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Yu F, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Zhou J, Li J, Chen J, Du G, Zhao X. Biosynthesis, acquisition, regulation, and upcycling of heme: recent advances. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:1422-1438. [PMID: 38228501 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2291339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Heme, an iron-containing tetrapyrrole in hemoproteins, including: hemoglobin, myoglobin, catalase, cytochrome c, and cytochrome P450, plays critical physiological roles in different organisms. Heme-derived chemicals, such as biliverdin, bilirubin, and phycocyanobilin, are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and have shown great potential in fighting viruses and diseases. Therefore, more and more attention has been paid to the biosynthesis of hemoproteins and heme derivatives, which depends on the adequate heme supply in various microbial cell factories. The enhancement of endogenous biosynthesis and exogenous uptake can improve the intracellular heme supply, but the excess free heme is toxic to the cells. Therefore, based on the heme-responsive regulators, several sensitive biosensors were developed to fine-tune the intracellular levels of heme. In this review, recent advances in the: biosynthesis, acquisition, regulation, and upcycling of heme were summarized to provide a solid foundation for the efficient production and application of high-value-added hemoproteins and heme derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yu
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jianghua Li
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xinrui Zhao
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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Bombaça ACS, Caminha MA, Barbosa JMC, Pedra-Rezende Y, Ennes-Vidal V, Brunoro GVF, Archanjo BS, d'Avila CM, Valente RH, Menna-Barreto RFS. Heme metabolism in Strigomonas culicis: Implications of H 2O 2 resistance induction and symbiont elimination. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107692. [PMID: 39159809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Monoxenous trypanosomatid Strigomonas culicis harbors an endosymbiotic bacterium, which enables the protozoa to survive without heme supplementation. The impact of H2O2 resistance and symbiont elimination on intracellular heme and Fe2+ availability was analyzed through a comparison of WT strain with both WT H2O2-resistant (WTR) and aposymbiotic (Apo) protozoa. The relative quantification of the heme biosynthetic pathway through label-free parallel reaction monitoring targeted mass spectrometry revealed that H2O2 resistance does not influence the abundance of tryptic peptides. However, the Apo strain showed increased coproporphyrinogen III oxidase and ferrochelatase levels. A putative ferrous iron transporter, homologous to LIT1 and TcIT from Leishmania major and Trypanosoma cruzi, was identified for the first time. Label-free parallel reaction monitoring targeted mass spectrometry also showed that S. culicis Iron Transporter (ScIT) increased 1.6- and 16.4-fold in WTR and Apo strains compared to WT. Accordingly, antibody-mediated blockage of ScIT decreased by 28.0% and 40.0% intracellular Fe2+concentration in both WTR and Apo strains, whereas no effect was detected in WT. In a heme-depleted medium, adding 10 μM hemin decreased ScIT transcript levels in Apo, whereas 10 μM PPIX, the substrate of ferrochelatase, increased intracellular Fe2+ concentration and ferric iron reduction. Overall, the data suggest mechanisms dependent on de novo heme synthesis (and its substrates) in the Apo strain to overcome reduced heme availability. Given the importance of heme and Fe2+ as cofactors in metabolic pathways, including oxidative phosphorylation and antioxidant systems, this study provides novel mechanistic insights associated with H2O2 resistance in S. culicis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina Souza Bombaça
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelle Almeida Caminha
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | | | - Yasmin Pedra-Rezende
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Vitor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Bráulio Soares Archanjo
- Divisão de Metrologia de Materiais, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (Inmetro), Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Claudia Masini d'Avila
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Richard Hemmi Valente
- Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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Gonçalves RCR, Teixeira F, Peñalver P, Costa SPG, Morales JC, Raposo MMM. Designing Antitrypanosomal and Antileishmanial BODIPY Derivatives: A Computational and In Vitro Assessment. Molecules 2024; 29:2072. [PMID: 38731562 PMCID: PMC11085077 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis and Human African trypanosomiasis pose significant public health threats in resource-limited regions, accentuated by the drawbacks of the current antiprotozoal treatments and the lack of approved vaccines. Considering the demand for novel therapeutic drugs, a series of BODIPY derivatives with several functionalizations at the meso, 2 and/or 6 positions of the core were synthesized and characterized. The in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major parasites was carried out alongside a human healthy cell line (MRC-5) to establish selectivity indices (SIs). Notably, the meso-substituted BODIPY, with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene (1b) and anthracene moiety (1c), were the most active against L. major, displaying IC50 = 4.84 and 5.41 μM, with a 16 and 18-fold selectivity over MRC-5 cells, respectively. In contrast, the mono-formylated analogues 2b and 2c exhibited the highest toxicity (IC50 = 2.84 and 6.17 μM, respectively) and selectivity (SI = 24 and 11, respectively) against T. brucei. Further insights on the activity of these compounds were gathered from molecular docking studies. The results suggest that these BODIPYs act as competitive inhibitors targeting the NADPH/NADP+ linkage site of the pteridine reductase (PR) enzyme. Additionally, these findings unveil a range of quasi-degenerate binding complexes formed between the PRs and the investigated BODIPY derivatives. These results suggest a potential correlation between the anti-parasitic activity and the presence of multiple configurations that block the same site of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel C R Gonçalves
- Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Advanced (Magnetic) Theranostic Nanostructures Lab, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Filipe Teixeira
- Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Pablo Peñalver
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento, 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Susana P G Costa
- Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Juan C Morales
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento, 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - M Manuela M Raposo
- Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Cabello-Donayre M, Cabello-Donayre I, Guerra D, Orrego LM, Morales JC, Cautain B, Vicente F, Pérez-Victoria JM. A yeast-based high-throughput screen identifies inhibitors of trypanosomatid HRG heme transporters with potent leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107092. [PMID: 38242251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES New drugs are required to treat neglected diseases caused by trypanosomatid parasites such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. An Achilles' heel of these parasites is their heme auxotrophy; they have an absolute dependence on scavenging this molecule from the host, and trypanosomatid HRG heme transporters (TrypHRG) play an important role in this process. As these proteins are essential for the parasites and have low similarity with their human orthologue, they have been proposed as attractive therapeutic targets. Here, we have developed two yeast-based assays that allow an inexpensive high-throughput screening of TrypHRG inhibitors within a cellular context. METHODS We first assessed that Leishmania major, Leishmania donovani and T. brucei HRG proteins were heterologously expressed in the digestive vacuole membrane of a mutant heme auxotrophic yeast strain. Here, TrypHRG imports hemoglobinderived heme into the cytosol, allowing mutant yeast to grow in the presence of low hemoglobin concentrations and promoting the activity of hemeproteins such as catalase, which was used as a reporter of cytosolic heme levels. RESULTS In the presence of a TrypHRG inhibitor, both catalase activity (test 1) and yeast growth (test 2) were diminished, being easily monitored. The assays were then tested on a pilot scale for HTS purposes using a collection of repurposing drugs and food antioxidants. Some of the TrypHRG inhibitors identified in yeast presented strong trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activity in the submicromolar range, proving the potential of this approach. CONCLUSIONS Cumulatively, it was shown that the inhibition bioassays developed were robust and applicable to large-scale HTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cabello-Donayre
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain; Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - Irene Cabello-Donayre
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Guerra
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain; Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales PECET, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Lina M Orrego
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Juan C Morales
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Bastien Cautain
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisca Vicente
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - José M Pérez-Victoria
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Tevere E, Di Capua CB, Chasen NM, Etheridge RD, Cricco JA. Trypanosoma cruzi heme responsive gene (TcHRG) plays a central role in orchestrating heme uptake in epimastigotes. FEBS J 2024; 291:1186-1198. [PMID: 38087972 PMCID: PMC10939882 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, a heme auxotrophic parasite, can control intracellular heme content by modulating heme responsive gene (TcHRG) expression when a free heme source is added to an axenic culture. Herein, we explored the role of TcHRG protein in regulating the uptake of heme derived from hemoglobin in epimastigotes. We demonstrate that the endogenous TcHRG (protein and mRNA) responded similarly to bound (hemoglobin) and free (hemin) heme. Endogenous TcHRG was found in the flagellar pocket boundaries and partially overlapping with the mitochondrion. On the other hand, endocytic null parasites were able to develop and exhibited a similar heme content compared to wild-type when fed with hemoglobin, indicating that endocytosis is not the main entrance pathway for hemoglobin-derived heme in this parasite. Moreover, the overexpression of TcHRG led to an increase in heme content when hemoglobin was used as the heme source. Taken together, these results suggest that the uptake of hemoglobin-derived heme likely occurs through extracellular proteolysis of hemoglobin via the flagellar pocket, and this process is governed by TcHRG. In sum, T. cruzi epimastigotes control heme homeostasis by modulating TcHRG expression independently of the available source of heme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Tevere
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Beatriz Di Capua
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nathan Michael Chasen
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Julia Alejandra Cricco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
- Área Biofísica, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
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Gonçalves RCR, Peñalver P, Costa SPG, Morales JC, Raposo MMM. Polyaromatic Bis(indolyl)methane Derivatives with Antiproliferative and Antiparasitic Activity. Molecules 2023; 28:7728. [PMID: 38067459 PMCID: PMC10707942 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bis(indolyl)methanes (BIMs) are a class of compounds that have been recognized as an important core in the design of drugs with important pharmacological properties, such as promising anticancer and antiparasitic activities. Here, we explored the biological activity of the BIM core functionalized with different (hetero)aromatic moieties. We synthesized substituted BIM derivatives with triphenylamine, N,N-dimethyl-1-naphthylamine and 8-hydroxylquinolyl groups, studied their photophysical properties and evaluated their in vitro antiproliferative and antiparasitic activities. The triphenylamine BIM derivative 2a displayed an IC50 of 3.21, 3.30 and 3.93 μM against Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania major and HT-29 cancer cell line, respectively. The selectivity index demonstrated that compound 2a was up to eight-fold more active against the parasites and HT-29 than against the healthy cell line MRC-5. Fluorescence microscopy studies with MRC-5 cells and T. brucei parasites incubated with derivative 2a indicate that the compound seems to accumulate in the cell's mitochondria and in the parasite's nucleus. In conclusion, the BIM scaffold functionalized with the triphenylamine moiety proved to be the most promising antiparasitic and anticancer agent of this series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel C. R. Gonçalves
- Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (R.C.R.G.); (S.P.G.C.)
- Advanced (Magnetic) Theranostic Nanostructures Lab, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Pablo Peñalver
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain; (P.P.); (J.C.M.)
| | - Susana P. G. Costa
- Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (R.C.R.G.); (S.P.G.C.)
| | - Juan C. Morales
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain; (P.P.); (J.C.M.)
| | - Maria Manuela M. Raposo
- Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (R.C.R.G.); (S.P.G.C.)
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Reyes-López M, Aguirre-Armenta B, Piña-Vázquez C, de la Garza M, Serrano-Luna J. Hemoglobin uptake and utilization by human protozoan parasites: a review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1150054. [PMID: 37360530 PMCID: PMC10289869 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1150054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan disease is a major global health concern. Amoebiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and African sleeping sickness affect several million people worldwide, leading to millions of deaths annually and immense social and economic problems. Iron is an essential nutrient for nearly all microbes, including invading pathogens. The majority of iron in mammalian hosts is stored intracellularly in proteins, such as ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb). Hb, present in blood erythrocytes, is a very important source of iron and amino acids for pathogenic microorganisms ranging from bacteria to eukaryotic pathogens, such as worms, protozoa, yeast, and fungi. These organisms have developed adequate mechanisms to obtain Hb or its byproducts (heme and globin) from the host. One of the major virulence factors identified in parasites is parasite-derived proteases, essential for host tissue degradation, immune evasion, and nutrient acquisition. The production of Hb-degrading proteases is a Hb uptake mechanism that degrades globin in amino acids and facilitates heme release. This review aims to provide an overview of the Hb and heme-uptake mechanisms utilized by human pathogenic protozoa to survive inside the host.
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Tevere E, Di Capua CB, Chasen NM, Etheridge RD, Cricco JA. TcHRG plays a central role in orchestrating heme uptake in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.05.535753. [PMID: 37066141 PMCID: PMC10104053 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.05.535753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, a heme auxotrophic parasite, can control intracellular heme content by modulating TcHRG expression when a free heme source is added to axenic culture. Herein, we explore the role of TcHRG protein in regulating the uptake of heme derived from hemoglobin in epimastigotes. It was found that the parasités endogenous TcHRG (protein and mRNA) responds similarly to bound (hemoglobin) and free (hemin) heme. Additionally, the overexpression of TcHRG leads to an increase in intracellular heme content. The localization of TcHRG is also not affected in parasites supplemented with hemoglobin as the sole heme source. Endocytic null epimastigotes do not show a significant difference in growth profile, intracellular heme content and TcHRG protein accumulation compared to WT when feeding with hemoglobin or hemin as a source of heme. These results suggest that the uptake of hemoglobin-derived heme likely occurs through extracellular proteolysis of hemoglobin via the flagellar pocket, and this process is governed by TcHRG. In sum, T. cruzi epimastigotes controls heme homeostasis by modulating TcHRG expression independently of the source of available heme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Tevere
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Beatriz Di Capua
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nathan Michael Chasen
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Julia Alejandra Cricco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
- Área Biofísica, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
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9
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Heme-deficient metabolism and impaired cellular differentiation as an evolutionary trade-off for human infectivity in Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7075. [PMID: 36400774 PMCID: PMC9674590 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34501-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to African trypanosomes in humans relies in part on the high affinity targeting of a trypanosome lytic factor 1 (TLF1) to a trypanosome haptoglobin-hemoglobin receptor (HpHbR). While TLF1 avoidance by the inactivation of HpHbR contributes to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense human infectivity, the evolutionary trade-off of this adaptation is unknown, as the physiological function of the receptor remains to be elucidated. Here we show that uptake of hemoglobin via HpHbR constitutes the sole heme import pathway in the trypanosome bloodstream stage. T. b. gambiense strains carrying the inactivating mutation in HpHbR, as well as genetically engineered T. b. brucei HpHbR knock-out lines show only trace levels of intracellular heme and lack hemoprotein-based enzymatic activities, thereby providing an uncommon example of aerobic parasitic proliferation in the absence of heme. We further show that HpHbR facilitates the developmental progression from proliferating long slender forms to cell cycle-arrested stumpy forms in T. b. brucei. Accordingly, T. b. gambiense was found to be poorly competent for slender-to-stumpy differentiation unless a functional HpHbR receptor derived from T. b. brucei was genetically restored. Altogether, we identify heme-deficient metabolism and disrupted cellular differentiation as two distinct HpHbR-dependent evolutionary trade-offs for T. b. gambiense human infectivity.
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New Insights on Heme Uptake in Leishmania spp. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810501. [PMID: 36142411 PMCID: PMC9504327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania, responsible for leishmaniasis, is one of the few aerobic organisms that cannot synthesize the essential molecule heme. Therefore, it has developed specialized pathways to scavenge it from its host. In recent years, some proteins involved in the import of heme, such as LHR1 and LFLVCRB, have been identified, but relevant aspects regarding the process remain unknown. Here, we characterized the kinetics of the uptake of the heme analogue Zn(II) Mesoporphyrin IX (ZnMP) in Leishmania major promastigotes as a model of a parasite causing cutaneous leishmaniasis with special focus on the force that drives the process. We found that ZnMP uptake is an active, inducible, and pH-dependent process that does not require a plasma membrane proton gradient but requires the presence of the monovalent cations Na+ and/or K+. In addition, we demonstrated that this parasite can efflux this porphyrin against a concentration gradient. We also found that ZnMP uptake differs among different dermotropic or viscerotropic Leishmania species and does not correlate with LHR1 or LFLVCRB expression levels. Finally, we showed that these transporters have only partially overlapping functions. Altogether, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of an important process in the biology of this parasite.
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Ansari I, Basak R, Mukhopadhyay A. Hemoglobin Endocytosis and Intracellular Trafficking: A Novel Way of Heme Acquisition by Leishmania. Pathogens 2022; 11:585. [PMID: 35631106 PMCID: PMC9143042 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania species are causative agents of human leishmaniasis, affecting 12 million people annually. Drugs available for leishmaniasis are toxic, and no vaccine is available. Thus, the major thrust is to identify new therapeutic targets. Leishmania is an auxotroph for heme and must acquire heme from the host for its survival. Thus, the major focus has been to understand the heme acquisition process by the parasites in the last few decades. It is conceivable that the parasite is possibly obtaining heme from host hemoprotein, as free heme is not available in the host. Current understanding indicates that Leishmania internalizes hemoglobin (Hb) through a specific receptor by a clathrin-mediated endocytic process and targets it to the parasite lysosomes via the Rab5 and Rab7 regulated endocytic pathway, where it is degraded to generate intracellular heme that is used by the parasite. Subsequently, intra-lysosomal heme is initially transported to the cytosol and is finally delivered to the mitochondria via different heme transporters. Studies using different null mutant parasites showed that these receptors and transporters are essential for the survival of the parasite. Thus, the heme acquisition process in Leishmania may be exploited for the development of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amitabha Mukhopadhyay
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India; (I.A.); (R.B.)
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12
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Thiosugar naphthalene diimide conjugates: G-quadruplex ligands with antiparasitic and anticancer activity. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 232:114183. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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13
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Perner J, Hatalova T, Cabello-Donayre M, Urbanova V, Sojka D, Frantova H, Hartmann D, Jirsova D, Pérez-Victoria JM, Kopacek P. Haem-responsive gene transporter enables mobilization of host haem in ticks. Open Biol 2021; 11:210048. [PMID: 34465215 PMCID: PMC8437232 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks, notorious blood-feeders and disease-vectors, have lost a part of their genetic complement encoding haem biosynthetic enzymes and are, therefore, dependent on the acquisition and distribution of host haem. Solute carrier protein SLC48A1, aka haem-responsive gene 1 protein (HRG1), has been implicated in haem transport, regulating the availability of intracellular haem. HRG1 transporter has been identified in both free-living and parasitic organisms ranging from unicellular kinetoplastids, nematodes, up to vertebrates. However, an HRG1 homologue in the arthropod lineage has not yet been identified. We have identified a single HRG1 homologue in the midgut transcriptome of the tick Ixodes ricinus, denoted as IrHRG, and have elucidated its role as a haem transporter. Data from haem biosynthesis-deficient yeast growth assays, systemic RNA interference and the evaluation of gallium protoporphyrin IX-mediated toxicity through tick membrane feeding clearly show that IrHRG is the bona fide tetrapyrrole transporter. We argue that during evolution, ticks profited from retaining a functional hrg1 gene in the genome because its protein product facilitates host haem escort from intracellularly digested haemoglobin, rendering haem bioavailable for a haem-dependent network of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - T. Hatalova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - M. Cabello-Donayre
- Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine ‘López-Neyra’, CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - V. Urbanova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - H. Frantova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Hartmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - D. Jirsova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - J. M. Pérez-Victoria
- Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine ‘López-Neyra’, CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - P. Kopacek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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14
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Kelly FD, Yates PA, Landfear SM. Nutrient sensing in Leishmania: Flagellum and cytosol. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:849-859. [PMID: 33112443 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Parasites are by definition organisms that utilize resources from a host to support their existence, thus, promoting their ability to establish long-term infections and disease. Hence, sensing and acquiring nutrients for which the parasite and host compete is central to the parasitic mode of existence. Leishmania are flagellated kinetoplastid parasites that parasitize phagocytic cells, principally macrophages, of vertebrate hosts and the alimentary tract of sand fly vectors. Because nutritional supplies vary over time within both these hosts and are often restricted in availability, these parasites must sense a plethora of nutrients and respond accordingly. The flagellum has been recognized as an "antenna" that plays a core role in sensing environmental conditions, and various flagellar proteins have been implicated in sensing roles. In addition, these parasites exhibit non-flagellar intracellular mechanisms of nutrient sensing, several of which have been explored. Nonetheless, mechanistic details of these sensory pathways are still sparse and represent a challenging frontier for further experimental exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felice D Kelly
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Phillip A Yates
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Scott M Landfear
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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15
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Pagura L, Tevere E, Merli ML, Cricco JA. A new model for Trypanosoma cruzi heme homeostasis depends on modulation of TcHTE protein expression. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13202-13212. [PMID: 32709751 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Heme is an essential cofactor for many biological processes in aerobic organisms, which can synthesize it de novo through a conserved pathway. Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, as well as other trypanosomatids relevant to human health, are heme auxotrophs, meaning they must import it from their mammalian hosts or insect vectors. However, how these species import and regulate heme levels is not fully defined yet. It is known that the membrane protein TcHTE is involved in T. cruzi heme transport, although its specific role remains unclear. In the present work, we studied endogenous TcHTE in the different life cycle stages of the parasite to gain insight into its function in heme transport and homeostasis. We have confirmed that TcHTE is predominantly detected in replicative stages (epimastigote and amastigote), in which heme transport activity was previously validated. We also showed that in epimastigotes, TcHTE protein and mRNA levels decrease in response to increments in heme concentration, confirming it as a member of the heme response gene family. Finally, we demonstrated that T. cruzi epimastigotes can sense intracellular heme by an unknown mechanism and regulate heme transport to adapt to changing conditions. Based on these results, we propose a model in which T. cruzi senses intracellular heme and regulates heme transport activity by adjusting the expression of TcHTE. The elucidation and characterization of heme transport and homeostasis will contribute to a better understanding of a critical pathway for T. cruzi biology allowing the identification of novel and essential proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Pagura
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Evelyn Tevere
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Marcelo L Merli
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Julia A Cricco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)-Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina; Área Biofísica, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina.
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16
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Cabello-Donayre M, Orrego LM, Herráez E, Vargas P, Martínez-García M, Campos-Salinas J, Pérez-Victoria I, Vicente B, Marín JJG, Pérez-Victoria JM. Leishmania heme uptake involves LmFLVCRb, a novel porphyrin transporter essential for the parasite. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1827-1845. [PMID: 31372684 PMCID: PMC11104922 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03258-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis comprises a group of neglected diseases caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania spp. As is the case for other trypanosomatid parasites, Leishmania is auxotrophic for heme and must scavenge this essential compound from its human host. In mammals, the SLC transporter FLVCR2 mediates heme import across the plasma membrane. Herein we identify and characterize Leishmania major FLVCRb (LmFLVCRb), the first member of the FLVCR family studied in a non-metazoan organism. This protein localizes to the plasma membrane of the parasite and is able to bind heme. LmFLVCRb levels in Leishmania, which are modulated by overexpression thereof or the abrogation of an LmFLVCRb allele, correlate with the ability of the parasite to take up porphyrins. Moreover, injection of LmFLVCRb cRNA to Xenopus laevis oocytes provides these cells with the ability to take up heme. This process is temperature dependent, requires monovalent ions and is inhibited at basic pH, characteristics shared by the uptake of heme by Leishmania parasites. Interestingly, LmFLVCRb is essential as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout parasites were only obtained in the presence of an episomal copy of the gene. In addition, deletion of just one of the alleles of the LmFLVCRb gene markedly impairs parasite replication as intracellular amastigotes as well as its virulence in an in vivo model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Collectively, these results show that Leishmania parasites can rescue heme through plasma membrane transporter LFLVCRb, which could constitute a novel target for therapeutic intervention against Leishmania and probably other trypanosomatid parasites in which FLVCR genes are also present.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cabello-Donayre
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Lina M Orrego
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Elisa Herráez
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEFARM), IBSAL, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paola Vargas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Marta Martínez-García
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jenny Campos-Salinas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ignacio Pérez-Victoria
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Belén Vicente
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEFARM), IBSAL, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - José J G Marín
- Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEFARM), IBSAL, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Center for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Pérez-Victoria
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
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17
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Laranjeira-Silva MF, Hamza I, Pérez-Victoria JM. Iron and Heme Metabolism at the Leishmania-Host Interface. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:279-289. [PMID: 32005611 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Species of the protozoan Leishmania are causative agents of human leishmaniasis, a disease that results in significant death, disability, and disfigurement around the world. The parasite is transmitted to a mammalian host by a sand fly vector where it develops as an intracellular parasite within macrophages. This process requires the acquisition of nutritional iron and heme from the host as Leishmania lacks the capacity for de novo heme synthesis and does not contain cytosolic iron-storage proteins. Proteins involved in Leishmania iron and heme transport and metabolism have been identified and shown to be crucial for the parasite's growth and replication within the host. Consequently, a detailed understanding of how these parasites harness host pathways for survival may lay the foundation for promising new therapeutic intervention against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iqbal Hamza
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - José M Pérez-Victoria
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra', CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
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18
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Mach J, Sutak R. Iron in parasitic protists – from uptake to storage and where we can interfere. Metallomics 2020; 12:1335-1347. [DOI: 10.1039/d0mt00125b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A comprehensive review of iron metabolism in parasitic protists and its potential use as a drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Mach
- Department of Parasitology
- Faculty of Science - BIOCEV
- Charles University
- Vestec u Prahy
- Czech Republic
| | - Robert Sutak
- Department of Parasitology
- Faculty of Science - BIOCEV
- Charles University
- Vestec u Prahy
- Czech Republic
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19
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Orrego LM, Cabello-Donayre M, Vargas P, Martínez-García M, Sánchez C, Pineda-Molina E, Jiménez M, Molina R, Pérez-Victoria JM. Heme synthesis through the life cycle of the heme auxotrophic parasite Leishmania major. FASEB J 2019; 33:13367-13385. [PMID: 31553893 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901274rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Heme is an essential molecule synthetized through a broadly conserved 8-step route that has been lost in trypanosomatid parasites. Interestingly, Leishmania reacquired by horizontal gene transfer from γ-proteobacteria the genes coding for the last 3 enzymes of the pathway. Here we show that intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania major can scavenge heme precursors from the host cell to fulfill their heme requirements, demonstrating the functionality of this partial pathway. To dissect its role throughout the L. major life cycle, the significance of L. major ferrochelatase (LmFeCH), the terminal enzyme of the route, was evaluated. LmFeCH expression in a heterologous system demonstrated its activity. Knockout promastigotes lacking lmfech were not able to use the ferrochelatase substrate protoporphyrin IX as a source of heme. In vivo infection of Phlebotomus perniciosus with knockout promastigotes shows that LmFeCH is not required for their development in the sandfly. In contrast, the replication of intracellular amastigotes was hampered in vitro by the deletion of lmfech. However, LmFeCH-/- parasites produced disease in a cutaneous leishmaniasis murine model in a similar way as control parasites. Therefore, although L. major can synthesize de novo heme from macrophage precursors, this activity is dispensable being an unsuited target for leishmaniasis treatment.-Orrego, L. M., Cabello-Donayre, M., Vargas, P., Martínez-García, M., Sánchez, C., Pineda-Molina, E., Jiménez, M., Molina, R., Pérez-Victoria, J. M. Heme synthesis through the life cycle of the heme auxotrophic parasite Leishmania major.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina M Orrego
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (PTS) Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María Cabello-Donayre
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (PTS) Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Paola Vargas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (PTS) Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Marta Martínez-García
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (PTS) Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Clara Sánchez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (PTS) Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Estela Pineda-Molina
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (PTS) Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Maribel Jiménez
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Molina
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Pérez-Victoria
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (PTS) Granada, Granada, Spain
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20
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Núñez G, Sakamoto K, Soares MP. Innate Nutritional Immunity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 201:11-18. [PMID: 29914937 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for both microbes and their hosts. The biologic importance of Fe derives from its inherent ability to act as a universal redox catalyst, co-opted in a variety of biochemical processes critical to maintain life. Animals evolved several mechanisms to retain and limit Fe availability to pathogenic microbes, a resistance mechanism termed "nutritional immunity." Likewise, pathogenic microbes coevolved to deploy diverse and efficient mechanisms to acquire Fe from their hosts and in doing so overcome nutritional immunity. In this review, we discuss how the innate immune system regulates Fe metabolism to withhold Fe from pathogenic microbes and how strategies used by pathogens to acquire Fe circumvent these resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Núñez
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; .,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; and
| | - Kei Sakamoto
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; and
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21
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Donegan RK, Moore CM, Hanna DA, Reddi AR. Handling heme: The mechanisms underlying the movement of heme within and between cells. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 133:88-100. [PMID: 30092350 PMCID: PMC6363905 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Heme is an essential cofactor and signaling molecule required for virtually all aerobic life. However, excess heme is cytotoxic. Therefore, heme must be safely transported and trafficked from the site of synthesis in the mitochondria or uptake at the cell surface, to hemoproteins in most subcellular compartments. While heme synthesis and degradation are relatively well characterized, little is known about how heme is trafficked and transported throughout the cell. Herein, we review eukaryotic heme transport, trafficking, and mobilization, with a focus on factors that regulate bioavailable heme. We also highlight the role of gasotransmitters and small molecules in heme mobilization and bioavailability, and heme trafficking at the host-pathogen interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K Donegan
- School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Courtney M Moore
- School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - David A Hanna
- School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Amit R Reddi
- School of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States; School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States; Parker Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States.
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22
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Zuffo M, Stucchi A, Campos-Salinas J, Cabello-Donayre M, Martínez-García M, Belmonte-Reche E, Pérez-Victoria J, Mergny J, Freccero M, Morales J, Doria F. Carbohydrate-naphthalene diimide conjugates as potential antiparasitic drugs: Synthesis, evaluation and structure-activity studies. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 163:54-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.11.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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23
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Landfear SM. Protean permeases: Diverse roles for membrane transport proteins in kinetoplastid protozoa. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 227:39-46. [PMID: 30590069 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Kinetoplastid parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania species rely upon their insect and vertebrate hosts to provide a plethora of nutrients throughout their life cycles. Nutrients and ions critical for parasite survival are taken up across the parasite plasma membrane by transporters and channels, polytopic membrane proteins that provide substrate-specific pores across the hydrophobic barrier. However, transporters and channels serve a wide range of biological functions beyond uptake of nutrients. This article highlights the diversity of activities that these integral membrane proteins serve and underscores the emerging complexity of their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Landfear
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
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Lechuga GC, Pereira MCS, Bourguignon SC. Heme metabolism as a therapeutic target against protozoan parasites. J Drug Target 2018; 27:767-779. [DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2018.1536982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Curty Lechuga
- Laboratório de Interação celular e molecular, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Outeiro São João Batista, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Biologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências e Biotecnologia (PPBI), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mirian C. S. Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Saulo C. Bourguignon
- Laboratório de Interação celular e molecular, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Outeiro São João Batista, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Biologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências e Biotecnologia (PPBI), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Fernandez-Pastor I, Martínez-García M, Medina-O'Donnell M, Rivas F, Martinez A, Pérez-Victoria JM, Parra A. Semisynthesis of ω-Hydroxyalkylcarbonate Derivatives of Hydroxytyrosol as Antitrypanosome Agents. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 81:2075-2082. [PMID: 30160961 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Several lipophilic ω-hydroxyalkylcarbonate hydroxytyrosol derivatives and also their corresponding dimeric derivatives have been synthesized, coupling the primary hydroxy group of this phenolic compound with several terminal diols of different chain lengths, by the use of a carbonate linker. The trypanocidal activity and cytotoxicity of these ω-hydroxyalkylcarbonate derivatives of hydroxytyrosol and known alkylcarbonate derivatives of hydroxytyrosol were assessed. Three of the hydroxytyrosol alkylcarbonate derivatives were active against Trypanosoma brucei: two with an alkyl chain of average size (0.2 and 0.5 μM) and another with a double bond in the alkyl chain (0.4 μM). These values suggest an increase in activity with respect to hydroxytyrosol (264-, 90-, and 116-fold, respectively). Furthermore, these compounds showed high selectivity indices against MRC-5, a nontumor human cell line (62, 71, and 39, respectively). Some other ω-hydroxyalkylcarbonate and alkylcarbonate derivatives of hydroxytyrosol were also active against T. brucei within a low micromolar range (about 1 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Fernandez-Pastor
- Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad de Granada , Fuentenueva, s/n , E-18071 Granada , Spain
| | - Marta Martínez-García
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "Lopez-Neyra", CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada , Avenida del Conocimiento, 17 , 18016 , Armilla, Granada , Spain
| | - Marta Medina-O'Donnell
- Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad de Granada , Fuentenueva, s/n , E-18071 Granada , Spain
| | - Francisco Rivas
- Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad de Granada , Fuentenueva, s/n , E-18071 Granada , Spain
| | - Antonio Martinez
- Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad de Granada , Fuentenueva, s/n , E-18071 Granada , Spain
| | - José María Pérez-Victoria
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "Lopez-Neyra", CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada , Avenida del Conocimiento, 17 , 18016 , Armilla, Granada , Spain
| | - Andres Parra
- Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad de Granada , Fuentenueva, s/n , E-18071 Granada , Spain
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26
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Martínez-García M, Bart JM, Campos-Salinas J, Valdivia E, Martínez-Bueno M, González-Rey E, Navarro M, Maqueda M, Cebrián R, Pérez-Victoria JM. Autophagic-related cell death of Trypanosoma brucei induced by bacteriocin AS-48. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 8:203-212. [PMID: 29649664 PMCID: PMC6039360 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and nagana. Current drug therapies have limited efficacy, high toxicity and/or are continually hampered by the appearance of resistance. Antimicrobial peptides have recently attracted attention as potential parasiticidal compounds. Here, we explore circular bacteriocin AS-48's ability to kill clinically relevant bloodstream forms of T. brucei gambiense, T. brucei rhodesiense and T. brucei brucei. AS-48 exhibited excellent anti-trypanosomal activity in vitro (EC50 = 1–3 nM) against the three T. brucei subspecies, but it was innocuous to human cells at 104-fold higher concentrations. In contrast to its antibacterial action, AS-48 does not kill the parasite through plasma membrane permeabilization but by targeting intracellular compartments. This was evidenced by the fact that vital dye internalization-prohibiting concentrations of AS-48 could kill the parasite at 37 °C but not at 4 °C. Furthermore, AS-48 interacted with the surface of the parasite, at least in part via VSG, its uptake was temperature-dependent and clathrin-depleted cells were less permissive to the action of AS-48. The bacteriocin also caused the appearance of myelin-like structures and double-membrane autophagic vacuoles. These changes in the parasite's ultrastructure were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy as AS-48 induced the production of EGFP-ATG8.2-labeled autophagosomes. Collectively, these results indicate AS-48 kills the parasite through a mechanism involving clathrin-mediated endocytosis of VSG-bound AS-48 and the induction of autophagic-like cell death. As AS-48 has greater in vitro activity than the drugs currently used to treat T. brucei infection and does not present any signs of toxicity in mammalian cells, it could be an attractive lead compound for the treatment of sleeping sickness and nagana. AS-48 kills Trypanosoma brucei efficiently and is innocuous in mammalian cells. It has greater in vitro activity than drugs currently in use. AS-48 must be internalized by the parasite in order to exert its trypanocidal effect. AS-48 uptake involves VSG binding and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. AS-48 induces an autophagic-related cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Martínez-García
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jean-Mathieu Bart
- Centro Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; UMR INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France
| | - Jenny Campos-Salinas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Eva Valdivia
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Spain
| | | | - Elena González-Rey
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Navarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Mercedes Maqueda
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Spain
| | - Rubén Cebrián
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Spain.
| | - José M Pérez-Victoria
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
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27
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Horáková E, Changmai P, Vancová M, Sobotka R, Van Den Abbeele J, Vanhollebeke B, Lukeš J. The Trypanosoma brucei TbHrg protein is a heme transporter involved in the regulation of stage-specific morphological transitions. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:6998-7010. [PMID: 28232490 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.762997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The human parasite Trypanosoma brucei does not synthesize heme de novo and instead relies entirely on heme supplied by its vertebrate host or its insect vector, the tsetse fly. In the host bloodstream T. brucei scavenges heme via haptoglobin-hemoglobin (HpHb) receptor-mediated endocytosis occurring in the flagellar pocket. However, in the procyclic developmental stage, in which T. brucei is confined to the tsetse fly midgut, this receptor is apparently not expressed, suggesting that T. brucei takes up heme by a different, unknown route. To define this alternative route, we functionally characterized heme transporter TbHrg in the procyclic stage. RNAi-induced down-regulation of TbHrg in heme-limited culture conditions resulted in slower proliferation, decreased cellular heme, and marked changes in cellular morphology so that the cells resemble mesocyclic trypomastigotes. Nevertheless, the TbHrg KO developed normally in the tsetse flies at rates comparable with wild-type cells. T. brucei cells overexpressing TbHrg displayed up-regulation of the early procyclin GPEET and down-regulation of the late procyclin EP1, two proteins coating the T. brucei surface in the procyclic stage. Light microscopy of immunostained TbHrg indicated localization to the flagellar membrane, and scanning electron microscopy revealed more intense TbHrg accumulation toward the flagellar pocket. Based on these findings, we postulate that T. brucei senses heme levels via the flagellar TbHrg protein. Heme deprivation in the tsetse fly anterior midgut might represent an environmental stimulus involved in the transformation of this important human parasite, possibly through metabolic remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Horáková
- From the Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Piya Changmai
- From the Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Marie Vancová
- From the Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Roman Sobotka
- Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.,Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37981 Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Van Den Abbeele
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Veterinary Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, B2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Benoit Vanhollebeke
- Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Université Libre de Bruxelles, B6041 Gosselies, Belgium, and
| | - Julius Lukeš
- From the Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic, .,Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.,Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8, Canada
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