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van Noort K, Nguyen DL, Kriechbaumer V, Hawes C, Hokke CH, Schots A, Wilbers RHP. Functional characterization of Schistosoma mansoni fucosyltransferases in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18528. [PMID: 33116178 PMCID: PMC7595089 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74485-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminth parasites secrete a wide variety of immunomodulatory proteins and lipids to dampen host immune responses. Many of these immunomodulatory compounds are modified with complex sugar structures (or glycans), which play an important role at the host-parasite interface. As an example, the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni produces highly fucosylated glycan structures on glycoproteins and glycolipids. Up to 20 different S. mansoni fucosyltransferase (SmFucT) genes can be found in genome databases, but thus far only one enzyme has been functionally characterized. To unravel the synthesis of highly fucosylated N-glycans by S. mansoni, we examined the ability of ten selected SmFucTs to modify N-glycans upon transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. All enzymes were localized in the plant Golgi apparatus, which allowed us to identify the SmFucTs involved in core fucosylation and the synthesis of complex antennary glycan motifs. This knowledge provides a starting point for investigations into the role of specific fucosylated glycan motifs of schistosomes in parasite-host interactions. The functionally characterized SmFucTs can also be applied to synthesize complex N-glycan structures on recombinant proteins to study their contribution to immunomodulation. Furthermore, this plant expression system will fuel the development of helminth glycoproteins for pharmaceutical applications or novel anti-helminth vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim van Noort
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dieu-Linh Nguyen
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Verena Kriechbaumer
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Chris Hawes
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Cornelis H Hokke
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arjen Schots
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud H P Wilbers
- Laboratory of Nematology, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
The investigation of the glycan repertoire of several organisms has revealed a wide variation in terms of structures and abundance of glycan moieties. Among the parasites, it is possible to observe different sets of glycoconjugates across taxa and developmental stages within a species. The presence of distinct glycoconjugates throughout the life cycle of a parasite could relate to the ability of that organism to adapt and survive in different hosts and environments. Carbohydrates on the surface, and in excretory-secretory products of parasites, play essential roles in host-parasite interactions. Carbohydrate portions of complex molecules of parasites stimulate and modulate host immune responses, mainly through interactions with specific receptors on the surface of dendritic cells, leading to the generation of a pattern of response that may benefit parasite survival. Available data reviewed here also show the frequent aspect of parasite immunomodulation of mammalian responses through specific glycan interactions, which ultimately makes these molecules promising in the fields of diagnostics and vaccinology.
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Mickum ML, Rojsajjakul T, Yu Y, Cummings RD. Schistosoma mansoni α1,3-fucosyltransferase-F generates the Lewis X antigen. Glycobiology 2015; 26:270-85. [PMID: 26582608 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwv103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic evidence suggests that the Schistosoma mansoni genome contains six genes that encode α1,3-fucosyltransferases (smFuTs). To date, the activities and specificities of these putative fucosyltransferases are unknown. As Schistosoma express a variety of fucosylated glycans, including the Lewis X antigen Galβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAcβ-R, it is likely that this family of genes encode enzymes that are partly responsible for the generation of those structures. Here, we report the molecular cloning of fucosyltransferase-F (smFuT-F) from S. mansoni, as a soluble, green fluorescent protein fusion protein and its acceptor specificity. The gene smFuT-F was expressed in HEK freestyle cells, purified by affinity chromatography, and analyzed toward a broad panel of glycan acceptors. The enzyme product of smFuT-F effectively utilizes a type II chain acceptor Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R, but notably not the LDN sequence GalNAcβ1-4GlcNAc-R, to generate Lewis X type-glycans, and smFuT-F transcripts are present in all intramammalian life stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Mickum
- Department of Biochemistry and the Emory Glycomics Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Teerapat Rojsajjakul
- Department of Biochemistry and the Emory Glycomics Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ying Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and the Emory Glycomics Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Richard D Cummings
- Department of Biochemistry and the Emory Glycomics Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Mickum ML, Prasanphanich NS, Heimburg-Molinaro J, Leon KE, Cummings RD. Deciphering the glycogenome of schistosomes. Front Genet 2014; 5:262. [PMID: 25147556 PMCID: PMC4122909 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni and other Schistosoma sp. are multicellular parasitic helminths (worms) that infect humans and mammals worldwide. Infection by these parasites, which results in developmental maturation and sexual differentiation of the worms over a period of 5–6 weeks, induces antibodies to glycan antigens expressed in surface and secreted glycoproteins and glycolipids. There is growing interest in defining these unusual parasite-synthesized glycan antigens and using them to understand immune responses, their roles in immunomodulation, and in using glycan antigens as potential vaccine targets. A key problem in this area, however, has been the lack of information about the enzymes involved in elaborating the complex repertoire of glycans represented by the schistosome glycome. Recent availability of the nuclear genome sequences for Schistosoma sp. has created the opportunity to define the glycogenome, which represents the specific genes and cognate enzymes that generate the glycome. Here we describe the current state of information in regard to the schistosome glycogenome and glycome and highlight the important classes of glycans and glycogenes that may be important in their generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Mickum
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nina S Prasanphanich
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Kristoffer E Leon
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Richard D Cummings
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA
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Yoshino TP, Brown M, Wu XJ, Jackson CJ, Ocadiz-Ruiz R, Chalmers IW, Kolb M, Hokke CH, Hoffmann KF. Excreted/secreted Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like 9 (SmVAL9) modulates host extracellular matrix remodelling gene expression. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:551-63. [PMID: 24859313 PMCID: PMC4079936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni VAL9 (SmVAL9) is a secreted N-linked glycoprotein containing a unique, difucosyl modification. SmVAL9 is found throughout miracidia/sporocyst parenchymal cell inclusions/vesicles and germinal cells. SmVAL9 differentially regulates murine and snail matrix metalloproteinases.
The Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like (SmVAL) protein family consists of 29 members, each possessing a conserved α-β-α sandwich tertiary feature called the Sperm-coating protein/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7 (SCP/TAPS) domain. While the SmVALs have been found in both excretory/secretory (E/S) products and in intra/sub-tegumental (non-E/S) fractions, the role(s) of this family in host/parasite relationships or schistosome developmental processes remains poorly resolved. In order to begin quantifying SmVAL functional diversity or redundancy, dissecting the specific activity (ies) of individual family members is necessary. Towards this end, we present the characterisation of SmVAL9; a protein previously found enriched in both miracidia/sporocyst larval transformation proteins and in egg secretions. While our study confirms that SmVAL9 is indeed found in soluble egg products and miracidia/sporocyst larval transformation proteins, we find it to be maximally transcribed/translated in miracidia and subsequently down-regulated during in vitro sporocyst development. SmVAL9 localisation within sporocysts appears concentrated in parenchymal cells/vesicles as well as associated with larval germinal cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that egg-derived SmVAL9 carries an N-linked glycan containing a schistosome-specific difucosyl element and is an immunogenic target during chronic murine schistosomiasis. Finally, we demonstrate that recombinant SmVAL9 affects the expression of extracellular matrix, remodelling matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) gene products in both Biomphalaria glabrata embryonic cell (BgMMP1) and Mus musculus bone marrow-derived macrophage (MmMMP2, MmMMP9, MmMMP12, MmMMP13, MmMMP14, MmMMP28, TIMP1 and TIMP2) in vitro cultures. These findings importantly suggest that excreted/secreted SmVAL9 participates in tissue reorganisation/extracellular matrix remodelling during intra-mammalian egg translocation, miracidia infection and intra-molluscan sporocyst development/migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P Yoshino
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Martha Brown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Xiao-Jun Wu
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Colin J Jackson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Ramon Ocadiz-Ruiz
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Iain W Chalmers
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Marlen Kolb
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Cornelis H Hokke
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK.
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“Omics” in the study of the major parasitic diseases malaria and schistosomiasis. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 19:258-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2012] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Peterson NA, Anderson TK, Wu XJ, Yoshino TP. In silico analysis of the fucosylation-associated genome of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni: cloning and characterization of the enzymes involved in GDP-L-fucose synthesis and Golgi import. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:201. [PMID: 23835114 PMCID: PMC3718619 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 06/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbohydrate structures of surface-expressed and secreted/excreted glycoconjugates of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni are key determinants that mediate host-parasite interactions in both snail and mammalian hosts. Fucose is a major constituent of these immunologically important glycans, and recent studies have sought to characterize fucosylation-associated enzymes, including the Golgi-localized fucosyltransferases that catalyze the transfer of L-fucose from a GDP-L-fucose donor to an oligosaccharide acceptor. Importantly, GDP-L-fucose is the only nucleotide-sugar donor used by fucosyltransferases and its availability represents a bottleneck in fucosyl-glycotope expression. METHODS A homology-based genome-wide bioinformatics approach was used to identify and molecularly characterize the enzymes that contribute to GDP-L-fucose synthesis and Golgi import in S. mansoni. Putative functions were further investigated through molecular phylogenetic and immunocytochemical analyses. RESULTS We identified homologs of GDP-D-mannose-4,6-dehydratase (GMD) and GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-mannose-3,5-epimerase-4-reductase (GMER), which constitute a de novo pathway for GDP-L-fucose synthesis, in addition to a GDP-L-fucose transporter (GFT) that putatively imports cytosolic GDP-L-fucose into the Golgi. In silico primary sequence analyses identified characteristic Rossman loop and short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase motifs in GMD and GMER as well as 10 transmembrane domains in GFT. All genes are alternatively spliced, generating variants of unknown function. Observed quantitative differences in steady-state transcript levels between miracidia and primary sporocysts may contribute to differential glycotope expression in early larval development. Additionally, analyses of protein expression suggest the occurrence of cytosolic GMD and GMER in the ciliated epidermal plates and tegument of miracidia and primary sporocysts, respectively, which is consistent with previous localization of highly fucosylated glycotopes. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to identify and characterize three key genes that are putatively involved in the synthesis and Golgi import of GDP-L-fucose in S. mansoni and provides fundamental information regarding their genomic organization, genetic variation, molecular phylogenetics, and developmental expression in intramolluscan larval stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Peterson
- Current address: Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Tavis K Anderson
- Current address: Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, 1920 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA
| | - Xiao-Jun Wu
- Current address: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2115 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Timothy P Yoshino
- Current address: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 2115 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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