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Paul P, Nayak B, Mishra S. The Role of Neddylation in Malaria Parasites. DNA Cell Biol 2024. [PMID: 38885136 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2024.0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria, rely on sophisticated cellular mechanisms to survive and proliferate within their hosts. Plasmodium complex life cycle requires posttranslational modifications (PTMs) to control cellular activities. Neddylation is a type of PTM in which NEDD8 is covalently attached to target proteins and plays an important role in cell cycle control and metabolism. Covalent attachment to its substrates requires the Nedd8-activating enzyme, E1; the NEDD8-conjugating enzyme, E2; and the ligase, E3. In Plasmodium, protein neddylation is essential for parasite development during the stage I-II transition from zygote to ookinete differentiation and malaria transmission. Here, we discuss the current understanding of protein neddylation in Plasmodium, which is involved in malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Plabita Paul
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Bandita Nayak
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Satish Mishra
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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2
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Ouologuem DT, Dara A, Kone A, Ouattara A, Djimde AA. Plasmodium falciparum Development from Gametocyte to Oocyst: Insight from Functional Studies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1966. [PMID: 37630530 PMCID: PMC10460021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination may never succeed without the implementation of transmission-blocking strategies. The transmission of Plasmodium spp. parasites from the human host to the mosquito vector depends on circulating gametocytes in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host. Once ingested by the mosquito during blood meals, these sexual forms undergo a series of radical morphological and metabolic changes to survive and progress from the gut to the salivary glands, where they will be waiting to be injected into the vertebrate host. The design of effective transmission-blocking strategies requires a thorough understanding of all the mechanisms that drive the development of gametocytes, gametes, sexual reproduction, and subsequent differentiation within the mosquito. The drastic changes in Plasmodium falciparum shape and function throughout its life cycle rely on the tight regulation of stage-specific gene expression. This review outlines the mechanisms involved in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development in both the human and mosquito vector, and zygote to oocyst differentiation. Functional studies unravel mechanisms employed by P. falciparum to orchestrate the expression of stage-specific functional products required to succeed in its complex life cycle, thus providing us with potential targets for developing new therapeutics. These mechanisms are based on studies conducted with various Plasmodium species, including predominantly P. falciparum and the rodent malaria parasites P. berghei. However, the great potential of epigenetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genetic studies to improve the understanding of malaria as a disease remains partly untapped because of limitations in studies using human malaria parasites and field isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinkorma T. Ouologuem
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Antoine Dara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Aminatou Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdoulaye A. Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
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Chen L, Tang X, Sun P, Hu D, Zhang Y, Wang C, Chen J, Liu J, Gao Y, Hao Z, Zhang N, Chen W, Xie F, Suo X, Liu X. Comparative transcriptome profiling of Eimeria tenella in various developmental stages and functional analysis of an ApiAP2 transcription factor exclusively expressed during sporogony. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:241. [PMID: 37468981 PMCID: PMC10354945 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05828-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The apicomplexan parasites Eimeria spp. are the causative agents of coccidiosis, a disease with a significant global impact on the poultry industry. The complex life cycle of Eimeria spp. involves exogenous (sporogony) and endogenous (schizogony and gametogony) stages. Unfortunately, the genetic regulation of these highly dynamic processes, particularly for genes involved in specific developmental phases, is not well understood. METHODS In this study, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis to identify expressed genes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at seven time points representing different developmental stages of Eimeria tenella. We then performed K-means clustering along with co-expression analysis to identify functionally enriched gene clusters. Additionally, we predicted apicomplexan AP2 transcription factors in E. tenella using bioinformatics methods. Finally, we generated overexpression and knockout strains of ETH2_0411800 to observe its impact on E. tenella development. RESULTS In total, we identified 7329 genes that are expressed during various developmental stages, with 3342 genes exhibiting differential expression during development. Using K-means clustering along with co-expression analysis, we identified clusters functionally enriched for oocyte meiosis, cell cycle, and signaling pathway. Among the 53 predicted ApiAP2 transcription factors, ETH2_0411800 was found to be exclusively expressed during sporogony. The ETH2_0411800 overexpression and knockout strains did not exhibit significant differences in oocyst size or output compared to the parental strain, while the resulting ETH2_0411800 knockout parasite showed a relatively small oocyst output. CONCLUSIONS The findings of our research suggest that ETH2_0411800 is not essential for the growth and development of E. tenella. Our study provides insights into the gene expression dynamics and is a valuable resource for exploring the roles of transcription factor genes in regulating the development of Eimeria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Xinming Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biosafety Risk Prevention and Control (North) of MARA, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Dandan Hu
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture & Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chaoyue Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junmin Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Jie Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Yang Gao
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Zhenkai Hao
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Ning Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Wenxuan Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Fujie Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Xun Suo
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Xianyong Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
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Kuehnel RM, Ganga E, Balestra AC, Suarez C, Wyss M, Klages N, Brusini L, Maco B, Brancucci N, Voss TS, Soldati D, Brochet M. A Plasmodium membrane receptor platform integrates cues for egress and invasion in blood forms and activation of transmission stages. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf2161. [PMID: 37327340 PMCID: PMC10275601 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf2161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Critical events in the life cycle of malaria-causing parasites depend on cyclic guanosine monophosphate homeostasis by guanylyl cyclases (GCs) and phosphodiesterases, including merozoite egress or invasion of erythrocytes and gametocyte activation. These processes rely on a single GCα, but in the absence of known signaling receptors, how this pathway integrates distinct triggers is unknown. We show that temperature-dependent epistatic interactions between phosphodiesterases counterbalance GCα basal activity preventing gametocyte activation before mosquito blood feed. GCα interacts with two multipass membrane cofactors in schizonts and gametocytes: UGO (unique GC organizer) and SLF (signaling linking factor). While SLF regulates GCα basal activity, UGO is essential for GCα up-regulation in response to natural signals inducing merozoite egress and gametocyte activation. This work identifies a GC membrane receptor platform that senses signals triggering processes specific to an intracellular parasitic lifestyle, including host cell egress and invasion to ensure intraerythrocytic amplification and transmission to mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronja Marie Kuehnel
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emma Ganga
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélia C. Balestra
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Catherine Suarez
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Wyss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Klages
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Brusini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Brancucci
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Till S. Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel Servet, 12111 Geneva, Switzerland
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Rashpa R, Klages N, Schvartz D, Pasquarello C, Brochet M. The Skp1-Cullin1-FBXO1 complex is a pleiotropic regulator required for the formation of gametes and motile forms in Plasmodium berghei. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1312. [PMID: 36898988 PMCID: PMC10006092 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36999-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites of the Plasmodium genus undergo multiple developmental phases in the human and the mosquito hosts, regulated by various post-translational modifications. While ubiquitination by multi-component E3 ligases is key to regulate a wide range of cellular processes in eukaryotes, little is known about its role in Plasmodium. Here we show that Plasmodium berghei expresses a conserved SKP1/Cullin1/FBXO1 (SCFFBXO1) complex showing tightly regulated expression and localisation across multiple developmental stages. It is key to cell division for nuclear segregation during schizogony and centrosome partitioning during microgametogenesis. It is additionally required for parasite-specific processes including gamete egress from the host erythrocyte, as well as integrity of the apical and the inner membrane complexes (IMC) in merozoite and ookinete, two structures essential for the dissemination of these motile stages. Ubiquitinomic surveys reveal a large set of proteins ubiquitinated in a FBXO1-dependent manner including proteins important for egress and IMC organisation. We additionally demonstrate an interplay between FBXO1-dependent ubiquitination and phosphorylation via calcium-dependent protein kinase 1. Altogether we show that Plasmodium SCFFBXO1 plays conserved roles in cell division and is also important for parasite-specific processes in the mammalian and mosquito hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravish Rashpa
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Natacha Klages
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Domitille Schvartz
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Proteomics Core Facility, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Carla Pasquarello
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Proteomics Core Facility, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
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6
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Zhu C, Liang X, Chen X, Liang M, Zheng J, Wan B, Luo S. Characterizing the Specific Recognition of Xanthurenic Acid by GEP1 and GEP1-GCα Interactions in cGMP Signaling Pathway in Gametogenesis of Malaria Parasites. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032561. [PMID: 36768882 PMCID: PMC9916804 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032561] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gametogenesis is an essential step for malaria parasite transmission and is activated in mosquito by signals including temperature drop, pH change, and mosquito-derived xanthurenic acid (XA). Recently, a membrane protein gametogenesis essential protein 1 (GEP1) was found to be responsible for sensing these signals and interacting with a giant guanylate cyclase α (GCα) to activate the cGMP-PKG-Ca2+ signaling pathway for malaria parasite gametogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms for this process remain unclear. In this study, we used AlphaFold2 to predict the structure of GEP1 and found that it consists of a conserved N-terminal helical domain and a transmembrane domain that adopts a structure similar to that of cationic amino acid transporters. Molecular docking results showed that XA binds to GEP1 via a pocket similar to the ligand binding sites of known amino acid transporters. In addition, truncations of this N-terminal sequence significantly enhanced the expression, solubility, and stability of GEP1. In addition, we found that GEP1 interacts with GCα via its C-terminal region, which is interrupted by mutations of a few conserved residues. These findings provide further insights into the molecular mechanism for the XA recognition by GEP1 and the activation of the gametogenesis of malaria parasites through GEP1-GCα interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhu
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaoge Liang
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xu Chen
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Miaomiao Liang
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jianting Zheng
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Bingbing Wan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Shukun Luo
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200240, China
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
Human malaria, caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites, remains one of the most important global public health problems, with the World Health Organization reporting more than 240 million cases and 600,000 deaths annually as of 2020 (World malaria report 2021). Our understanding of the biology of these parasites is critical for development of effective therapeutics and prophylactics, including both antimalarials and vaccines. Plasmodium is a protozoan organism that is intracellular for most of its life cycle. However, to complete its complex life cycle and to allow for both amplification and transmission, the parasite must egress out of the host cell in a highly regulated manner. This review discusses the major pathways and proteins involved in the egress events during the Plasmodium life cycle-merozoite and gametocyte egress out of red blood cells, sporozoite egress out of the oocyst, and merozoite egress out of the hepatocyte. The similarities, as well as the differences, between the various egress pathways of the parasite highlight both novel cell biology and potential therapeutic targets to arrest its life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Dvorin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine; and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA;
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van der Watt ME, Reader J, Birkholtz LM. Adapt or Die: Targeting Unique Transmission-Stage Biology for Malaria Elimination. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:901971. [PMID: 35755845 PMCID: PMC9218253 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.901971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites have a complex life cycle that includes development in the human host as well as the Anopheles vector. Successful transmission of the parasite between its host and vector therefore requires the parasite to balance its investments in asexual replication and sexual reproduction, varying the frequency of sexual commitment to persist within the human host and generate future opportunities for transmission. The transmission window is extended further by the ability of stage V gametocytes to circulate in peripheral blood for weeks, whereas immature stage I to IV gametocytes sequester in the bone marrow and spleen until final maturation. Due to the low gametocyte numbers in blood circulation and with the ease of targeting such life cycle bottlenecks, transmission represents an efficient target for therapeutic intervention. The biological process of Plasmodium transmission is a multistage, multifaceted process and the past decade has seen a much deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulators involved. Clearly, specific and divergent processes are used during transmission compared to asexual proliferation, which both poses challenges but also opportunities for discovery of transmission-blocking antimalarials. This review therefore presents an update of our molecular understanding of gametocyte and gamete biology as well as the status of transmission-blocking activities of current antimalarials and lead development compounds. By defining the biological components associated with transmission, considerations for the development of new transmission-blocking drugs to target such untapped but unique biology is suggested as an important, main driver for transmission-blocking drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariëtte E van der Watt
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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9
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Wang PP, Jiang X, Zhu L, Zhou D, Hong M, He L, Chen L, Yao S, Zhao Y, Chen G, Wang C, Cui L, Cao Y, Zhu X. A G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Modulates Gametogenesis via PKG-Mediated Signaling Cascade in Plasmodium berghei. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0015022. [PMID: 35404079 PMCID: PMC9045217 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00150-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gametogenesis is essential for malaria parasite transmission, but the molecular mechanism of this process remains to be refined. Here, we identified a G-protein-coupled receptor 180 (GPR180) that plays a critical role in signal transduction during gametogenesis in Plasmodium. The P. berghei GPR180 was predominantly expressed in gametocytes and ookinetes and associated with the plasma membrane in female gametes and ookinetes. Knockout of pbgpr180 (Δpbgpr180) had no noticeable effect on blood-stage development but impaired gamete formation and reduced transmission of the parasites to mosquitoes. Transcriptome analysis revealed that a large proportion of the dysregulated genes in the Δpbgpr180 gametocytes had assigned functions in cyclic nucleotide signal transduction. In the Δpbgpr180 gametocytes, the intracellular cGMP level was significantly reduced, and the cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization showed a delay and a reduction in the magnitude during gametocyte activation. These results suggest that PbGPR180 functions upstream of the cGMP-protein kinase G-Ca2+ signaling pathway. In line with this functional prediction, the PbGPR180 protein was found to interact with several transmembrane transporter proteins and the small GTPase Rab6 in activated gametocytes. Allele replacement of pbgpr180 with the P. vivax ortholog pvgpr180 showed equal competence of the transgenic parasite in sexual development, suggesting functional conservation of this gene in Plasmodium spp. Furthermore, an anti-PbGPR180 monoclonal antibody and the anti-PvGPR180 serum possessed robust transmission-blocking activities. These results indicate that GPR180 is involved in signal transduction during gametogenesis in malaria parasites and is a promising target for blocking parasite transmission. IMPORTANCE Environmental changes from humans to mosquitoes activate gametogenesis of the malaria parasite, an obligative process for parasite transmission, but how the signals are relayed remains poorly understood. Here, we show the identification of a Plasmodium G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR180, and the characterization of its function in gametogenesis. In P. berghei, GPR180 is dispensable for asexual development and gametocytogenesis, but its deletion impairs gametogenesis and reduces transmission to mosquitoes. GPR180 appears to function upstream of the cGMP-protein kinase G-Ca2+ signaling pathway and is required for the maximum activity of this pathway. Genetic complementation shows that the GPR180 ortholog from the human malaria parasite P. vivax was fully functional in P. berghei, indicating functional conservation of GPR180 in Plasmodium spp. With predominant expression and membrane association of GPR180 in sexual stages, GPR180 is a promising target for blocking transmission, and antibodies against GPR180 possess robust transmission-blocking activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-peng Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xuefeng Jiang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liying Zhu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dan Zhou
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Mingyang Hong
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lu He
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lumeng Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shijie Yao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Taizhou University Hospital, Taizhou University, Taizhou, China
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaotong Zhu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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10
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Abstract
Toxoplasma motility is both activated and suppressed by 3′,5′-cyclic nucleotide signaling. Cyclic GMP (cGMP) signaling through Toxoplasma gondii protein kinase G (TgPKG) activates motility, whereas cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling through TgPKAc1 inhibits motility. Despite their importance, it remains unclear how cGMP and cAMP levels are maintained in Toxoplasma. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are known to inactivate cyclic nucleotides and are highly expanded in the Toxoplasma genome. Here, we analyzed the expression and function of the 18-member TgPDE family in tachyzoites, the virulent life stage of Toxoplasma. We detected the expression of 11 of 18 TgPDEs, confirming prior expression studies. A knockdown screen of the TgPDE family revealed four TgPDEs that contribute to lytic Toxoplasma growth (TgPDE1, TgPDE2, TgPDE5, and TgPDE9). Depletion of TgPDE1 or TgPDE2 caused severe growth defects, prompting further investigation. While TgPDE1 was important for extracellular motility, TgPDE2 was important for host cell invasion, parasite replication, host cell egress, and extracellular motility. TgPDE1 displayed a plasma membrane/cytomembranous distribution, whereas TgPDE2 displayed an endoplasmic reticulum/cytomembranous distribution. Biochemical analysis of TgPDE1 and TgPDE2 purified from Toxoplasma lysates revealed that TgPDE1 hydrolyzes both cGMP and cAMP, whereas TgPDE2 was cAMP specific. Interactome studies of TgPDE1 and TgPDE2 indicated that they do not physically interact with each other or other TgPDEs but may be regulated by kinases and proteases. Our studies have identified TgPDE1 and TgPDE2 as central regulators of tachyzoite cyclic nucleotide levels and enable future studies aimed at determining how these enzymes are regulated and cooperate to control Toxoplasma motility and growth. IMPORTANCE Apicomplexan parasites require motility to actively infect host cells and cause disease. Cyclic nucleotide signaling governs apicomplexan motility, but it is unclear how cyclic nucleotide levels are maintained in these parasites. In search of novel regulators of cyclic nucleotides in the model apicomplexan Toxoplasma, we identified and characterized two catalytically active phosphodiesterases, TgPDE1 and TgPDE2, that are important for Toxoplasma’s virulent tachyzoite life cycle. Enzymes that generate, sense, or degrade cyclic nucleotides make attractive targets for therapies aimed at paralyzing and killing apicomplexan parasites.
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