resistance has been a recurring theme over the decades with each new drug that is developed. It is therefore crucial that future generations of drugs are explored to tackle this major public health problem. Cyclic GMP (cGMP) signaling is one of the biochemical pathways that is being explored as a potential target for new antimalarial drugs. It has been shown that this pathway is essential for all of the key developmental stages of the complex malaria parasite life cycle. This gives hope that targeting cGMP signaling might give rise to drugs that treat disease, block its transmission and even prevent the establishment of infection. Here we review previous work that has been carried out to develop and optimize inhibitors of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) which is a critical regulator of the malaria parasite life cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Simon A Osborne
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan M Large
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Penzo
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Bouyer G, Barbieri D, Dupuy F, Marteau A, Sissoko A, N'Dri ME, Neveu G, Bedault L, Khodabux N, Roman D, Houzé S, Siciliano G, Alano P, Martins RM, Lopez-Rubio JJ, Clain J, Duval R, Egée S, Lavazec C. Plasmodium falciparum sexual parasites regulate infected erythrocyte permeability. Commun Biol 2020; 3:726. [PMID: 33262483 PMCID: PMC7708629 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01454-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
To ensure the transport of nutrients necessary for their survival, Plasmodium falciparum parasites increase erythrocyte permeability to diverse solutes. These new permeation pathways (NPPs) have been extensively characterized in the pathogenic asexual parasite stages, however the existence of NPPs has never been investigated in gametocytes, the sexual stages responsible for transmission to mosquitoes. Here, we show that NPPs are still active in erythrocytes infected with immature gametocytes and that this activity declines along gametocyte maturation. Our results indicate that NPPs are regulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling cascade, and that the decrease in cAMP levels in mature stages results in a slowdown of NPP activity. We also show that NPPs facilitate the uptake of artemisinin derivatives and that phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors can reactivate NPPs and increase drug uptake in mature gametocytes. These processes are predicted to play a key role in P. falciparum gametocyte biology and susceptibility to antimalarials. Bouyer et al. report that the new permeation pathways (NPP), responsible of modulating erythrocyte permeability to diverse solutes and considered only to be in pathogenic asexual stages of P. falciparum, are also active in erythrocytes infected with immature gametocytes and this activity declines with gametocyte maturation. NPPs are regulated by the cAMP signalling cascade, and the decrease in cAMP levels in mature stages slows NPP activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Bouyer
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 8227, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France.,Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Daniela Barbieri
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Florian Dupuy
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Anthony Marteau
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Abdoulaye Sissoko
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, IRD 261, MERIT, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Esther N'Dri
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Gaelle Neveu
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Laurianne Bedault
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Nabiha Khodabux
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Diana Roman
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, IRD 261, MERIT, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Houzé
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, IRD 261, MERIT, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Rafael M Martins
- Université de Montpellier 1 & 2, CNRS 5290, IRD 224, MIVEGEC, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Jérome Clain
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, IRD 261, MERIT, Paris, France
| | - Romain Duval
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, IRD 261, MERIT, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Egée
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 8227, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France.,Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Lavazec
- Laboratoire d'excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France. .,Université de Paris, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Vo KC, Günay-Esiyok Ö, Liem N, Gupta N. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii encodes a gamut of phosphodiesterases during its lytic cycle in human cells. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:3861-3876. [PMID: 33335684 PMCID: PMC7720076 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma genome harbors at least 18 phosphodiesterases encoded by distinct genes. Most parasite PDEs lack regulatory modules and are quite divergent from their human orthologs. Acutely-infectious tachyzoite stage of T. gondii expresses 11 PDEs with varied localizations. PDE8 and PDE9 are closely-related dual-substrate specific proteins residing in the apical pole. Homology modeling of PDE8 and PDE9 reveals a conserved 3D topology and substrate pocket. PDE9 is dispensable in tachyzoites, signifying a functional redundancy with PDE8.
Cyclic nucleotide signaling is pivotal to the asexual reproduction of Toxoplasma gondii, however little do we know about the phosphodiesterase enzymes in this widespread obligate intracellular parasite. Here, we identified 18 phosphodiesterases (TgPDE1-18) in the parasite genome, most of which form apicomplexan-specific clades and lack archetypal regulatory motifs often found in mammalian PDEs. Genomic epitope-tagging in the tachyzoite stage showed the expression of 11 phosphodiesterases with diverse subcellular distributions. Notably, TgPDE8 and TgPDE9 are located in the apical plasma membrane to regulate cAMP and cGMP signaling, as suggested by their dual-substrate catalysis and structure modeling. TgPDE9 expression can be ablated with no apparent loss of growth fitness in tachyzoites. Likewise, the redundancy in protein expression, subcellular localization and predicted substrate specificity of several other PDEs indicate significant plasticity and spatial control of cyclic nucleotide signaling during the lytic cycle. Our findings shall enable a rational dissection of signaling in tachyzoites by combinatorial mutagenesis. Moreover, the phylogenetic divergence of selected Toxoplasma PDEs from human counterparts can be exploited to develop parasite-specific inhibitors and therapeutics.
Collapse
Key Words
- 3′IT, 3′-insertional tagging
- AC, adenylate cyclase
- Apicomplexa
- Bradyzoite
- COS, crossover sequence
- CRISPR, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats
- EES, entero-epithelial stages
- FPKM, fragments per kilobase of exon model per million
- GC, guanylate cyclase
- GMQE, Global Model Quality Estimation
- HFF, human foreskin fibroblast
- HXGPRT, hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase
- IMC, inner membrane complex
- Lytic cycle
- MAEBL, merozoite adhesive erythrocytic binding ligand
- MOI, multiplicity of infection
- OCRE, octamer repeat
- PDE, phosphodiesterase
- PKA, protein kinase A
- PKG, protein kinase G
- PM, plasma membrane
- QMEAN, Quality Model Energy Analysis
- Tachyzoite
- cAMP and cGMP signaling
- sgRNA, single guide RNA
- smHA, spaghetti monster-HA
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Chi Vo
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Özlem Günay-Esiyok
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicolas Liem
- Experimental Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nishith Gupta
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (BITS-P), Hyderabad, India
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Brochet M, Balestra AC, Brusini L. cGMP homeostasis in malaria parasites-The key to perceiving and integrating environmental changes during transmission to the mosquito. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:829-838. [PMID: 33112460 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites are transmitted from humans to mosquitoes when developmentally arrested gametocytes are taken up by a female Anopheles during a blood meal. The changes in environment from human to mosquito activate gametogenesis, including a drop in temperature, a rise in pH, and a mosquito-derived molecule, xanthurenic acid. Signaling receptors have not been identified in malaria parasites but mounting evidence indicates that cGMP homeostasis is key to sensing extracellular cues in gametocytes. Low levels of cGMP maintained by phosphodiesterases prevent precocious activation of gametocytes in the human blood. Upon ingestion, initiation of gametogenesis depends on the activation of a hybrid guanylyl cyclase/P4-ATPase. Elevated cGMP levels lead to the rapid mobilization of intracellular calcium that relies upon the activation of both cGMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphoinositide phospholipase C. Once calcium is released, a cascade of phosphorylation events mediated by calcium-dependent protein kinases and phosphatases regulates the cellular processes required for gamete formation. cGMP signaling also triggers timely egress from the host cell at other life cycle stages of malaria parasites and in Toxoplasma gondii, a related apicomplexan parasite. This suggests that cGMP signaling is a versatile platform transducing external cues into calcium signals at important decision points in the life cycle of apicomplexan parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélia C Balestra
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Brusini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Perrin AJ, Patel A, Flueck C, Blackman MJ, Baker DA. cAMP signalling and its role in host cell invasion by malaria parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:69-74. [PMID: 33032143 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is an important signalling molecule across evolution, but until recently there was little information on its role in malaria parasites. Advances in gene editing - in particular conditional genetic approaches and mass spectrometry have paved the way for characterisation of the key components of the cAMP signalling pathway in malaria parasites. This has revealed that cAMP signalling plays a critical role in invasion of host red blood cells by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites through regulating the phosphorylation of key parasite proteins by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). These insights will help us to investigate parasite cAMP signalling as a target for novel antimalarial drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail J Perrin
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Paul AS, Miliu A, Paulo JA, Goldberg JM, Bonilla AM, Berry L, Seveno M, Braun-Breton C, Kosber AL, Elsworth B, Arriola JSN, Lebrun M, Gygi SP, Lamarque MH, Duraisingh MT. Co-option of Plasmodium falciparum PP1 for egress from host erythrocytes. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3532. [PMID: 32669539 PMCID: PMC7363832 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17306-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Asexual proliferation of the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria follows a developmental program that alternates non-canonical intraerythrocytic replication with dissemination to new host cells. We carried out a functional analysis of the Plasmodium falciparum homolog of Protein Phosphatase 1 (PfPP1), a universally conserved cell cycle factor in eukaryotes, to investigate regulation of parasite proliferation. PfPP1 is indeed required for efficient replication, but is absolutely essential for egress of parasites from host red blood cells. By phosphoproteomic and chemical-genetic analysis, we isolate two functional targets of PfPP1 for egress: a HECT E3 protein-ubiquitin ligase; and GCα, a fusion protein composed of a guanylyl cyclase and a phospholipid transporter domain. We hypothesize that PfPP1 regulates lipid sensing by GCα and find that phosphatidylcholine stimulates PfPP1-dependent egress. PfPP1 acts as a key regulator that integrates multiple cell-intrinsic pathways with external signals to direct parasite egress from host cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aditya S Paul
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra Miliu
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Goldberg
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Arianna M Bonilla
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Laurence Berry
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Seveno
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Catherine Braun-Breton
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Aziz L Kosber
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Brendan Elsworth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Jose S N Arriola
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Maryse Lebrun
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, MA, USA
| | - Mauld H Lamarque
- Laboratory of Pathogen Host Interaction (LPHI), UMR5235, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Montpellier, 34095, Montpellier, France.
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, 02115, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Jiang Y, Wei J, Cui H, Liu C, Zhi Y, Jiang Z, Li Z, Li S, Yang Z, Wang X, Qian P, Zhang C, Zhong C, Su XZ, Yuan J. An intracellular membrane protein GEP1 regulates xanthurenic acid induced gametogenesis of malaria parasites. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1764. [PMID: 32273496 PMCID: PMC7145802 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Gametocytes differentiation to gametes (gametogenesis) within mosquitos is essential for malaria parasite transmission. Both reduction in temperature and mosquito-derived XA or elevated pH are required for triggering cGMP/PKG dependent gametogenesis. However, the parasite molecule for sensing or transducing these environmental signals to initiate gametogenesis remains unknown. Here we perform a CRISPR/Cas9-based functional screening of 59 membrane proteins expressed in the gametocytes of Plasmodium yoelii and identify that GEP1 is required for XA-stimulated gametogenesis. GEP1 disruption abolishes XA-stimulated cGMP synthesis and the subsequent signaling and cellular events, such as Ca2+ mobilization, gamete formation, and gametes egress out of erythrocytes. GEP1 interacts with GCα, a cGMP synthesizing enzyme in gametocytes. Both GEP1 and GCα are expressed in cytoplasmic puncta of both male and female gametocytes. Depletion of GCα impairs XA-stimulated gametogenesis, mimicking the defect of GEP1 disruption. The identification of GEP1 being essential for gametogenesis provides a potential new target for intervention of parasite transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jun Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Huiting Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chuanyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yuan Zhi
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - ZhengZheng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenkui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Shaoneng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Pengge Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Cui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chuanqi Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xin-Zhuan Su
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
- Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, 510642, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Günay-Esiyok Ö, Gupta N. Chimeras of P4-ATPase and Guanylate Cyclase in Pathogenic Protists. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:382-392. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
22
|
Martin RE. The transportome of the malaria parasite. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 95:305-332. [PMID: 31701663 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Membrane transport proteins, also known as transporters, control the movement of ions, nutrients, metabolites, and waste products across the membranes of a cell and are central to its biology. Proteins of this type also serve as drug targets and are key players in the phenomenon of drug resistance. The malaria parasite has a relatively reduced transportome, with only approximately 2.5% of its genes encoding transporters. Even so, assigning functions and physiological roles to these proteins, and ascertaining their contributions to drug action and drug resistance, has been very challenging. This review presents a detailed critique and synthesis of the disruption phenotypes, protein subcellular localisations, protein functions (observed or predicted), and links to antimalarial drug resistance for each of the parasite's transporter genes. The breadth and depth of the gene disruption data are particularly impressive, with at least one phenotype determined in the parasite's asexual blood stage for each transporter gene, and multiple phenotypes available for 76% of the genes. Analysis of the curated data set revealed there to be relatively little redundancy in the Plasmodium transportome; almost two-thirds of the parasite's transporter genes are essential or required for normal growth in the asexual blood stage of the parasite, and this proportion increased to 78% when the disruption phenotypes available for the other parasite life stages were included in the analysis. These observations, together with the finding that 22% of the transportome is implicated in the parasite's resistance to existing antimalarials and/or drugs within the development pipeline, indicate that transporters are likely to serve, or are already serving, as drug targets. Integration of the different biological and bioinformatic data sets also enabled the selection of candidates for transport processes known to be essential for parasite survival, but for which the underlying proteins have thus far remained undiscovered. These include potential transporters of pantothenate, isoleucine, or isopentenyl diphosphate, as well as putative anion-selective channels that may serve as the pore component of the parasite's 'new permeation pathways'. Other novel insights into the parasite's biology included the identification of transporters for the potential development of antimalarial treatments, transmission-blocking drugs, prophylactics, and genetically attenuated vaccines. The syntheses presented herein set a foundation for elucidating the functions and physiological roles of key members of the Plasmodium transportome and, ultimately, to explore and realise their potential as therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rowena E Martin
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Flueck C, Drought LG, Jones A, Patel A, Perrin AJ, Walker EM, Nofal SD, Snijders AP, Blackman MJ, Baker DA. Phosphodiesterase beta is the master regulator of cAMP signalling during malaria parasite invasion. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000154. [PMID: 30794532 PMCID: PMC6402698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclic nucleotide signalling is a major regulator of malaria parasite differentiation. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes are known to control cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels in the parasite, but the mechanisms by which cyclic AMP (cAMP) is regulated remain enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that Plasmodium falciparum phosphodiesterase β (PDEβ) hydrolyses both cAMP and cGMP and is essential for blood stage viability. Conditional gene disruption causes a profound reduction in invasion of erythrocytes and rapid death of those merozoites that invade. We show that this dual phenotype results from elevated cAMP levels and hyperactivation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Phosphoproteomic analysis of PDEβ-null parasites reveals a >2-fold increase in phosphorylation at over 200 phosphosites, more than half of which conform to a PKA substrate consensus sequence. We conclude that PDEβ plays a critical role in governing correct temporal activation of PKA required for erythrocyte invasion, whilst suppressing untimely PKA activation during early intra-erythrocytic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura G. Drought
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Jones
- Protein Analysis and Proteomics Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail J. Perrin
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eloise M. Walker
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie D. Nofal
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ambrosius P. Snijders
- Protein Analysis and Proteomics Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Blackman
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Baker
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Druggable Targets in Cyclic Nucleotide Signaling Pathways in Apicomplexan Parasites and Kinetoplastids against Disabling Protozoan Diseases in Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20010138. [PMID: 30609697 PMCID: PMC6337498 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell signaling in eukaryotes is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to respond and adapt to various environmental changes. In general, signal sensation is mediated by a receptor which transfers the signal to a cascade of effector proteins. The cyclic nucleotides 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are intracellular messengers mediating an extracellular stimulus to cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases driving a change in cell function. In apicomplexan parasites and kinetoplastids, which are responsible for a variety of neglected, tropical diseases, unique mechanisms of cyclic nucleotide signaling are currently identified. Collectively, cyclic nucleotides seem to be essential for parasitic proliferation and differentiation. However, there is no a genomic evidence for canonical G-proteins in these parasites while small GTPases and secondary effector proteins with structural differences to host orthologues occur. Database entries encoding G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are still without functional proof. Instead, signals from the parasite trigger GPCR-mediated signaling in the host during parasite invasion and egress. The role of cyclic nucleotide signaling in the absence of G-proteins and GPCRs, with a particular focus on small GTPases in pathogenesis, is reviewed here. Due to the absence of G-proteins, apicomplexan parasites and kinetoplastids may use small GTPases or their secondary effector proteins and host canonical G-proteins during infection. Thus, the feasibility of targeting cyclic nucleotide signaling pathways in these parasites, will be an enormous challenge for the identification of selective, pharmacological inhibitors since canonical host proteins also contribute to pathogenesis.
Collapse
|
25
|
Epistasis studies reveal redundancy among calcium-dependent protein kinases in motility and invasion of malaria parasites. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4248. [PMID: 30315162 PMCID: PMC6185908 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06733-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In malaria parasites, evolution of parasitism has been linked to functional optimisation. Despite this optimisation, most members of a calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) family show genetic redundancy during erythrocytic proliferation. To identify relationships between phospho-signalling pathways, we here screen 294 genetic interactions among protein kinases in Plasmodium berghei. This reveals a synthetic negative interaction between a hypomorphic allele of the protein kinase G (PKG) and CDPK4 to control erythrocyte invasion which is conserved in P. falciparum. CDPK4 becomes critical when PKG-dependent calcium signals are attenuated to phosphorylate proteins important for the stability of the inner membrane complex, which serves as an anchor for the acto-myosin motor required for motility and invasion. Finally, we show that multiple kinases functionally complement CDPK4 during erythrocytic proliferation and transmission to the mosquito. This study reveals how CDPKs are wired within a stage-transcending signalling network to control motility and host cell invasion in malaria parasites. Despite functional optimisation during evolution of parasitism, most members of a calcium dependent protein kinase (CDPK) family show genetic redundancy in Plasmodium. Here, the authors screen 294 genetic interactions among protein kinases in Plasmodium and show how some CDPKs functionally interact to control motility and host cell invasion.
Collapse
|
26
|
Baker DA, Drought LG, Flueck C, Nofal SD, Patel A, Penzo M, Walker EM. Cyclic nucleotide signalling in malaria parasites. Open Biol 2018; 7:rsob.170213. [PMID: 29263246 PMCID: PMC5746546 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclic nucleotides 3′, 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and 3′, 5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are intracellular messengers found in most animal cell types. They usually mediate an extracellular stimulus to drive a change in cell function through activation of their respective cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, PKA and PKG. The enzymatic components of the malaria parasite cyclic nucleotide signalling pathways have been identified, and the genetic and biochemical studies of these enzymes carried out to date are reviewed herein. What has become very clear is that cyclic nucleotides play vital roles in controlling every stage of the complex malaria parasite life cycle. Our understanding of the involvement of cyclic nucleotide signalling in orchestrating the complex biology of malaria parasites is still in its infancy, but the recent advances in our genetic tools and the increasing interest in signalling will deliver more rapid progress in the coming years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Laura G Drought
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Stephanie D Nofal
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Avnish Patel
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Maria Penzo
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.,Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eloise M Walker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Zhang X, Zhang H, Fu Y, Liu J, Liu Q. Effects of Estradiol and Progesterone-Induced Intracellular Calcium Fluxes on Toxoplasma gondii Gliding, Microneme Secretion, and Egress. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1266. [PMID: 29946311 PMCID: PMC6005879 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Research has shown that estrogen is present and plays a critical role in vertebrate reproduction and metabolism, but the influence of steroids on Toxoplasma gondii has received less attention. Our data showed that estradiol and progesterone induced parasitic cytosolic Ca2+ fluxes. This process required estrogen to enter the cytoplasm of T. gondii, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase G (PKG) and phosphoinositide-phospholipase C (PI-PLC) emerged as important factors controlling parasitic intracellular (IC) Ca2+ signals. Cytosolic Ca2+, which is regulated by estradiol, was mostly mobilized from acidic organelles. Moreover, cytosolic Ca2+ slightly increased MIC2 protein secretion and promoted the gliding motility and egress of parasites, thus enhancing the pathogenicity of T. gondii, as shown in our previous research. We subsequently determined that the main source of Ca2+ regulated by progesterone was a neutral store. In contrast to the findings of estradiol, progesterone reduced MIC2 protein secretion and inhibited the gliding motility of parasites, which may decrease their pathogenicity. Additionally, unlike in mammals, estradiol and progesterone had no effect on nitric oxide (NO) or reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in T. gondii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Fu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qun Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Franz E, Knape MJ, Herberg FW. cGMP Binding Domain D Mediates a Unique Activation Mechanism in Plasmodium falciparum PKG. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:415-423. [PMID: 29251493 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
cGMP-dependent protein kinase from Plasmodium falciparum ( PfPKG) plays a crucial role in the sexual as well as the asexual proliferation of this human malaria causing parasite. However, function and regulation of PfPKG are largely unknown. Previous studies showed that the domain organization of PfPKG significantly differs from human PKG ( hPKG) and indicated a critical role of the cyclic nucleotide binding domain D (CNB-D). We identified a novel mechanism, where the CNB-D controls activation and regulation of the parasite specific protein kinase. Here, kinase activity is not dependent on a pseudosubstrate autoinhibitory sequence (IS), as reported for human PKG. A construct lacking the putative IS and containing only the CNB-D and the catalytic domain is inactive in the absence of cGMP and can efficiently be activated with cGMP. On the basis of structural evidence, we describe a regulatory mechanism, whereby cGMP binding to CNB-D induces a conformational change involving the αC-helix of the CNB-D. The inactive state is defined by a unique interaction between Asp597 of the catalytic domain and Arg528 of the αC-helix. The same arginine (R528), however, stabilizes cGMP binding by interacting with Tyr480 of the phosphate binding cassette (PBC). This represents the active state of PfPKG. Our results unveil fundamental differences in the activation mechanism between PfPKG and hPKG, building the basis for the development of strategies for targeted drug design in fighting malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugen Franz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Strasse 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany
| | - Matthias J. Knape
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Strasse 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany
| | - Friedrich W. Herberg
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Strasse 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Stewart RJ, Whitehead L, Nijagal B, Sleebs BE, Lessene G, McConville MJ, Rogers KL, Tonkin CJ. Analysis of Ca 2+ mediated signaling regulating Toxoplasma infectivity reveals complex relationships between key molecules. Cell Microbiol 2017; 19. [PMID: 27781359 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Host cell invasion, exit and parasite dissemination is critical to the pathogenesis of apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. These processes are regulated by intracellular Ca2+ signaling although the temporal dynamics of Ca2+ fluxes and down-stream second messenger pathways are poorly understood. Here, we use a genetically encoded biosensor, GFP-Calmodulin-M13-6 (GCaMP6), to capture Ca2+ flux in live Toxoplasma and investigate the role of Ca2+ signaling in egress and motility. Our analysis determines how environmental cues and signal activation influence intracellular Ca2+ flux, allowing placement of effector molecules within this pathway. Importantly, we have identified key interrelationships between cGMP and Ca2+ signaling that are required for activation of egress and motility. Furthermore, we extend this analysis to show that the Ca2+ Dependent Protein Kinases-TgCDPK1 and TgCDPK3-play a role in signal quenching before egress. This work highlights the interrelationships of second messenger pathways of Toxoplasma in space and time, which is likely required for pathogenesis of all apicomplexan species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Stewart
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lachlan Whitehead
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brunda Nijagal
- Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Guillaume Lessene
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Malcolm J McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Bennink S, Kiesow MJ, Pradel G. The development of malaria parasites in the mosquito midgut. Cell Microbiol 2016; 18:905-18. [PMID: 27111866 PMCID: PMC5089571 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The mosquito midgut stages of malaria parasites are crucial for establishing an infection in the insect vector and to thus ensure further spread of the pathogen. Parasite development in the midgut starts with the activation of the intraerythrocytic gametocytes immediately after take-up and ends with traversal of the midgut epithelium by the invasive ookinetes less than 24 h later. During this time period, the plasmodia undergo two processes of stage conversion, from gametocytes to gametes and from zygotes to ookinetes, both accompanied by dramatic morphological changes. Further, gamete formation requires parasite egress from the enveloping erythrocytes, rendering them vulnerable to the aggressive factors of the insect gut, like components of the human blood meal. The mosquito midgut stages of malaria parasites are unprecedented objects to study a variety of cell biological aspects, including signal perception, cell conversion, parasite/host co-adaptation and immune evasion. This review highlights recent insights into the molecules involved in gametocyte activation and gamete formation as well as in zygote-to-ookinete conversion and ookinete midgut exit; it further discusses factors that can harm the extracellular midgut stages as well as the measures of the parasites to protect themselves from any damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Bennink
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Meike J Kiesow
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Characterization of an A-kinase anchoring protein-like suggests an alternative way of PKA anchoring in Plasmodium falciparum. Malar J 2016; 15:248. [PMID: 27129434 PMCID: PMC4850634 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1275-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The asexual intra-erythrocytic multiplication of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is regulated by various molecular mechanisms. In eukaryotic cells, protein kinases are known to play key roles in cell cycle regulation and signaling pathways. The activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) depends on A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) through protein interactions. While several components of the cAMP dependent pathway-including the PKA catalytic and regulatory subunits-have been characterized in P. falciparum, whether AKAPs are involved in this pathway remains unclear. Here, PfAKAL, an open reading frame of a potential AKAP-like protein in the P. falciparum genome was identified, and its protein partners and putative cellular functions characterized. METHODS The expression of PfAKAL throughout the erythrocytic cycle of the 3D7 strain was assessed by RT-qPCR and the presence of the corresponding protein by immunofluorescence assays. In order to study physical interactions between PfAKAL and other proteins, pull down experiments were performed using a recombinant PfAKAL protein and parasite protein extracts, or with recombinant proteins. These interactions were also tested by combining biochemical and proteomic approaches. As phosphorylation could be involved in the regulation of protein complexes, both PfAKAL and Pf14-3-3I phosphorylation was studied using a radiolabel kinase activity assay. Finally, to identify a potential function of the protein, PfAKAL sequence was aligned and structurally modeled, revealing a conserved nucleotide-binding pocket; confirmed by qualitative nucleotide binding experiments. RESULTS PfAKAL is the first AKAP-like protein in P. falciparum to be identified, and shares 23 % sequence identity with the central domain of human AKAP18δ. PfAKAL is expressed in mature asexual stages, merozoites and gametocytes. In spite of homology to AKAP18, biochemical and immunochemical analyses demonstrated that PfAKAL does not interact directly with the P. falciparum PKA regulatory subunit (PfPKA-R), but instead binds and colocalizes with Pf14-3-3I, which in turn interacts with PfPKA-R. In vivo, these different interactions could be regulated by phosphorylation, as PfPKA-R and Pf14-3-3I, but not PfAKAL, are phosphorylated in vitro by PKA. Interestingly, PfAKAL binds nucleotides such as AMP and cAMP, suggesting that this protein may be involved in the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, or associated with phosphodiesterase activities. CONCLUSION PfAKAL is an atypical AKAP that shares common features with human AKAP18, such as nucleotides binding. The interaction of PfAKAL with PfPKA-R could be indirectly mediated through a join interaction with Pf14-3-3I. Therefore, PfPKA localization could not depend on PfAKAL, but rather involves other partners.
Collapse
|
32
|
Campino S, Benavente ED, Assefa S, Thompson E, Drought LG, Taylor CJ, Gorvett Z, Carret CK, Flueck C, Ivens AC, Kwiatkowski DP, Alano P, Baker DA, Clark TG. Genomic variation in two gametocyte non-producing Plasmodium falciparum clonal lines. Malar J 2016; 15:229. [PMID: 27098483 PMCID: PMC4839107 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1254-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transmission of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum from humans to the mosquito vector requires differentiation of a sub-population of asexual forms replicating within red blood cells into non-dividing male and female gametocytes. The nature of the molecular mechanism underlying this key differentiation event required for malaria transmission is not fully understood. Methods Whole genome sequencing was used to examine the genomic diversity of the gametocyte non-producing 3D7-derived lines F12 and A4. These lines were used in the recent detection of the PF3D7_1222600 locus (encoding PfAP2-G), which acts as a genetic master switch that triggers gametocyte development. Results The evolutionary changes from the 3D7 parental strain through its derivatives F12 (culture-passage derived cloned line) and A4 (transgenic cloned line) were identified. The genetic differences including the formation of chimeric var genes are presented. Conclusion A genomics resource is provided for the further study of gametocytogenesis or other phenotypes using these parasite lines. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1254-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susana Campino
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Samuel Assefa
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Eloise Thompson
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Laura G Drought
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Catherine J Taylor
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Zaria Gorvett
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Celine K Carret
- The European Molecular Biology Organization, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Al C Ivens
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Dominic P Kwiatkowski
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Pietro Alano
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Taane G Clark
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Brochet M, Billker O. Calcium signalling in malaria parasites. Mol Microbiol 2016; 100:397-408. [PMID: 26748879 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Ca(2+) is a ubiquitous intracellular messenger in malaria parasites with important functions in asexual blood stages responsible for malaria symptoms, the preceding liver-stage infection and transmission through the mosquito. Intracellular messengers amplify signals by binding to effector molecules that trigger physiological changes. The characterisation of some Ca(2+) effector proteins has begun to provide insights into the vast range of biological processes controlled by Ca(2+) signalling in malaria parasites, including host cell egress and invasion, protein secretion, motility and cell cycle regulation. Despite the importance of Ca(2+) signalling during the life cycle of malaria parasites, little is known about Ca(2+) homeostasis. Recent findings highlighted that upstream of stage-specific Ca(2+) effectors is a conserved interplay between second messengers to control critical intracellular Ca(2+) signals throughout the life cycle. The identification of the molecular mechanisms integrating stage-transcending mechanisms of Ca(2+) homeostasis in a network of stage-specific regulator and effector pathways now represents a major challenge for a meaningful understanding of Ca(2+) signalling in malaria parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Brochet
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.,UMR5235 CNRS-Université Montpellier 2, 34095, Montpellier, France
| | - Oliver Billker
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Malaria Programme, CB10 1SA, Hinxton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Lucantoni L, Silvestrini F, Signore M, Siciliano G, Eldering M, Dechering KJ, Avery VM, Alano P. A simple and predictive phenotypic High Content Imaging assay for Plasmodium falciparum mature gametocytes to identify malaria transmission blocking compounds. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16414. [PMID: 26553647 PMCID: PMC4639769 DOI: 10.1038/srep16414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes, specifically the mature stages, are the only malaria parasite stage in humans transmissible to the mosquito vector. Anti-malarial drugs capable of killing these forms are considered essential for the eradication of malaria and tools allowing the screening of large compound libraries with high predictive power are needed to identify new candidates. As gametocytes are not a replicative stage it is difficult to apply the same drug screening methods used for asexual stages. Here we propose an assay, based on high content imaging, combining “classic” gametocyte viability readout based on gametocyte counts with a functional viability readout, based on gametocyte activation and the discrimination of the typical gamete spherical morphology. This simple and rapid assay has been miniaturized to a 384-well format using acridine orange staining of wild type P. falciparum 3D7A sexual forms, and was validated by screening reference antimalarial drugs and the MMV Malaria Box. The assay demonstrated excellent robustness and ability to identify quality hits with high likelihood of confirmation of transmission reducing activity in subsequent mosquito membrane feeding assays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Lucantoni
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, 4111 Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Francesco Silvestrini
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena n. 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Michele Signore
- Dipartimento di Ematologia, Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena n. 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Giulia Siciliano
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena n. 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Maarten Eldering
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Geert Grooteplein 28, huispost 268, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Koen J Dechering
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Geert Grooteplein 28, huispost 268, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, 4111 Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pietro Alano
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena n. 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Ramdani G, Naissant B, Thompson E, Breil F, Lorthiois A, Dupuy F, Cummings R, Duffier Y, Corbett Y, Mercereau-Puijalon O, Vernick K, Taramelli D, Baker DA, Langsley G, Lavazec C. cAMP-Signalling Regulates Gametocyte-Infected Erythrocyte Deformability Required for Malaria Parasite Transmission. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004815. [PMID: 25951195 PMCID: PMC4423841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Blocking Plasmodium falciparum transmission to mosquitoes has been designated a strategic objective in the global agenda of malaria elimination. Transmission is ensured by gametocyte-infected erythrocytes (GIE) that sequester in the bone marrow and at maturation are released into peripheral blood from where they are taken up during a mosquito blood meal. Release into the blood circulation is accompanied by an increase in GIE deformability that allows them to pass through the spleen. Here, we used a microsphere matrix to mimic splenic filtration and investigated the role of cAMP-signalling in regulating GIE deformability. We demonstrated that mature GIE deformability is dependent on reduced cAMP-signalling and on increased phosphodiesterase expression in stage V gametocytes, and that parasite cAMP-dependent kinase activity contributes to the stiffness of immature gametocytes. Importantly, pharmacological agents that raise cAMP levels in transmissible stage V gametocytes render them less deformable and hence less likely to circulate through the spleen. Therefore, phosphodiesterase inhibitors that raise cAMP levels in P. falciparum infected erythrocytes, such as sildenafil, represent new candidate drugs to block transmission of malaria parasites. Malaria transmission is ensured by deformable mature gametocyte-infected erythrocytes being taken up when a mosquito bites. Non-deformable immature gametocyte stages are sequestered in the bone marrow, as their lack of deformability would lead to their splenic clearance. In the present study, we apply nano-filtration technology to mimic splenic retention and demonstrate that deformability of transmissible mature stage V gametocytes is regulated by parasite cyclic AMP-dependent kinase signalling. Importantly, when we used drugs to raise cAMP levels we render transmissible mature gametocytes as stiff as non-transmissible gametocytes. In contrast, when we inhibit the cAMP-dependent kinase we render immature gametocytes more deformable. Thus, by two different approaches we confirm that the drop in cAMP levels in mature gametocytes leads to an increase in their deformability and hence more likely to circulate through the spleen. Our molecular observations have the potential to be translated into therapies for blocking malaria transmission by demonstrating that raising cAMP levels with sildenafil also known as “Viagra” renders mature gametocytes rigid. These findings provide the proof of principle that deformability of circulating gametocytes is targetable by pharmacological agents and as such, it provides a novel approach to prevent the spread of parasites. PDE inhibitors therefore represent novel drug leads potentially capable of blocking transmission and improving the worldwide fight to eliminate malaria from the human population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ghania Ramdani
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes—Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Bernina Naissant
- Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Transmission de Plasmodium, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes—Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Eloise Thompson
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Florence Breil
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Génétique et Génomique des Insectes Vecteurs, CNRS URA 3012, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Lorthiois
- Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Transmission de Plasmodium, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes—Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Génétique et Génomique des Insectes Vecteurs, CNRS URA 3012, Paris, France
| | - Florian Dupuy
- Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Transmission de Plasmodium, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes—Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Ross Cummings
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yoann Duffier
- Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Transmission de Plasmodium, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes—Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Yolanda Corbett
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Kenneth Vernick
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Génétique et Génomique des Insectes Vecteurs, CNRS URA 3012, Paris, France
| | - Donatella Taramelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Università di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - David A. Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon Langsley
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes—Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- * E-mail: (GL); (CL)
| | - Catherine Lavazec
- Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Transmission de Plasmodium, Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris Descartes—Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Génétique et Génomique des Insectes Vecteurs, CNRS URA 3012, Paris, France
- * E-mail: (GL); (CL)
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Howard BL, Harvey KL, Stewart RJ, Azevedo MF, Crabb BS, Jennings IG, Sanders PR, Manallack DT, Thompson PE, Tonkin CJ, Gilson PR. Identification of potent phosphodiesterase inhibitors that demonstrate cyclic nucleotide-dependent functions in apicomplexan parasites. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10:1145-54. [PMID: 25555060 DOI: 10.1021/cb501004q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agents of severe malaria and toxoplasmosis, respectively, undergo several critical developmental transitions during their lifecycle. Most important for human pathogenesis is the asexual cycle, in which parasites undergo rounds of host cell invasion, replication, and egress (exit), destroying host cell tissue in the process. Previous work has identified important roles for Protein Kinase G (PKG) and Protein Kinase A (PKA) in parasite egress and invasion, yet little is understood about the regulation of cyclic nucleotides, cGMP and cAMP, that activate these enzymes. To address this, we have focused upon the development of inhibitors of 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) to block the breakdown of cyclic nucleotides. This was done by repurposing human PDE inhibitors noting various similarities of the human and apicomplexan PDE binding sites. The most potent inhibitors blocked the in vitro proliferation of P. falciparum and T. gondii more potently than the benchmark compound zaprinast. 5-Benzyl-3-isopropyl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-one (BIPPO) was found to be a potent inhibitor of recombinant P. falciparum PfPDEα and activated PKG-dependent egress of T. gondii and P. falciparum, likely by promoting the exocytosis of micronemes, an activity that was reversed by a specific Protein Kinase G inhibitor. BIPPO also promotes cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of a P. falciparum ligand critical for host cell invasion, suggesting that the compound inhibits single or multiple PDE isoforms that regulate both cGMP and cAMP levels. BIPPO is therefore a useful tool for the dissection of signal transduction pathways in apicomplexan parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany L. Howard
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine L. Harvey
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca J. Stewart
- The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department
of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ian G. Jennings
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - David T. Manallack
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philip E. Thompson
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher J. Tonkin
- The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department
of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Kim T, Folcher M, Charpin-El Hamri G, Fussenegger M. A synthetic cGMP-sensitive gene switch providing Viagra(®)-controlled gene expression in mammalian cells and mice. Metab Eng 2015; 29:169-179. [PMID: 25843350 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2015.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is a universal second messenger that is synthesized from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) by guanylyl cyclases (GCs) and hydrolyzed into guanosine monophosphate (GMP) by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Small-molecule drugs that induce high cGMP levels in specialized tissues by boosting GC activity or inhibiting PDE activity have become the predominant treatment strategy for a wide range of medical conditions, including congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerosis-based claudication and erectile dysfunction. By fusing the cGMP receptor protein (CRP) of Rhodospirillum centenum to the Herpes simplex-derived transactivation domain VP16, we created a novel synthetic mammalian cGMP-sensing transcription factor (GTA) that activates synthetic promoters (PGTA) containing newly identified GTA-specific operator sites in a concentration-dependent manner. In cell lines expressing endogenous natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPR-A) (HeLa), GTA/PGTA-driven transgene expression was induced by B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP; Nesiritide(®)) in a concentration-dependent manner, which activated NPR-A׳s intracellular GC domain and triggered a corresponding cGMP surge. Ectopic expression of NPR-A in NPR-A-negative cell lines (HEK-293T) produced high cGMP levels and mediated maximum GTA/PGTA-driven transgene expression, which was suppressed by co-expression of PDEs (PDE-3A, PDE-5A and PDE-9A) and was re-triggered by the corresponding PDE inhibitor drugs (Pletal(®), Perfan(®), Primacor(®) (PDE-3A), Viagra(®), Levitra(®), Cialis(®) (PDE-5A) and BAY73-6691 (PDE-9A)). Mice implanted with microencapsulated designer cells co-expressing the GTA/PGTA device with NPR-A and PDE-5A showed control of blood SEAP levels through administration of sildenafil (Viagra(®)). Designer cells engineered for PDE inhibitor-modulated transgene expression may provide a cell-based PDE-targeting drug discovery platform and enable drug-adjusted gene- and cell-based therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taeuk Kim
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marc Folcher
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Cyclic GMP balance is critical for malaria parasite transmission from the mosquito to the mammalian host. mBio 2015; 6:e02330. [PMID: 25784701 PMCID: PMC4453516 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02330-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission of malaria occurs during Anopheles mosquito vector blood meals, when Plasmodium sporozoites that have invaded the mosquito salivary glands are delivered to the mammalian host. Sporozoites display a unique form of motility that is essential for their movement across cellular host barriers and invasion of hepatocytes. While the molecular machinery powering motility and invasion is increasingly well defined, the signaling events that control these essential parasite activities have not been clearly delineated. Here, we identify a phosphodiesterase (PDEγ) in Plasmodium, a regulator of signaling through cyclic nucleotide second messengers. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) analysis and epitope tagging of endogenous PDEγ detected its expression in blood stages and sporozoites of Plasmodium yoelii. Deletion of PDEγ (pdeγ−) rendered sporozoites nonmotile, and they failed to invade the mosquito salivary glands. Consequently, PDEγ deletion completely blocked parasite transmission by mosquito bite. Strikingly, pdeγ− sporozoites showed dramatically elevated levels of cyclic GMP (cGMP), indicating that a perturbation in cyclic nucleotide balance is involved in the observed phenotypic defects. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis of pdeγ− sporozoites revealed reduced transcript abundance of genes that encode key components of the motility and invasion apparatus. Our data reveal a crucial role for PDEγ in maintaining the cyclic nucleotide balance in the malaria parasite sporozoite stage, which in turn is essential for parasite transmission from mosquito to mammal. Malaria is a formidable threat to human health worldwide, and there is an urgent need to identify novel drug targets for this parasitic disease. The parasite is transmitted by mosquito bite, inoculating the host with infectious sporozoite stages. We show that cellular signaling by cyclic nucleotides is critical for transmission of the parasite from the mosquito vector to the mammalian host. Parasite phosphodiesterase γ is essential for maintaining cyclic nucleotide balance, and its deletion blocks transmission of sporozoites. A deeper understanding of the signaling mechanisms involved in transmission might inform the discovery of novel drugs that interrupt this essential step in the parasite life cycle.
Collapse
|
39
|
Woodring JL, Pollastri MP. Inhibitors of Protozoan Phosphodiesterases as Potential Therapeutic Approaches for Tropical Diseases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/9783527682348.ch12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
40
|
Kafsack BFC, Rovira-Graells N, Clark TG, Bancells C, Crowley VM, Campino SG, Williams AE, Drought LG, Kwiatkowski DP, Baker DA, Cortés A, Llinás M. A transcriptional switch underlies commitment to sexual development in malaria parasites. Nature 2014; 507:248-52. [PMID: 24572369 PMCID: PMC4040541 DOI: 10.1038/nature12920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 344] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The life cycles of many parasites involve transitions between disparate host species, requiring these parasites to go through multiple developmental stages adapted to each of these specialized niches. Transmission of malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) from humans to the mosquito vector requires differentiation from asexual stages replicating within red blood cells into non-dividing male and female gametocytes. Although gametocytes were first described in 1880, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in commitment to gametocyte formation is extremely limited, and disrupting this critical developmental transition remains a long-standing goal. Here we show that expression levels of the DNA-binding protein PfAP2-G correlate strongly with levels of gametocyte formation. Using independent forward and reverse genetics approaches, we demonstrate that PfAP2-G function is essential for parasite sexual differentiation. By combining genome-wide PfAP2-G cognate motif occurrence with global transcriptional changes resulting from PfAP2-G ablation, we identify early gametocyte genes as probable targets of PfAP2-G and show that their regulation by PfAP2-G is critical for their wild-type level expression. In the asexual blood-stage parasites pfap2-g appears to be among a set of epigenetically silenced loci prone to spontaneous activation. Stochastic activation presents a simple mechanism for a low baseline of gametocyte production. Overall, these findings identify PfAP2-G as a master regulator of sexual-stage development in malaria parasites and mark the first discovery of a transcriptional switch controlling a differentiation decision in protozoan parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Björn F C Kafsack
- 1] Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA [2] Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA (B.F.C.K.); Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, USA (V.M.C., M.L.)
| | - Núria Rovira-Graells
- 1] Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, 08036 Catalonia, Spain [2] Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Barcelona, 08028 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Taane G Clark
- 1] Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK [2] Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Cristina Bancells
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, 08036 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Valerie M Crowley
- 1] Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA [2] Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Barcelona, 08028 Catalonia, Spain [3] Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA (B.F.C.K.); Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, USA (V.M.C., M.L.)
| | - Susana G Campino
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - April E Williams
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Laura G Drought
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Dominic P Kwiatkowski
- 1] Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK [2] Wellcome Trust Sanger Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - David A Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Alfred Cortés
- 1] Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, 08036 Catalonia, Spain [2] Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Barcelona, 08028 Catalonia, Spain [3] Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, 08010 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Manuel Llinás
- 1] Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA [2] Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA [3] Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA (B.F.C.K.); Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, USA (V.M.C., M.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Brochet M, Collins MO, Smith TK, Thompson E, Sebastian S, Volkmann K, Schwach F, Chappell L, Gomes AR, Berriman M, Rayner JC, Baker DA, Choudhary J, Billker O. Phosphoinositide metabolism links cGMP-dependent protein kinase G to essential Ca²⁺ signals at key decision points in the life cycle of malaria parasites. PLoS Biol 2014; 12:e1001806. [PMID: 24594931 PMCID: PMC3942320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Many critical events in the Plasmodium life cycle rely on the controlled release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores to activate stage-specific Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinases. Using the motility of Plasmodium berghei ookinetes as a signalling paradigm, we show that the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase, PKG, maintains the elevated level of cytosolic Ca²⁺ required for gliding motility. We find that the same PKG-dependent pathway operates upstream of the Ca²⁺ signals that mediate activation of P. berghei gametocytes in the mosquito and egress of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites from infected human erythrocytes. Perturbations of PKG signalling in gliding ookinetes have a marked impact on the phosphoproteome, with a significant enrichment of in vivo regulated sites in multiple pathways including vesicular trafficking and phosphoinositide metabolism. A global analysis of cellular phospholipids demonstrates that in gliding ookinetes PKG controls phosphoinositide biosynthesis, possibly through the subcellular localisation or activity of lipid kinases. Similarly, phosphoinositide metabolism links PKG to egress of P. falciparum merozoites, where inhibition of PKG blocks hydrolysis of phosphatidylinostitol (4,5)-bisphosphate. In the face of an increasing complexity of signalling through multiple Ca²⁺ effectors, PKG emerges as a unifying factor to control multiple cellular Ca²⁺ signals essential for malaria parasite development and transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Brochet
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark O. Collins
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Terry K. Smith
- Schools of Biology and Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, The North Haugh, The University of Saint Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife United Kingdom
| | - Eloise Thompson
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Sebastian
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Katrin Volkmann
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Schwach
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lia Chappell
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Rita Gomes
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julian C. Rayner
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jyoti Choudhary
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Billker
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Morahan B, Garcia-Bustos J. Kinase signalling in Plasmodium sexual stages and interventions to stop malaria transmission. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2014; 193:23-32. [PMID: 24509402 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The symptoms of malaria, one of the infectious diseases with the highest mortality and morbidity world-wide, are caused by asexual parasites replicating inside red blood cells. Disease transmission, however, is effected by non-replicating cells which have differentiated into male or female gametocytes. These are the forms infectious to mosquito vectors and the insects are the only hosts where parasite sexual reproduction can take place. Malaria is thus a complex infection in which pharmacological treatment of symptoms may still allow transmission for long periods, while pharmacological blockage of infectivity may not cure symptoms. The process of parasite sexual differentiation and development is still being revealed but it is clear that kinase-mediated signalling mechanisms play a significant role. This review attempts to summarise our limited current knowledge on the signalling mechanisms involved in the transition from asexual replication to sexual differentiation and reproduction, with a brief mention to the effects of current treatments on the sexual stages and to some of the difficulties inherent in developing pharmacological interventions to curtail disease transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Morahan
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Jose Garcia-Bustos
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Collins CR, Hackett F, Strath M, Penzo M, Withers-Martinez C, Baker DA, Blackman MJ. Malaria parasite cGMP-dependent protein kinase regulates blood stage merozoite secretory organelle discharge and egress. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003344. [PMID: 23675297 PMCID: PMC3649973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite replicates within an intraerythrocytic parasitophorous vacuole (PV). Eventually, in a tightly regulated process called egress, proteins of the PV and intracellular merozoite surface are modified by an essential parasite serine protease called PfSUB1, whilst the enclosing PV and erythrocyte membranes rupture, releasing merozoites to invade fresh erythrocytes. Inhibition of the Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PfPKG) prevents egress, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here we show that PfPKG activity is required for PfSUB1 discharge into the PV, as well as for release of distinct merozoite organelles called micronemes. Stimulation of PfPKG by inhibiting parasite phosphodiesterase activity induces premature PfSUB1 discharge and egress of developmentally immature, non-invasive parasites. Our findings identify the signalling pathway that regulates PfSUB1 function and egress, and raise the possibility of targeting PfPKG or parasite phosphodiesterases in therapeutic approaches to dysregulate critical protease-mediated steps in the parasite life cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine R. Collins
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Hackett
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm Strath
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Penzo
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - David A. Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Blackman
- Division of Parasitology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Hopp CS, Flueck C, Solyakov L, Tobin A, Baker DA. Spatiotemporal and functional characterisation of the Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-dependent protein kinase. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48206. [PMID: 23139764 PMCID: PMC3489689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Signalling by 3′–5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) exists in virtually all eukaryotes. In the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium, the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) has previously been reported to play a critical role in four key stages of the life cycle. The Plasmodium falciparum isoform (PfPKG) is essential for the initiation of gametogenesis and for blood stage schizont rupture and work on the orthologue from the rodent malaria parasite P. berghei (PbPKG) has shown additional roles in ookinete differentiation and motility as well as liver stage schizont development. In the present study, PfPKG expression and subcellular location in asexual blood stages was investigated using transgenic epitope-tagged PfPKG-expressing P. falciparum parasites. In Western blotting experiments and immunofluorescence analysis (IFA), maximal PfPKG expression was detected at the late schizont stage. While IFA suggested a cytosolic location, a degree of overlap with markers of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was found and subcellular fractionation showed some association with the peripheral membrane fraction. This broad localisation is consistent with the notion that PfPKG, as with the mammalian orthologue, has numerous cellular substrates. This idea is further supported by the global protein phosphorylation pattern of schizonts which was substantially changed following PfPKG inhibition, suggesting a complex role for PfPKG during schizogony.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine S. Hopp
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christian Flueck
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lev Solyakov
- Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Tobin
- Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Baker
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Hopp CS, Bowyer PW, Baker DA. The role of cGMP signalling in regulating life cycle progression of Plasmodium. Microbes Infect 2012; 14:831-7. [PMID: 22613210 PMCID: PMC3484397 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2012.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Revised: 04/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The 3′-5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) is the main mediator of cGMP signalling in the malaria parasite. This article reviews the role of PKG in Plasmodium falciparum during gametogenesis and blood stage schizont rupture, as well as the role of the Plasmodium berghei orthologue in ookinete differentiation and motility, and liver stage schizont development. The current views on potential effector proteins downstream of PKG and the mechanisms that may regulate cyclic nucleotide levels are presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine S Hopp
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Liu Z, Miao J, Cui L. Gametocytogenesis in malaria parasite: commitment, development and regulation. Future Microbiol 2012; 6:1351-69. [PMID: 22082293 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.11.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites have evolved a complicated life cycle alternating between two hosts. Gametocytes are produced in the vertebrate hosts and are obligatory for natural transmission of the parasites through mosquito vectors. The mechanism of sexual development in Plasmodium has been the focus of extensive studies. In the postgenomic era, the advent of genome-wide analytical tools and genetic manipulation technology has enabled rapid advancement of our knowledge in this area. Patterns of gene expression during sexual development, molecular distinction of the two sexes, and mechanisms underlying subsequent formation of gametes and their fertilization have been progressively elucidated. However, the triggers and mechanism of sexual development remain largely unknown. This article provides an update of our understanding of the molecular and cellular events associated with the decision for commitment to sexual development and regulation of gene expression during gametocytogenesis. Insights into the molecular mechanisms of gametocyte development are essential for designing proper control strategies for interruption of malaria transmission and ultimate elimination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Liu
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, 537 ASI Building University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Boisson B, Lacroix C, Bischoff E, Gueirard P, Bargieri DY, Franke-Fayard B, Janse CJ, Ménard R, Baldacci P. The novel putative transporter NPT1 plays a critical role in early stages of Plasmodium berghei sexual development. Mol Microbiol 2011; 81:1343-57. [PMID: 21752110 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07767.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Transmission of Plasmodium species from a mammalian host to the mosquito vector requires the uptake, during an infected blood meal, of gametocytes, the precursor cells of the gametes. Relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in the developmental switch from asexual development to sexual differentiation or the maturation and survival of gametocytes. Here, we show that a gene coding for a novel putative transporter, NPT1, plays a crucial role in the development of Plasmodium berghei gametocytes. Parasites lacking NPT1 are severely compromised in the production of gametocytes and the rare gametocytes produced are unable to differentiate into fertile gametes. This is the earliest block in gametocytogenesis obtained by reverse genetics and the first to demonstrate the role of a protein with a putative transport function in sexual development. These results and the high degree of conservation of NPT1 in Plasmodium species suggest that this protein could be an attractive target for the development of novel drugs to block the spread of malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Boisson
- Institut Pasteur, Biologie et Génétique du Paludisme, 75724 Paris, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Seebeck T, Sterk GJ, Ke H. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors as a new generation of antiprotozoan drugs: exploiting the benefit of enzymes that are highly conserved between host and parasite. Future Med Chem 2011; 3:1289-306. [PMID: 21859303 PMCID: PMC3164761 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.11.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Protozoan infections remain a major unsolved medical problem in many parts of our world. A major obstacle to their treatment is the blatant lack of medication that is affordable, effective, safe and easy to administer. For some of these diseases, including human sleeping sickness, very few compounds are available, many of them old and all of them fraught with toxic side effects. We explore a new concept for developing new-generation antiprotozoan drugs that are based on phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. Such inhibitors are already used extensively in human pharmacology. Given the high degree of structural similarity between the human and the protozoan PDEs, the vast expertise available in the human field can now be applied to developing disease-specific PDE inhibitors as new antiprotozoan drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Seebeck
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Howard BL, Thompson PE, Manallack DT. Active site similarity between human and Plasmodium falciparum phosphodiesterases: considerations for antimalarial drug design. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2011; 25:753-62. [PMID: 21766240 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-011-9458-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The similarity between Plasmodium falciparum phosphodiesterase enzymes (PfPDEs) and their human counterparts have been examined and human PDE9A was found to be a suitable template for the construction of homology models for each of the four PfPDE isoforms. In contrast, the architecture of the active sites of each model was most similar to human PDE1. Molecular docking was able to model cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) substrate binding in each case but a docking mode supporting cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) binding could not be found. Anticipating the potential of PfPDE inhibitors as anti-malarial drugs, a range of reported PDE inhibitors including zaprinast and sildenafil were docked into the model of PfPDEα. The results were consistent with their reported biological activities, and the potential of PDE1/9 inhibitor analogues was also supported by docking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany L Howard
- Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Action, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Raabe AC, Wengelnik K, Billker O, Vial HJ. Multiple roles for Plasmodium berghei phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C in regulating gametocyte activation and differentiation. Cell Microbiol 2011; 13:955-66. [PMID: 21518218 PMCID: PMC3132445 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2011.01591.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Critical events in the life cycle of malaria parasites are controlled by calcium-dependent signalling cascades, yet the molecular mechanisms of calcium release remain poorly understood. The synchronized development of Plasmodium berghei gametocytes relies on rapid calcium release from internal stores within 10 s of gametocytes being exposed to mosquito-derived xanthurenic acid (XA). Here we addressed the function of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) for regulating gametocyte activation. XA triggered the hydrolysis of PIP2 and the production of the secondary messenger IP3 in gametocytes. Both processes were selectively blocked by a PI-PLC inhibitor, which also reduced the early Ca2+ signal. However, microgametocyte differentiation into microgametes was blocked even when the inhibitor was added up to 5 min after activation, suggesting a requirement for PI-PLC beyond the early mobilization of calcium. In contrast, inhibitors of calcium release through ryanodine receptor channels were active only during the first minute of gametocyte activation. Biochemical determination of PI-PLC activity was confirmed using transgenic parasites expressing a fluorescent PIP2/IP3 probe that translocates from the parasite plasmalemma to the cytosol upon cell activation. Our study revealed a complex interdependency of Ca2+ and PI-PLC activity, with PI-PLC being essential throughout gamete formation, possibly explaining the irreversibility of this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas C Raabe
- UMR5235, CNRS-Université Montpellier 2, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|