1
|
Ye L, Zhang Y, Dong Z, Guo P, Zhao D, Li H, Hu H, Zhou X, Chen H, Zhao P. Five Silkworm 30K Proteins Are Involved in the Cellular Immunity against Fungi. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020107. [PMID: 33513667 PMCID: PMC7911669 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary The molecular mechanism of 30K proteins in anti-fungal immunity remains unclear. Here, we examined the mRNA levels of 30K proteins, including BmLP1, BmLP2, BmLP3, BmLP4, and BmLP7, and found that all of these proteins were significantly upregulated after injection of pathogen-associated molecular patterns to the fifth instar larvae, implying their involvement in immune response. The binding assay results showed that only BmLP1 and BmLP4 can bind to both fungal cells and silkworm hemocytes. In vitro, the encapsulation of hemocytes on day 5 of the fifth instar larval stage was promoted by the coating of agarose beads with recombinant BmLP1 and BmLP4. Therefore, these results demonstrate that 30K proteins are involved in the cellular immunity of silkworms by acting as pattern recognition molecules to directly recruit hemocytes to the fungal surface. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because it provides insights into the 30K-mediated cellular immunity in silkworms. Abstract Background: 30K proteins are a major group of nutrient storage proteins in the silkworm hemolymph. Previous studies have shown that 30K proteins are involved in the anti-fungal immunity; however, the molecular mechanism involved in this immunity remains unclear. Methods: We investigated the transcriptional expression of five 30K proteins, including BmLP1, BmLP2, BmLP3, BmLP4, and BmLP7. The five recombinant 30K proteins were expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system, and used for binding assays with fungal cells and hemocytes. Results: The transcriptional expression showed that the five 30K proteins were significantly upregulated after injection of pathogen-associated molecular patterns to the fifth instar larvae, indicating the possibility of their involvement in immune response. The binding assay showed that only BmLP1 and BmLP4 can bind to both fungal cells and silkworm hemocytes. Furthermore, we found that BmLP1-coated and BmLP4-coated agarose beads promote encapsulation of hemocytes in vitro. The hemocyte encapsulation was blocked when the BmLP1-coated beads were preincubated with BmLP1 specific polyclonal antibodies. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that 30K proteins are involved in the cellular immunity of silkworms by acting as pattern recognition molecules to directly recruit hemocytes to the fungal surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (L.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.D.); (P.G.); (D.Z.); (H.L.)
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (L.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.D.); (P.G.); (D.Z.); (H.L.)
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Zhaoming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (L.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.D.); (P.G.); (D.Z.); (H.L.)
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Pengchao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (L.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.D.); (P.G.); (D.Z.); (H.L.)
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Dongchao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (L.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.D.); (P.G.); (D.Z.); (H.L.)
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Haoyun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (L.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.D.); (P.G.); (D.Z.); (H.L.)
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Hang Hu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (H.H.); (X.Z.); (H.C.)
| | - Xiaofang Zhou
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (H.H.); (X.Z.); (H.C.)
| | - Haiqin Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (H.H.); (X.Z.); (H.C.)
| | - Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; (L.Y.); (Y.Z.); (Z.D.); (P.G.); (D.Z.); (H.L.)
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-23-68250885; Fax: +86-23-68251128
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pietrzyk-Brzezinska AJ, Bujacz A. H-type lectins - Structural characteristics and their applications in diagnostics, analytics and drug delivery. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 152:735-747. [PMID: 32119947 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.02.320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Lectins are ubiquitous carbohydrate-binding proteins that interact with sugar moieties in a highly specific manner. H-type lectins represent a new group of lectins that were identified in invertebrates. These lectins share structural homology and bind mainly to N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). Recent structural studies on the H-type lectins provided a detailed description of the GalNAc-lectin interaction that is already exploited in a number of biomedical applications. Two members of the H-type lectin family, Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) and Helix aspersa agglutinin (HAA), have already been extensively used in many diagnostic tests due their ability to specifically recognize GalNAc. This ability is especially important because aberrant glycosylation patterns of proteins expressed by cancer cells contain GalNAc. In addition, H-type lectins were utilized in diagnostics of other non-cancer diseases and represent great potential as components of drug delivery systems. Here, we present an overview of the H-type lectins and their applications in diagnostics, analytics and drug delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka J Pietrzyk-Brzezinska
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz 90-924, Poland.
| | - Anna Bujacz
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz 90-924, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pietrzyk AJ, Bujacz A, Mak P, Potempa B, Niedziela T. Structural studies of Helix aspersa agglutinin complexed with GalNAc: A lectin that serves as a diagnostic tool. Int J Biol Macromol 2015; 81:1059-68. [PMID: 26416237 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2015] [Revised: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lectins belong to a differentiated group of proteins known to possess sugar-binding properties. Due to this fact, they are interesting research targets in medical diagnostics. Helix aspersa agglutinin (HAA) is a lectin that recognizes the epitopes containing α-d-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), which is present at the surface of metastatic cancer cells. Although several reports have already described the use of HAA as a diagnostic tool, this protein was not characterized on the molecular level. Here, we present for the first time the structural information about lectin isolated from mucus of Helix aspersa (garden snail). The amino acid sequence of this agglutinin was determined by Edman degradation and tertiary as well as quaternary structure by X-ray crystallography. The high resolution crystal structure (1.38Å) and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis provide the detailed information about a large part of the HAA natural glycan chain. The topology of the GalNAc binding cleft and interaction with lectin are very well defined in the structure and fully confirmed by STD HSQC NMR spectroscopy. Together, this provides structural clues regarding HAA specificity and opens possibilities to rational modifications of this important diagnostic tool.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka J Pietrzyk
- Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz 90-924, Poland
| | - Anna Bujacz
- Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz 90-924, Poland.
| | - Paweł Mak
- Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Barbara Potempa
- University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, 501 South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Tomasz Niedziela
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla 12, Wrocław 53-114, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pietrzyk AJ, Bujacz A, Łochynska M, Jaskolski M, Bujacz G. Crystal structure of Bombyx mori lipoprotein 6: comparative structural analysis of the 30-kDa lipoprotein family. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108761. [PMID: 25379889 PMCID: PMC4224370 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The 30-kDa lipoprotein (LP) family of mulberry silkworm comprises major hemolymph proteins specific to the fifth instar larvae. The family consists of 46 members, 24 of which are referred to as typical 30-kDa LPs. To date, two crystal structures of 30-kDa LPs from Bombyx mori have been described (Bmlp3 and Bmlp7). Here, we present the crystal structure of Bmlp6, another 30-kDa LP member. Bmlp6 is comprised of two domains characteristic of this family, the VHS-type N-terminal domain and β-trefoil C-terminal domain. The structures of the three 30-kDa LPs have been compared and a number of differences are noted, including loop conformation, the surface electrostatic potential, and the potential binding cavities. We discuss the observed structural differences in the light of the potential different roles of the particular 30-kDa LP members in silkworm physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka J. Pietrzyk
- Center for Biocrystallographic Research, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Bujacz
- Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Technical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Mariusz Jaskolski
- Center for Biocrystallographic Research, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Department of Crystallography, Faculty of Chemistry, A. Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Bujacz
- Center for Biocrystallographic Research, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Technical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pietrzyk AJ, Bujacz A, Mueller-Dieckmann J, Łochynska M, Jaskolski M, Bujacz G. Crystallographic identification of an unexpected protein complex in silkworm haemolymph. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D: BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY 2013; 69:2353-64. [PMID: 24311577 DOI: 10.1107/s0907444913021823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The first crystal structure of a complex formed by two storage proteins, SP2 and SP3, isolated from their natural source, mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) haemolymph, has been determined. The structure was solved by molecular replacement using arylphorin, a protein rich in aromatic amino-acid residues, from oak silkworm as the initial model. The quality of the electron-density maps obtained from the X-ray diffraction experiment allowed the authors to detect that the investigated crystal structure was composed of two different arylphorins: SP2 and SP3. This discovery was confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. SP2 has been extensively studied previously, whereas only a few reports on SP3 are available. However, to date no structural studies have been reported for these proteins. These studies revealed that SP2 and SP3 exist in the silkworm body as a heterohexamer formed by one SP2 trimer and one SP3 trimer. The overall fold, consisting of three haemocyanin-like subdomains, of SP2 and SP3 is similar. Both proteins contain a conserved N-glycosylation motif in their structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka J Pietrzyk
- Center for Biocrystallographic Research, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|