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Rios KT, McGee JP, Sebastian A, Moritz RL, Feric M, Absalon S, Swearingen KE, Lindner SE. Global Release of Translational Repression Across Plasmodium's Host-to-Vector Transmission Event. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.01.577866. [PMID: 38352447 PMCID: PMC10862809 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.01.577866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Malaria parasites must be able to respond quickly to changes in their environment, including during their transmission between mammalian hosts and mosquito vectors. Therefore, before transmission, female gametocytes proactively produce and translationally repress mRNAs that encode essential proteins that the zygote requires to establish a new infection. This essential regulatory control requires the orthologues of DDX6 (DOZI), LSM14a (CITH), and ALBA proteins to form a translationally repressive complex in female gametocytes that associates with many of the affected mRNAs. However, while the release of translational repression of individual mRNAs has been documented, the details of the global release of translational repression have not. Moreover, the changes in spatial arrangement and composition of the DOZI/CITH/ALBA complex that contribute to translational control are also not known. Therefore, we have conducted the first quantitative, comparative transcriptomics and DIA-MS proteomics of Plasmodium parasites across the host-to-vector transmission event to document the global release of translational repression. Using female gametocytes and zygotes of P. yoelii, we found that nearly 200 transcripts are released for translation soon after fertilization, including those with essential functions for the zygote. However, we also observed that some transcripts remain repressed beyond this point. In addition, we have used TurboID-based proximity proteomics to interrogate the spatial and compositional changes in the DOZI/CITH/ALBA complex across this transmission event. Consistent with recent models of translational control, proteins that associate with either the 5' or 3' end of mRNAs are in close proximity to one another during translational repression in female gametocytes and then dissociate upon release of repression in zygotes. This observation is cross-validated for several protein colocalizations in female gametocytes via ultrastructure expansion microscopy and structured illumination microscopy. Moreover, DOZI exchanges its interaction from NOT1-G in female gametocytes to the canonical NOT1 in zygotes, providing a model for a trigger for the release of mRNAs from DOZI. Finally, unenriched phosphoproteomics revealed the modification of key translational control proteins in the zygote. Together, these data provide a model for the essential translational control mechanisms used by malaria parasites to promote their efficient transmission from their mammalian host to their mosquito vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly T. Rios
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | - James P. McGee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | - Aswathy Sebastian
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | | | - Marina Feric
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Sabrina Absalon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | | | - Scott E. Lindner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
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Farrukh A, Musabyimana JP, Distler U, Mahlich VJ, Mueller J, Bick F, Tenzer S, Pradel G, Ngwa CJ. The Plasmodium falciparum CCCH zinc finger protein MD3 regulates male gametocytogenesis through its interaction with RNA-binding proteins. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:543-564. [PMID: 38148574 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15215] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The transmission of malaria parasites to mosquitoes is dependent on the formation of gametocytes. Once fully matured, gametocytes are able to transform into gametes in the mosquito's midgut, a process accompanied with their egress from the enveloping erythrocyte. Gametocyte maturation and gametogenesis require a well-coordinated gene expression program that involves a wide spectrum of regulatory proteins, ranging from histone modifiers to transcription factors to RNA-binding proteins. Here, we investigated the role of the CCCH zinc finger protein MD3 in Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis. MD3 was originally identified as an epigenetically regulated protein of immature gametocytes and recently shown to be involved in male development in a barcode-based screen in P. berghei. We report that MD3 is mainly present in the cytoplasm of immature male P. falciparum gametocytes. Parasites deficient of MD3 are impaired in gametocyte maturation and male gametocytogenesis. BioID analysis in combination with co-immunoprecipitation assays unveiled an interaction network of MD3 with RNA-binding proteins like PABP1 and ALBA3, with translational initiators, regulators and repressors like elF4G, PUF1, NOT1 and CITH, and with further regulators of gametocytogenesis, including ZNF4, MD1 and GD1. We conclude that MD3 is part of a regulator complex crucial for post-transcriptional fine-tuning of male gametocytogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afia Farrukh
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jean Pierre Musabyimana
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ute Distler
- Core Facility for Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Immunology, University Medical Centre of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Vanessa Jil Mahlich
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Julius Mueller
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabian Bick
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Tenzer
- Core Facility for Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Immunology, University Medical Centre of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Che Julius Ngwa
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Preira CMF, Pizzi E, Fratini F, Grasso F, Boccolini D, Mochi S, Favia G, Piselli E, Damiani C, Siden-Kiamos I, Ponzi M, Currà C. A Time Point Proteomic Analysis Reveals Protein Dynamics of Plasmodium Oocysts. Mol Cell Proteomics 2024; 23:100736. [PMID: 38342407 PMCID: PMC10924140 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2024.100736] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The oocyst is a sporogonic stage of Plasmodium development that takes place in the mosquito midgut in about 2 weeks. The cyst is protected by a capsule of unknown composition, and little is known about oocyst biology. We carried out a proteomic analysis of oocyst samples isolated at early, mid, and late time points of development. Four biological replicates for each time point were analyzed, and almost 600 oocyst-specific candidates were identified. The analysis revealed that, in young oocysts, there is a strong activity of protein and DNA synthesis, whereas in mature oocysts, proteins involved in oocyst and sporozoite development, gliding motility, and invasion are mostly abundant. Among the proteins identified at early stages, 17 candidates are specific to young oocysts. Thirty-four candidates are common to oocyst and the merosome stages (sporozoite proteins excluded), sharing common features as replication and egress. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses of selected candidates confirm the expression profile obtained by proteomic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Marie François Preira
- Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Molecular biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Greece; Department of Biology, Voutes University Campus, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Elisabetta Pizzi
- Core Facilities Technical-Scientific Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Fratini
- Core Facilities Technical-Scientific Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Felicia Grasso
- Department of Infectious diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Boccolini
- Department of Infectious diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Mochi
- Department of Infectious diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Favia
- School of Biosciences & Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy
| | - Elena Piselli
- School of Biosciences & Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy
| | - Claudia Damiani
- School of Biosciences & Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy
| | - Inga Siden-Kiamos
- Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Molecular biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Marta Ponzi
- Department of Infectious diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Currà
- Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Molecular biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Greece.
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Frischknecht F, Pradel G. Mechanisms of host cell exit by intracellular pathogens. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:325-327. [PMID: 38462237 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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