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Opperdoes FR, Záhonová K, Škodová-Sveráková I, Bučková B, Chmelová Ľ, Lukeš J, Yurchenko V. In silico prediction of the metabolism of Blastocrithidia nonstop, a trypanosomatid with non-canonical genetic code. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:184. [PMID: 38365628 PMCID: PMC10874023 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10094-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Almost all extant organisms use the same, so-called canonical, genetic code with departures from it being very rare. Even more exceptional are the instances when a eukaryote with non-canonical code can be easily cultivated and has its whole genome and transcriptome sequenced. This is the case of Blastocrithidia nonstop, a trypanosomatid flagellate that reassigned all three stop codons to encode amino acids. RESULTS We in silico predicted the metabolism of B. nonstop and compared it with that of the well-studied human parasites Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major. The mapped mitochondrial, glycosomal and cytosolic metabolism contains all typical features of these diverse and important parasites. We also provided experimental validation for some of the predicted observations, concerning, specifically presence of glycosomes, cellular respiration, and assembly of the respiratory complexes. CONCLUSIONS In an unusual comparison of metabolism between a parasitic protist with a massively altered genetic code and its close relatives that rely on a canonical code we showed that the dramatic differences on the level of nucleic acids do not seem to be reflected in the metabolisms. Moreover, although the genome of B. nonstop is extremely AT-rich, we could not find any alterations of its pyrimidine synthesis pathway when compared to other trypanosomatids. Hence, we conclude that the dramatic alteration of the genetic code of B. nonstop has no significant repercussions on the metabolism of this flagellate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred R Opperdoes
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kristína Záhonová
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czechia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Ingrid Škodová-Sveráková
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbora Bučková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ľubomíra Chmelová
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia.
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Morrison LJ, Steketee PC, Tettey MD, Matthews KR. Pathogenicity and virulence of African trypanosomes: From laboratory models to clinically relevant hosts. Virulence 2023; 14:2150445. [PMID: 36419235 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2150445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomes are vector-borne protozoa, which cause significant human and animal disease across sub-Saharan Africa, and animal disease across Asia and South America. In humans, infection is caused by variants of Trypanosoma brucei, and is characterized by varying rate of progression to neurological disease, caused by parasites exiting the vasculature and entering the brain. Animal disease is caused by multiple species of trypanosome, primarily T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. brucei. These trypanosomes also infect multiple species of mammalian host, and this complexity of trypanosome and host diversity is reflected in the spectrum of severity of disease in animal trypanosomiasis, ranging from hyperacute infections associated with mortality to long-term chronic infections, and is also a main reason why designing interventions for animal trypanosomiasis is so challenging. In this review, we will provide an overview of the current understanding of trypanosome determinants of infection progression and severity, covering laboratory models of disease, as well as human and livestock disease. We will also highlight gaps in knowledge and capabilities, which represent opportunities to both further our fundamental understanding of how trypanosomes cause disease, as well as facilitating the development of the novel interventions that are so badly needed to reduce the burden of disease caused by these important pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam J Morrison
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Pieter C Steketee
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Mabel D Tettey
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Keith R Matthews
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Li J, Li Y, Sha R, Zheng L, Xu L, Xie HQ, Zhao B. Effects of perinatal TCDD exposure on colonic microbiota and metabolism in offspring and mother mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:154762. [PMID: 35364153 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence supports that exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) impacts the gut microbiota and metabolic pathways. TCDD can be transmitted from mother to child; thus, we hypothesize that maternal exposure to TCDD may affect the gut microbiota in mothers and offspring. To acquire in vivo evidence supporting this hypothesis, female C57BL/6 mice were administered with TCDD (0.1 and 10 μg/kg body weight (bw)) during pregnancy and lactation periods, and then changes of colonic microbiota in offspring and mothers were evaluated. High-throughput sequencing of the V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene was performed. The composition and structure of the colonic microbiota in offspring and mothers were significantly influenced by 10 μg/kg bw TCDD as demonstrated by upregulation of harmful bacteria and downregulation of beneficial bacteria. Paradoxically, pathogenic bacteria and opportunistic pathogens were conversely decreased in the offspring of the low-dose TCDD treatment group. Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism exhibited a noticeable change caused by the alteration of colonic microbiota in offspring after maternal exposure to 10 μg/kg bw TCDD, which showed a linear dependence, demonstrating that pathogens or opportunistic pathogens may accelerate the dysbiosis of Trp metabolism. Trp metabolism dysregulation caused by the changed colonic microbiota may subsequently impact other intestinal segments or even living organisms. Our study provides new evidence indicating a potential influence of early TCDD exposure on the colonic microbiota and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Rui Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liping Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Heidi Qunhui Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
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Diskin C, Corcoran SE, Tyrrell VJ, McGettrick AF, Zaslona Z, O'Donnell VB, Nolan DP, O'Neill LAJ. The Trypanosome-Derived Metabolite Indole-3-Pyruvate Inhibits Prostaglandin Production in Macrophages by Targeting COX2. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:2551-2560. [PMID: 34635586 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of the neglected tropical disease human African trypanosomiasis, otherwise known as sleeping sickness. Trypanosomes have evolved many immune-evasion mechanisms to facilitate their own survival, as well as prolonging host survival to ensure completion of the parasitic life cycle. A key feature of the bloodstream form of T. brucei is the secretion of aromatic keto acids, which are metabolized from tryptophan. In this study, we describe an immunomodulatory role for one of these keto acids, indole-3-pyruvate (I3P). We demonstrate that I3P inhibits the production of PGs in activated macrophages. We also show that, despite the reduction in downstream PGs, I3P augments the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX2). This increase in COX2 expression is mediated in part via inhibition of PGs relieving a negative-feedback loop on COX2. Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor also participates in this effect. However, the increase in COX2 expression is of little functionality, as we also provide evidence to suggest that I3P targets COX activity. This study therefore details an evasion strategy by which a trypanosome-secreted metabolite potently inhibits macrophage-derived PGs, which might promote host and trypanosome survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciana Diskin
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; and
| | - Sarah E Corcoran
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; and
| | - Victoria J Tyrrell
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anne F McGettrick
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; and
| | - Zbigniew Zaslona
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; and
| | - Valerie B O'Donnell
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Derek P Nolan
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; and
| | - Luke A J O'Neill
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; and
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Cockram PE, Dickie EA, Barrett MP, Smith TK. Halogenated tryptophan derivatives disrupt essential transamination mechanisms in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008928. [PMID: 33275612 PMCID: PMC7744056 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid metabolism within Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis, is critical for parasite survival and virulence. Of these metabolic processes, the transamination of aromatic amino acids is one of the most important. In this study, a series of halogenated tryptophan analogues were investigated for their anti-parasitic potency. Several of these analogues showed significant trypanocidal activity. Metabolomics analysis of compound-treated parasites revealed key differences occurring within aromatic amino acid metabolism, particularly within the widely reported and essential transamination processes of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E. Cockram
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Emily A. Dickie
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Terry K. Smith
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland
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Trypanosoma brucei metabolite indolepyruvate decreases HIF-1α and glycolysis in macrophages as a mechanism of innate immune evasion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E7778-E7787. [PMID: 27856732 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1608221113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The parasite Trypanasoma brucei causes African trypanosomiasis, known as sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in domestic animals. These diseases are a major burden in the 36 sub-Saharan African countries where the tsetse fly vector is endemic. Untreated trypanosomiasis is fatal and the current treatments are stage-dependent and can be problematic during the meningoencephalitic stage, where no new therapies have been developed in recent years and the current drugs have a low therapeutic index. There is a need for more effective treatments and a better understanding of how these parasites evade the host immune response will help in this regard. The bloodstream form of T. brucei excretes significant amounts of aromatic ketoacids, including indolepyruvate, a transamination product of tryptophan. This study demonstrates that this process is essential in bloodstream forms, is mediated by a specialized isoform of cytoplasmic aminotransferase and, importantly, reveals an immunomodulatory role for indolepyruvate. Indolepyruvate prevents the LPS-induced glycolytic shift in macrophages. This effect is the result of an increase in the hydroxylation and degradation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). The reduction in HIF-1α levels by indolepyruvate, following LPS or trypanosome activation, results in a decrease in production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β. These data demonstrate an important role for indolepyruvate in immune evasion by T. brucei.
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Auxin production by the plant trypanosomatidPhytomonas serpensand auxin homoeostasis in infected tomato fruits. Parasitology 2014; 141:1299-310. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182014000547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYPreviously we have characterized the complete gene encoding a pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC)/indolepyruvate decarboxylase (IPDC) ofPhytomonas serpens, a trypanosomatid highly abundant in tomato fruits. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the clade that contains the trypanosomatid protein behaves as a sister group of IPDCs ofγ-proteobacteria. Since IPDCs are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the ability for IAA production byP. serpenswas investigated. Similar to many microorganisms, the production of IAA and related indolic compounds, quantified by high performance liquid chromatography, increased inP. serpensmedia in response to amounts of tryptophan. The auxin functionality was confirmed in the hypocotyl elongation assay. In tomato fruits inoculated withP. serpensthe concentration of free IAA had no significant variation, whereas increased levels of IAA-amide and IAA-ester conjugates were observed. The data suggest that the auxin produced by the flagellate is converted to IAA conjugates, keeping unaltered the concentration of free IAA. Ethanol also accumulated inP. serpens-conditioned media, as the result of a PDC activity. In the article we discuss the hypothesis of the bifunctionality ofP. serpensPDC/IPDC and provide a three-dimensional model of the enzyme.
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Seed JR. African trypanosomiasis research: 100 years of progress, but questions and problems still remain. Int J Parasitol 2001; 31:434-42. [PMID: 11334927 DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7519(01)00142-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Past and present progress in our understanding of African trypanosomiasis is briefly reviewed. Although tremendous scientific strides have been achieved, an epidemic of the disease is currently underway. Three areas of research which are believed necessary for the control of African trypanosomiasis are discussed. It is suggested that a better understanding of the host-parasite relationship is essential; more emphasis and a broader approach to drug development is required; and finally, further research into the socio-economic aspects of African trypanosomiasis is urgently needed before the human disease can again be controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Seed
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, CB#7400, McGavran-Greenberg Hall, 27599-7400, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Goldberg B, Rattendi D, Lloyd D, Sufrin JR, Bacchi CJ. In situ kinetic characterization of methylthioadenosine transport by the adenosine transporter (P2) of the African Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Biochem Pharmacol 2001; 61:449-57. [PMID: 11226379 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-2952(00)00560-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
African trypanosomes are parasitic flagellates that live in the connective tissues of the host. Trypanosomes must obtain from their host adenine/adenosine and other nucleosides that can be salvaged through enzymatic cleavage. Methylthioadenosine (MTA) is a byproduct of polyamine metabolism, formed from the donation of an aminopropyl moiety by decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine (dcAdoMet) to form spermidine. MTA is then cleaved phosphorolytically by MTA phosphorylase to methylthioribose-1-phosphate (MTR-1-P) and adenine. The uptake of MTA was compared with that of adenosine in two strains: Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. The K(m) values for MTA and adenosine (with 5 mM inosine) transport by T. b. brucei were 1.4 and 0.175 mM, and the V(max) values were 70 and 7.8 micromol/L/min, respectively. The K(m) values for T. b. rhodesiense MTA and adenosine (with 5 mM inosine) transport were 1.2 and 0.11 mM, and the V(max) values were 52.6 and 2.9 micromol/L/min, respectively. Since MTA was not competitive with either AdoMet (100 microM), inosine (100 microM), or the methionine precursor ketomethylthiobutyrate (100 microM), it appears that MTA enters through the P(2) (adenosine/adenine) transport site. From this study and our previous work, we determined that these organisms transport adenylated intermediates of methionine metabolism found in sera for purine salvage and as an ancillary source of methionine. The significant ability of African trypanosomes to transport MTA and related intermediates is an important consideration in the design and development of selective chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Goldberg
- Department of Biology, St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, 11201, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
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Vernal J, Cazzulo JJ, Nowicki C. Isolation and partial characterization of a broad specificity aminotransferase from Leishmania mexicana promastigotes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 1998; 96:83-92. [PMID: 9851609 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(98)00117-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A broad specificity aminotransferase (BSAT), with high activity with both, aromatic amino acids and aspartate as substrates, was purified to homogeneity from promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana by a method involving chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Red-120-Sepharose and Mono Q, and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200. The purified enzyme showed a single band in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa. Since the apparent molecular mass of the native enzyme, determined by gel filtration, was 90 kDa, the native enzyme is a dimer of similar subunits. The amino acid composition was determined, as well as the sequence of four internal peptides obtained by tryptic digestion. Two of these peptides, consisting of 49 amino acid residues in total, showed high similarity (57%) with corresponding sequences of plant aspartate aminotransferases, whereas they had only 33% identity with the aromatic aminotransferase of Escherichia coli, and 16% identity with the tyrosine aminotransferase from the related parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The BSAT contained only one 1/2 Cys residue per monomer. The optimal pH for the enzyme reaction, with tyrosine and alpha-oxoglutarate as substrates, was 7.0. The apparent Km values for tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and glutamate, with oxaloacetate as co-substrate, were 1.3, 0.9, 0.9 and 171.8 mM, respectively; the value for aspartate with alpha-oxoglutarate as co-substrate was 2.5 mM, and that for alanine with alpha-oxoglutarate as co-substrate was 216 mM. The values for pyruvate, alpha-oxoglutarate and oxaloacetate, with tyrosine as co-substrate, were 5.6, 0.71 and 0.12 mM, respectively. These results suggest that the enzyme is a broad-specificity aminotransferase, able to transaminate the aromatic amino acids, aspartate, and to a lower extent alanine, with high sequence similarity to aspartate aminotransferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Vernal
- IQUIFIB (CONICET-Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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