1
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Zhou QX, Tian SY, Liu XN, Xiang SP, Lin XJ, Tan F, Mou YN. Research progress of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like signaling in Toxoplasma gondii. Acta Trop 2024; 257:107283. [PMID: 38955322 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107283] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is prevalent worldwide. The fact should be emphasized that a considerable proportion of individuals infected with T. gondii may remain asymptomatic; nevertheless, the condition can have severe implications for pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals. The current treatment of toxoplasmosis primarily relies on medication; however, traditional anti-toxoplasmosis drugs exhibit significant limitations in terms of efficacy, side effects, and drug resistance. The life cycles of T. gondii are characterized by distinct stages and its body morphology goes through dynamic alterations during the growth cycle that are intricately governed by a wide array of post-translational modifications (PTMs). Ubiquitin (Ub) signaling and ubiquitin-like (Ubl) signaling are two crucial post-translational modification pathways within cells, regulating protein function, localization, stability, or interactions by attaching Ub or ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) to target proteins. While these signaling mechanisms share some functional similarities, they have distinct regulatory mechanisms and effects. T. gondii possesses both Ub and Ubls and plays a significant role in regulating the parasite's life cycle and maintaining its morphology through PTMs of substrate proteins. Investigating the role and mechanism of protein ubiquitination in T. gondii will provide valuable insights for preventing and treating toxoplasmosis. This review explores the distinctive characteristics of Ub and Ubl signaling in T. gondii, with the aim of inspiring research ideas for the identification of safer and more effective drug targets against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Xin Zhou
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Si-Yu Tian
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Xiao-Na Liu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Shi-Peng Xiang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Xue-Jing Lin
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Feng Tan
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Ya-Ni Mou
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, PR China.
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2
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Pasquarelli RR, Sha J, Wohlschlegel JA, Bradley PJ. BCC0 collaborates with IMC32 and IMC43 to form the Toxoplasma gondii essential daughter bud assembly complex. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012411. [PMID: 39024411 PMCID: PMC11288415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii divides by endodyogeny, in which two daughter buds are formed within the cytoplasm of the maternal cell using the inner membrane complex (IMC) as a scaffold. During endodyogeny, components of the IMC are synthesized and added sequentially to the nascent daughter buds in a tightly regulated manner. We previously showed that the early recruiting proteins IMC32 and IMC43 form an essential daughter bud assembly complex which lays the foundation of the daughter cell scaffold in T. gondii. In this study, we identify the essential, early recruiting IMC protein BCC0 as a third member of this complex by using IMC32 as bait in both proximity labeling and yeast two-hybrid screens. We demonstrate that BCC0's localization to daughter buds depends on the presence of both IMC32 and IMC43. Deletion analyses and functional complementation studies reveal that residues 701-877 of BCC0 are essential for both its localization and function and that residues 1-899 are sufficient for function despite minor mislocalization. Pairwise yeast two-hybrid assays additionally demonstrate that BCC0's essential domain binds to the coiled-coil region of IMC32 and that BCC0 and IMC43 do not directly interact. This data supports a model for complex assembly in which an IMC32-BCC0 subcomplex initially recruits to nascent buds via palmitoylation of IMC32 and is locked into the scaffold once bud elongation begins by IMC32 binding to IMC43. Together, this study dissects the organization and function of a complex of three early recruiting daughter proteins which are essential for the proper assembly of the IMC during endodyogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca R. Pasquarelli
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Jihui Sha
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Institute of Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - James A. Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Institute of Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Bradley
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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3
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Engelberg K, Bauwens C, Ferguson DJP, Gubbels MJ. Co-dependent formation of the Toxoplasma gondii sub-pellicular microtubules and inner membrane skeleton. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.25.595886. [PMID: 38826480 PMCID: PMC11142238 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.25.595886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
One of the defining features of apicomplexan parasites is their cytoskeleton composed of alveolar vesicles, known as the inner membrane complex (IMC) undergirded by intermediate-like filament network and an array of subpellicular microtubules (SPMTs). In Toxoplasma gondii, this specialized cytoskeleton is involved in all aspects of the disease-causing lytic cycle, and notably acting as a scaffold for parasite offspring in the internal budding process. Despite advances in our understanding of the architecture and molecular composition, insights pertaining to the coordinated assembly of the scaffold are still largely elusive. Here, T. gondii tachyzoites were dissected by advanced, iterative expansion microscopy (pan-ExM) revealing new insights into the very early sequential formation steps of the tubulin scaffold. A comparative study of the related parasite Sarcocystis neurona revealed that different MT bundling organizations of the nascent SPMTs correlate with the number of central and basal alveolar vesicles. In absence of a so far identified MT nucleation mechanism, we genetically dissected T. gondii γ-tubulin and γ-tubulin complex protein 4 (GCP4). While γ-tubulin depletion abolished the formation of the tubulin scaffold, a set of MTs still formed that suggests SPMTs are nucleated at the outer core of the centrosome. Depletion of GCP4 interfered with the correct assembly of SPMTs into the forming daughter buds, further indicating that the parasite utilizes the γ-tubulin complex in tubulin scaffold formation .
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Affiliation(s)
- Klemens Engelberg
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ciara Bauwens
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David J. P. Ferguson
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, and NDCLS, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marc-Jan Gubbels
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
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Baptista CG, Hosking S, Gas-Pascual E, Ciampossine L, Abel S, Hakimi MA, Jeffers V, Le Roch K, West CM, Blader IJ. The Toxoplasma gondii F-Box Protein L2 Functions as a Repressor of Stage Specific Gene Expression. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012269. [PMID: 38814984 PMCID: PMC11166348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a foodborne pathogen that can cause severe and life-threatening infections in fetuses and immunocompromised patients. Felids are its only definitive hosts, and a wide range of animals, including humans, serve as intermediate hosts. When the transmissible bradyzoite stage is orally ingested by felids, they transform into merozoites that expand asexually, ultimately generating millions of gametes for the parasite sexual cycle. However, bradyzoites in intermediate hosts differentiate exclusively to disease-causing tachyzoites, which rapidly disseminate throughout the host. Though tachyzoites are well-studied, the molecular mechanisms governing transitioning between developmental stages are poorly understood. Each parasite stage can be distinguished by a characteristic transcriptional signature, with one signature being repressed during the other stages. Switching between stages require substantial changes in the proteome, which is achieved in part by ubiquitination. F-box proteins mediate protein poly-ubiquitination by recruiting substrates to SKP1, Cullin-1, F-Box protein E3 ubiquitin ligase (SCF-E3) complexes. We have identified an F-box protein named Toxoplasma gondii F-Box Protein L2 (TgFBXL2), which localizes to distinct perinucleolar sites. TgFBXL2 is stably engaged in an SCF-E3 complex that is surprisingly also associated with a COP9 signalosome complex that negatively regulates SCF-E3 function. At the cellular level, TgFBXL2-depleted parasites are severely defective in centrosome replication and daughter cell development. Most remarkable, RNAseq data show that TgFBXL2 conditional depletion induces the expression of stage-specific genes including a large cohort of genes necessary for sexual commitment. Together, these data suggest that TgFBXL2 is a latent guardian of stage specific gene expression in Toxoplasma and poised to remove conflicting proteins in response to an unknown trigger of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos G. Baptista
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Sarah Hosking
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Elisabet Gas-Pascual
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia United States of America
| | - Loic Ciampossine
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Mohamed-Ali Hakimi
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Victoria Jeffers
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Karine Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. West
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia United States of America
| | - Ira J. Blader
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
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Rizvi Z, Reddy GS, Gorde SM, Pundir P, Das D, Sijwali PS. Plasmodium falciparum contains functional SCF and CRL4 ubiquitin E3 ligases, and CRL4 is critical for cell division and membrane integrity. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012045. [PMID: 38416790 PMCID: PMC10927090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein ubiquitination is essential for cellular homeostasis and regulation of several processes, including cell division and genome integrity. Ubiquitin E3 ligases determine substrate specificity for ubiquitination, and Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) make the largest group among the ubiquitin E3 ligases. Although conserved and most studied in model eukaryotes, CRLs remain underappreciated in Plasmodium and related parasites. To investigate the CRLs of human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, we generated parasites expressing tagged P. falciparum cullin-1 (PfCullin-1), cullin-2 (PfCullin-2), Rbx1 (PfRbx1) and Skp1 (PfSkp1). PfCullin-1 and PfCullin-2 were predominantly expressed in erythrocytic trophozoite and schizont stages, with nucleocytoplasmic localization and chromatin association, suggesting their roles in different cellular compartments and DNA-associated processes. Immunoprecipitation, in vitro protein-protein interaction, and ubiquitination assay confirmed the presence of a functional Skp1-Cullin-1-Fbox (PfSCF) complex, comprising of PfCullin-1, PfRbx1, PfSkp1, PfFBXO1, and calcyclin binding protein. Immunoprecipitation, sequence analysis, and ubiquitination assay indicated that PfCullin-2 forms a functional human CRL4-like complex (PfCRL4), consisting of PfRbx1, cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor subunit_A and WD40 repeat proteins. PfCullin-2 knock-down at the protein level, which would hinder PfCRL4 assembly, significantly decreased asexual and sexual erythrocytic stage development. The protein levels of several pathways, including protein translation and folding, lipid biosynthesis and transport, DNA replication, and protein degradation were significantly altered upon PfCullin-2 depletion, which likely reflects association of PfCRL4 with multiple pathways. PfCullin-2-depleted schizonts had poorly delimited merozoites and internal membraned structures, suggesting a role of PfCRL4 in maintaining membrane integrity. PfCullin-2-depleted parasites had a significantly lower number of nuclei/parasite than the normal parasites, indicating a crucial role of PfCRL4 in cell division. We demonstrate the presence of functional CRLs in P. falciparum, with crucial roles for PfCRL4 in cell division and maintaining membrane integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Rizvi
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - G. Srinivas Reddy
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
| | - Somesh M. Gorde
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
| | - Priyanka Pundir
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - Divya Das
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - Puran Singh Sijwali
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
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6
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Yang C, Doud EH, Sampson E, Arrizabalaga G. The protein phosphatase PPKL is a key regulator of daughter parasite development in Toxoplasma gondii. mBio 2023; 14:e0225423. [PMID: 37877735 PMCID: PMC10746186 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02254-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii can cause severe disease in immunocompromised or immunosuppressed patients and during congenital infections. Treating toxoplasmosis presents enormous challenges since the parasite shares many biological processes with its mammalian hosts, which results in significant side effects with current therapies. Consequently, proteins that are essential and unique to the parasite represent favorable targets for drug development. Interestingly, Toxoplasma, like other members of the phylum Apicomplexa, has numerous plant-like proteins, many of which play crucial roles and do not have equivalents in the mammalian host. In this study, we found that the plant-like protein phosphatase PPKL appears to be a key regulator of daughter parasite development. With the depletion of PPKL, the parasite shows severe defects in forming daughter parasites. This study provides novel insights into the understanding of parasite division and offers a new potential target for the development of antiparasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlin Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Emma H. Doud
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Center for Proteome Analysis, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Emily Sampson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Gustavo Arrizabalaga
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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7
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Baptista CG, Hosking S, Gas-Pascual E, Ciampossine L, Abel S, Hakimi MA, Jeffers V, Le Roch K, West CM, Blader IJ. Toxoplasma gondii F-Box Protein L2 Silences Feline-Restricted Genes Necessary for Sexual Commitment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.18.572150. [PMID: 38187549 PMCID: PMC10769283 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.18.572150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a foodborne pathogen that can cause severe and life-threatening infections in fetuses and immunocompromised patients. Felids are its only definitive hosts, and a wide range of animals, including humans, serve as intermediate hosts. When the transmissible bradyzoite stage is orally ingested by felids, they transform into merozoites that expand asexually, ultimately generating millions of gametes for the parasite sexual cycle. However, bradyzoites in intermediate hosts differentiate exclusively to disease-causing tachyzoites, which rapidly disseminate throughout the host. Though tachyzoites are well-studied, the molecular mechanisms governing transitioning between developmental stages are poorly understood. Each parasite stage can be distinguished by a characteristic transcriptional signature, with one signature being repressed during the other stages. Switching between stages requires substantial changes in the proteome, which is achieved in part by ubiquitination. F-box proteins mediate protein poly-ubiquitination by recruiting substrates to SKP1, Cullin-1, F-Box protein E3 ubiquitin ligase (SCF-E3) complexes. We have identified an F-box protein named Toxoplasma gondii F-Box Protein L2 (TgFBXL2), which localizes to distinct nuclear sites. TgFBXL2 is stably engaged in an SCF-E3 complex that is surprisingly also associated with a COP9 signalosome complex that negatively regulates SCF-E3 function. At the cellular level, TgFBXL2-depleted parasites are severely defective in centrosome replication and daughter cell development. Most remarkable, RNA seq data show that TgFBXL2 conditional depletion induces the expression of genes necessary for sexual commitment. We suggest that TgFBXL2 is a latent guardian of sexual stage development in Toxoplasma and poised to remove conflicting proteins in response to an unknown trigger of sexual development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos G. Baptista
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, NY 14203 USA
| | - Sarah Hosking
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, NY 14203 USA
| | - Elisabet Gas-Pascual
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Loic Ciampossine
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521USA
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521USA
| | - Mohamed-Ali Hakimi
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Victoria Jeffers
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
| | - Karine Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521USA
| | - Christopher M. West
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Ira J. Blader
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, NY 14203 USA
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Pasquarelli RR, Back PS, Sha J, Wohlschlegel JA, Bradley PJ. Identification of IMC43, a novel IMC protein that collaborates with IMC32 to form an essential daughter bud assembly complex in Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011707. [PMID: 37782662 PMCID: PMC10569561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The inner membrane complex (IMC) of Toxoplasma gondii is essential for all phases of the parasite's life cycle. One of its most critical roles is to act as a scaffold for the assembly of daughter buds during replication by endodyogeny. While many daughter IMC proteins have been identified, most are recruited after bud initiation and are not essential for parasite fitness. Here, we report the identification of IMC43, a novel daughter IMC protein that is recruited at the earliest stages of daughter bud initiation. Using an auxin-inducible degron system we show that depletion of IMC43 results in aberrant morphology, dysregulation of endodyogeny, and an extreme defect in replication. Deletion analyses reveal a region of IMC43 that plays a role in localization and a C-terminal domain that is essential for the protein's function. TurboID proximity labelling and a yeast two-hybrid screen using IMC43 as bait identify 30 candidate IMC43 binding partners. We investigate two of these: the essential daughter protein IMC32 and a novel daughter IMC protein we named IMC44. We show that IMC43 is responsible for regulating the localization of both IMC32 and IMC44 at specific stages of endodyogeny and that this regulation is dependent on the essential C-terminal domain of IMC43. Using pairwise yeast two-hybrid assays, we determine that this region is also sufficient for binding to both IMC32 and IMC44. As IMC43 and IMC32 are both essential proteins, this work reveals the existence of a bud assembly complex that forms the foundation of the daughter IMC during endodyogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca R. Pasquarelli
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Peter S. Back
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Jihui Sha
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Institute of Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - James A. Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Institute of Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Bradley
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Yang C, Doud EH, Sampson E, Arrizabalaga G. The protein phosphatase PPKL is a key regulator of daughter parasite development in Toxoplasma gondii. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544803. [PMID: 37398039 PMCID: PMC10312731 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii, encode many plant-like proteins, which play significant roles and present attractive targets for drug development. In this study, we have characterized the plant-like protein phosphatase PPKL, which is unique to the parasite and absent in its mammalian host. We have shown that its localization changes as the parasite divides. In non-dividing parasites, it is present in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and preconoidal region. As the parasite begins division, PPKL is enriched in the preconoidal region and the cortical cytoskeleton of the nascent parasites. Later in the division, PPKL is present in the basal complex ring. Conditional knockdown of PPKL showed that it is essential for parasite propagation. Moreover, parasites lacking PPKL exhibit uncoupling of division, with normal DNA duplication but severe defects in forming daughter parasites. While PPKL depletion does not impair the duplication of centrosomes, it affects the rigidity and arrangement of the cortical microtubules. Both Co-Immunoprecipitation and proximity labeling identified the kinase DYRK1 as a potential functional partner of PPKL. Complete knockout of DYRK1 phenocopies lack of PPKL, strongly suggesting a functional relationship between these two signaling proteins. Global phosphoproteomics analysis revealed a significant increase in phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated proteins SPM1 in PPKL-depleted parasites, suggesting PPKL regulates the cortical microtubules by mediating the phosphorylation state of SPM1. More importantly, the phosphorylation of cell cycle-associated kinase Crk1, a known regulator of daughter cell assembly, is altered in PPKL-depleted parasites. Thus, we propose that PPKL regulates daughter parasite development by influencing the Crk1-dependent signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlin Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Emma H. Doud
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Center for Proteome Analysis, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Emily Sampson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Gustavo Arrizabalaga
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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10
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O’Shaughnessy WJ, Hu X, Henriquez SA, Reese ML. Toxoplasma ERK7 protects the apical complex from premature degradation. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202209098. [PMID: 37027006 PMCID: PMC10083718 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202209098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate cellular replication balances the biogenesis and turnover of complex structures. In the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, daughter cells form within an intact mother cell, creating additional challenges to ensuring fidelity of division. The apical complex is critical to parasite infectivity and consists of apical secretory organelles and specialized cytoskeletal structures. We previously identified the kinase ERK7 as required for maturation of the apical complex in Toxoplasma. Here, we define the Toxoplasma ERK7 interactome, including a putative E3 ligase, CSAR1. Genetic disruption of CSAR1 fully suppresses loss of the apical complex upon ERK7 knockdown. Furthermore, we show that CSAR1 is normally responsible for turnover of maternal cytoskeleton during cytokinesis, and that its aberrant function is driven by mislocalization from the parasite residual body to the apical complex. These data identify a protein homeostasis pathway critical for Toxoplasma replication and fitness and suggest an unappreciated role for the parasite residual body in compartmentalizing processes that threaten the fidelity of parasite development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sarah Ana Henriquez
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael L. Reese
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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11
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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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12
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Back PS, Moon AS, Pasquarelli RR, Bell HN, Torres JA, Chen AL, Sha J, Vashisht AA, Wohlschlegel JA, Bradley PJ. IMC29 Plays an Important Role in Toxoplasma Endodyogeny and Reveals New Components of the Daughter-Enriched IMC Proteome. mBio 2023; 14:e0304222. [PMID: 36622147 PMCID: PMC9973257 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03042-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The Toxoplasma inner membrane complex (IMC) is a unique organelle that plays critical roles in parasite motility, invasion, egress, and replication. The IMC is delineated into the apical, body, and basal regions, defined by proteins that localize to these distinct subcompartments. The IMC can be further segregated by proteins that localize specifically to the maternal IMC, the daughter bud IMC, or both. While the function of the maternal IMC has been better characterized, the precise roles of most daughter IMC components remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the daughter protein IMC29 plays an important role in parasite replication. We show that Δimc29 parasites exhibit severe replication defects, resulting in substantial growth defects and loss of virulence. Deletion analyses revealed that IMC29 localization is largely dependent on the N-terminal half of the protein containing four predicted coiled-coil domains while IMC29 function requires a short C-terminal helical region. Using proximity labeling, we identify eight novel IMC proteins enriched in daughter buds, significantly expanding the daughter IMC proteome. We additionally report four novel proteins with unique localizations to the interface between two parasites or to the outer face of the IMC, exposing new subregions of the organelle. Together, this work establishes IMC29 as an important early daughter bud component of replication and uncovers an array of new IMC proteins that provides important insights into this organelle. IMPORTANCE The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a conserved structure across the Apicomplexa phylum, which includes obligate intracellular parasites that cause toxoplasmosis, malaria, and cryptosporidiosis. The IMC is critical for the parasite to maintain its intracellular lifestyle, particularly in providing a scaffold for daughter bud formation during parasite replication. While many IMC proteins in the later stages of division have been identified, components of the early stages of division remain unknown. Here, we focus on the early daughter protein IMC29, demonstrating that it is crucial for faithful parasite replication and identifying specific regions of the protein that are important for its localization and function. We additionally use proximity labeling to reveal a suite of daughter-enriched IMC proteins, which represent promising candidates to further explore this IMC subcompartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S. Back
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Andy S. Moon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Hannah N. Bell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Juan A. Torres
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Allan L. Chen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jihui Sha
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ajay A. Vashisht
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - James A. Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Peter J. Bradley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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13
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Boland AW, Gas-Pascual E, Nottingham BL, van der Wel H, Daniel NG, Sheikh MO, Schafer CM, West CM. Oxygen-dependent regulation of E3(SCF)ubiquitin ligases and a Skp1-associated JmjD6 homolog in development of the social amoeba Dictyostelium. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102305. [PMID: 35933019 PMCID: PMC9485057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
E3-SCF (Skp1/cullin-1/F-box protein) polyubiquitin ligases activate the proteasomal degradation of over a thousand proteins, but the evolutionary diversification of the F-box protein (FBP) family of substrate receptor subunits has challenged their elucidation in protists. Here, we expand the FBP candidate list in the social amoeba Dictyostelium and show that the Skp1 interactome is highly remodeled as cells transition from growth to multicellular development. Importantly, a subset of candidate FBPs was less represented when the posttranslational hydroxylation and glycosylation of Skp1 was abrogated by deletion of the O2-sensing Skp1 prolyl hydroxylase PhyA. A role for this Skp1 modification for SCF activity was indicated by partial rescue of development, which normally depends on high O2 and PhyA, of phyA-KO cells by proteasomal inhibitors. Further examination of two FBPs, FbxwD and the Jumonji C protein JcdI, suggested that Skp1 was substituted by other factors in phyA-KO cells. Although a double-KO of jcdI and its paralog jcdH did not affect development, overexpression of JcdI increased its sensitivity to O2. JcdI, a nonheme dioxygenase shown to have physiological O2 dependence, is conserved across protists with its F-box and other domains, and is related to the human oncogene JmjD6. Sensitization of JcdI-overexpression cells to O2 depended on its dioxygenase activity and other domains, but not its F-box, which may however be the mediator of its reduced levels in WT relative to Skp1 modification mutant cells. The findings suggest that activation of JcdI by O2 is tempered by homeostatic downregulation via PhyA and association with Skp1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Boland
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Elisabet Gas-Pascual
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Braxton L Nottingham
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Hanke van der Wel
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Nitin G Daniel
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - M Osman Sheikh
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Christopher M Schafer
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Christopher M West
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
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14
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Engelberg K, Bechtel T, Michaud C, Weerapana E, Gubbels MJ. Proteomic characterization of the Toxoplasma gondii cytokinesis machinery portrays an expanded hierarchy of its assembly and function. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4644. [PMID: 35941170 PMCID: PMC9360017 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32151-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal complex (BC) is essential for T. gondii cell division but mechanistic details are lacking. Here we report a reciprocal proximity based biotinylation approach to map the BC’s proteome. We interrogate the resulting map for spatiotemporal dynamics and function by disrupting the expression of components. This highlights four architecturally distinct BC subcomplexes, the compositions of which change dynamically in correlation with changes in BC function. We identify BCC0 as a protein undergirding BC formation in five foci that precede the same symmetry seen in the apical annuli and IMC sutures. Notably, daughter budding from BCC0 progresses bidirectionally: the apical cap in apical and the rest of the IMC in basal direction. Furthermore, the essential role of the BC in cell division is contained in BCC4 and MORN1 that form a ‘rubber band’ to sequester the basal end of the assembling daughter cytoskeleton. Finally, we assign BCC1 to the non-essential, final BC constriction step. The basal complex is orchestrating Toxoplasma gondii cell division steps. Here, the authors use proximity biotinylation to map the proteome of this contractile ring, identify components acting on its formation, stability and constriction, and reveal bidirectional daughter budding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tyler Bechtel
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Cynthia Michaud
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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15
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Gubbels MJ, Ferguson DJP, Saha S, Romano JD, Chavan S, Primo VA, Michaud C, Coppens I, Engelberg K. Toxoplasma gondii’s Basal Complex: The Other Apicomplexan Business End Is Multifunctional. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:882166. [PMID: 35573773 PMCID: PMC9103881 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.882166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Apicomplexa are famously named for their apical complex, a constellation of organelles at their apical end dedicated to invasion of their host cells. In contrast, at the other end of the cell, the basal complex (BC) has been overshadowed since it is much less prominent and specific functions were not immediately obvious. However, in the past decade a staggering array of functions have been associated with the BC and strides have been made in understanding its structure. Here, these collective insights are supplemented with new data to provide an overview of the understanding of the BC in Toxoplasma gondii. The emerging picture is that the BC is a dynamic and multifunctional complex, with a series of (putative) functions. The BC has multiple roles in cell division: it is the site where building blocks are added to the cytoskeleton scaffold; it exerts a two-step stretch and constriction mechanism as contractile ring; and it is key in organelle division. Furthermore, the BC has numerous putative roles in ‘import’, such as the recycling of mother cell remnants, the acquisition of host-derived vesicles, possibly the uptake of lipids derived from the extracellular medium, and the endocytosis of micronemal proteins. The latter process ties the BC to motility, whereas an additional role in motility is conferred by Myosin C. Furthermore, the BC acts on the assembly and/or function of the intravacuolar network, which may directly or indirectly contribute to the establishment of chronic tissue cysts. Here we provide experimental support for molecules acting in several of these processes and identify several new BC proteins critical to maintaining the cytoplasmic bridge between divided parasites. However, the dispensable nature of many BC components leaves many questions unanswered regarding its function. In conclusion, the BC in T. gondii is a dynamic and multifunctional structure at the posterior end of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Jan Gubbels
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Marc-Jan Gubbels, ; Klemens Engelberg,
| | - David J. P. Ferguson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Science, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sudeshna Saha
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Julia D. Romano
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Suyog Chavan
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Vincent A. Primo
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Cynthia Michaud
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Klemens Engelberg
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Marc-Jan Gubbels, ; Klemens Engelberg,
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16
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Grohmann C, Marapana DS, Ebert G. Targeted protein degradation at the host-pathogen interface. Mol Microbiol 2021; 117:670-681. [PMID: 34816514 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Infectious diseases remain a major burden to global health. Despite the implementation of successful vaccination campaigns and efficient drugs, the increasing emergence of pathogenic vaccine or treatment resistance demands novel therapeutic strategies. The development of traditional therapies using small-molecule drugs is based on modulating protein function and activity through the occupation of active sites such as enzyme inhibition or ligand-receptor binding. These prerequisites result in the majority of host and pathogenic disease-relevant, nonenzymatic and structural proteins being labeled "undruggable." Targeted protein degradation (TPD) emerged as a powerful strategy to eliminate proteins of interest including those of the undruggable variety. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are rationally designed heterobifunctional small molecules that exploit the cellular ubiquitin-proteasome system to specifically mediate the highly selective and effective degradation of target proteins. PROTACs have shown remarkable results in the degradation of various cancer-associated proteins, and several candidates are already in clinical development. Significantly, PROTAC-mediated TPD holds great potential for targeting and modulating pathogenic proteins, especially in the face of increasing drug resistance to the best-in-class treatments. In this review, we discuss advances in the development of TPD in the context of targeting the host-pathogen interface and speculate on their potential use to combat viral, bacterial, and parasitic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Grohmann
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Danushka S Marapana
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gregor Ebert
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
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17
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Schlott AC, Knuepfer E, Green JL, Hobson P, Borg AJ, Morales-Sanfrutos J, Perrin AJ, Maclachlan C, Collinson LM, Snijders AP, Tate EW, Holder AA. Inhibition of protein N-myristoylation blocks Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development, egress and invasion. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001408. [PMID: 34695132 PMCID: PMC8544853 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We have combined chemical biology and genetic modification approaches to investigate the importance of protein myristoylation in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Parasite treatment during schizogony in the last 10 to 15 hours of the erythrocytic cycle with IMP-1002, an inhibitor of N-myristoyl transferase (NMT), led to a significant blockade in parasite egress from the infected erythrocyte. Two rhoptry proteins were mislocalized in the cell, suggesting that rhoptry function is disrupted. We identified 16 NMT substrates for which myristoylation was significantly reduced by NMT inhibitor (NMTi) treatment, and, of these, 6 proteins were substantially reduced in abundance. In a viability screen, we showed that for 4 of these proteins replacement of the N-terminal glycine with alanine to prevent myristoylation had a substantial effect on parasite fitness. In detailed studies of one NMT substrate, glideosome-associated protein 45 (GAP45), loss of myristoylation had no impact on protein location or glideosome assembly, in contrast to the disruption caused by GAP45 gene deletion, but GAP45 myristoylation was essential for erythrocyte invasion. Therefore, there are at least 3 mechanisms by which inhibition of NMT can disrupt parasite development and growth: early in parasite development, leading to the inhibition of schizogony and formation of “pseudoschizonts,” which has been described previously; at the end of schizogony, with disruption of rhoptry formation, merozoite development and egress from the infected erythrocyte; and at invasion, when impairment of motor complex function prevents invasion of new erythrocytes. These results underline the importance of P. falciparum NMT as a drug target because of the pleiotropic effect of its inhibition. Understanding the essential factors needed for malaria parasite development could help us find new therapeutic targets. This study reveals that N-myristoylation is a posttranslational modification of proteins essential for the parasites’ growth and their invasion of red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja C. Schlott
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen Knuepfer
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Judith L. Green
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Hobson
- Flow Cytometry Science Technology Platform, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron J. Borg
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Science Technology Platform, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Abigail J. Perrin
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Maclachlan
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy M. Collinson
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ambrosius P. Snijders
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Science Technology Platform, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edward W. Tate
- Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EWT); (AAH)
| | - Anthony A. Holder
- Malaria Parasitology Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (EWT); (AAH)
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18
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Gubbels MJ, Coppens I, Zarringhalam K, Duraisingh MT, Engelberg K. The Modular Circuitry of Apicomplexan Cell Division Plasticity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:670049. [PMID: 33912479 PMCID: PMC8072463 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.670049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The close-knit group of apicomplexan parasites displays a wide variety of cell division modes, which differ between parasites as well as between different life stages within a single parasite species. The beginning and endpoint of the asexual replication cycles is a 'zoite' harboring the defining apical organelles required for host cell invasion. However, the number of zoites produced per division round varies dramatically and can unfold in several different ways. This plasticity of the cell division cycle originates from a combination of hard-wired developmental programs modulated by environmental triggers. Although the environmental triggers and sensors differ between species and developmental stages, widely conserved secondary messengers mediate the signal transduction pathways. These environmental and genetic input integrate in division-mode specific chromosome organization and chromatin modifications that set the stage for each division mode. Cell cycle progression is conveyed by a smorgasbord of positively and negatively acting transcription factors, often acting in concert with epigenetic reader complexes, that can vary dramatically between species as well as division modes. A unique set of cell cycle regulators with spatially distinct localization patterns insert discrete check points which permit individual control and can uncouple general cell cycle progression from nuclear amplification. Clusters of expressed genes are grouped into four functional modules seen in all division modes: 1. mother cytoskeleton disassembly; 2. DNA replication and segregation (D&S); 3. karyokinesis; 4. zoite assembly. A plug-and-play strategy results in the variety of extant division modes. The timing of mother cytoskeleton disassembly is hard-wired at the species level for asexual division modes: it is either the first step, or it is the last step. In the former scenario zoite assembly occurs at the plasma membrane (external budding), and in the latter scenario zoites are assembled in the cytoplasm (internal budding). The number of times each other module is repeated can vary regardless of this first decision, and defines the modes of cell division: schizogony, binary fission, endodyogeny, endopolygeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Jan Gubbels
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kourosh Zarringhalam
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Manoj T. Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Klemens Engelberg
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States
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19
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Identification and Molecular Dissection of IMC32, a Conserved Toxoplasma Inner Membrane Complex Protein That Is Essential for Parasite Replication. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.03622-20. [PMID: 33593973 PMCID: PMC8545131 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03622-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a unique organelle of apicomplexan parasites that plays critical roles in parasite motility, host cell invasion, and replication. Despite the common functions of the organelle, relatively few IMC proteins are conserved across the phylum and the precise roles of many IMC components remain to be characterized. Here, we identify a novel component of the Toxoplasma gondii IMC (IMC32) that localizes to the body portion of the IMC and is recruited to developing daughter buds early during endodyogeny. IMC32 is essential for parasite survival, as its conditional depletion results in a complete collapse of the IMC that is lethal to the parasite. We demonstrate that localization of IMC32 is dependent on both an N-terminal palmitoylation site and a series of C-terminal coiled-coil domains. Using deletion analyses and functional complementation, we show that two conserved regions within the C-terminal coiled-coil domains play critical roles in protein function during replication. Together, this work reveals an essential component of parasite replication that provides a novel target for therapeutic intervention of T. gondii and related apicomplexan parasites.IMPORTANCE The IMC is an important organelle that apicomplexan parasites use to maintain their intracellular lifestyle. While many IMC proteins have been identified, only a few central players that are essential for internal budding have been described and even fewer are conserved across the phylum. Here, we identify IMC32, a novel component of the Toxoplasma gondii IMC that localizes to very early daughter buds, indicating a role in the early stages of parasite replication. We then demonstrate that IMC32 is essential for parasite survival and pinpoint conserved regions within the protein that are important for membrane association and daughter cell formation. As IMC32 is unique to these parasites and not present in their mammalian hosts, it serves as a new target for the development of drugs that exclusively affect these important intracellular pathogens.
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20
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Ferreira JL, Heincke D, Wichers JS, Liffner B, Wilson DW, Gilberger TW. The Dynamic Roles of the Inner Membrane Complex in the Multiple Stages of the Malaria Parasite. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:611801. [PMID: 33489940 PMCID: PMC7820811 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.611801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as human malaria parasites, have complex lifecycles encompassing multiple and diverse environmental niches. Invading, replicating, and escaping from different cell types, along with exploiting each intracellular niche, necessitate large and dynamic changes in parasite morphology and cellular architecture. The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a unique structural element that is intricately involved with these distinct morphological changes. The IMC is a double membrane organelle that forms de novo and is located beneath the plasma membrane of these single-celled organisms. In Plasmodium spp. parasites it has three major purposes: it confers stability and shape to the cell, functions as an important scaffolding compartment during the formation of daughter cells, and plays a major role in motility and invasion. Recent years have revealed greater insights into the architecture, protein composition and function of the IMC. Here, we discuss the multiple roles of the IMC in each parasite lifecycle stage as well as insights into its sub-compartmentalization, biogenesis, disassembly and regulation during stage conversion of P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie Liane Ferreira
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Heinrich Pette Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Experimentelle Virologie, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dorothee Heincke
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Stephan Wichers
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Liffner
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Danny W. Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tim-Wolf Gilberger
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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21
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TgAP2IX-5 is a key transcriptional regulator of the asexual cell cycle division in Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Commun 2021; 12:116. [PMID: 33414462 PMCID: PMC7791101 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20216-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites have evolved efficient and distinctive strategies for intracellular replication where the timing of emergence of the daughter cells (budding) is a decisive element. However, the molecular mechanisms that provide the proper timing of parasite budding remain unknown. Using Toxoplasma gondii as a model Apicomplexan, we identified a master regulator that controls the timing of the budding process. We show that an ApiAP2 transcription factor, TgAP2IX-5, controls cell cycle events downstream of centrosome duplication. TgAP2IX-5 binds to the promoter of hundreds of genes and controls the activation of the budding-specific cell cycle expression program. TgAP2IX-5 regulates the expression of specific transcription factors that are necessary for the completion of the budding cycle. Moreover, TgAP2IX-5 acts as a limiting factor that ensures that asexual proliferation continues by promoting the inhibition of the differentiation pathway. Therefore, TgAP2IX-5 is a master regulator that controls both cell cycle and developmental pathways. The control of the proper timing of emergence of apicomplexan parasite daughter cells during replication is crucial for their proliferation. Here, Khelifa et al. identify a key transcriptional regulator in the model Apicomplexa Toxoplasma gondii, which regulates the expression of transcription factors necessary for completion of the budding cycle.
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Liu T, Abboud MI, Chowdhury R, Tumber A, Hardy AP, Lippl K, Lohans CT, Pires E, Wickens J, McDonough MA, West CM, Schofield CJ. Biochemical and biophysical analyses of hypoxia sensing prolyl hydroxylases from Dictyostelium discoideum and Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:16545-16561. [PMID: 32934009 PMCID: PMC7864055 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In animals, the response to chronic hypoxia is mediated by prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) that regulate the levels of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor α (HIFα). PHD homologues exist in other types of eukaryotes and prokaryotes where they act on non HIF substrates. To gain insight into the factors underlying different PHD substrates and properties, we carried out biochemical and biophysical studies on PHD homologues from the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, and the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, both lacking HIF. The respective prolyl-hydroxylases (DdPhyA and TgPhyA) catalyze prolyl-hydroxylation of S-phase kinase-associated protein 1 (Skp1), a reaction enabling adaptation to different dioxygen availability. Assays with full-length Skp1 substrates reveal substantial differences in the kinetic properties of DdPhyA and TgPhyA, both with respect to each other and compared with human PHD2; consistent with cellular studies, TgPhyA is more active at low dioxygen concentrations than DdPhyA. TgSkp1 is a DdPhyA substrate and DdSkp1 is a TgPhyA substrate. No cross-reactivity was detected between DdPhyA/TgPhyA substrates and human PHD2. The human Skp1 E147P variant is a DdPhyA and TgPhyA substrate, suggesting some retention of ancestral interactions. Crystallographic analysis of DdPhyA enables comparisons with homologues from humans, Trichoplax adhaerens, and prokaryotes, informing on differences in mobile elements involved in substrate binding and catalysis. In DdPhyA, two mobile loops that enclose substrates in the PHDs are conserved, but the C-terminal helix of the PHDs is strikingly absent. The combined results support the proposal that PHD homologues have evolved kinetic and structural features suited to their specific sensing roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongri Liu
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Martine I Abboud
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anthony Tumber
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Adam P Hardy
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kerstin Lippl
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Elisabete Pires
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - James Wickens
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Christopher M West
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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Ghosh S, Farr L, Singh A, Leaton LA, Padalia J, Shirley DA, Sullivan D, Moonah S. COP9 signalosome is an essential and druggable parasite target that regulates protein degradation. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008952. [PMID: 32960936 PMCID: PMC7531848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how the protozoan protein degradation pathway is regulated could uncover new parasite biology for drug discovery. We found the COP9 signalosome (CSN) conserved in multiple pathogens such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Toxoplasma, and used the severe diarrhea-causing Entamoeba histolytica to study its function in medically significant protozoa. We show that CSN is an essential upstream regulator of parasite protein degradation. Genetic disruption of E. histolytica CSN by two distinct approaches inhibited cell proliferation and viability. Both CSN5 knockdown and dominant negative mutation trapped cullin in a neddylated state, disrupting UPS activity and protein degradation. In addition, zinc ditiocarb (ZnDTC), a main metabolite of the inexpensive FDA-approved globally-available drug disulfiram, was active against parasites acting in a COP9-dependent manner. ZnDTC, given as disulfiram-zinc, had oral efficacy in clearing parasites in vivo. Our findings provide insights into the regulation of parasite protein degradation, and supports the significant therapeutic potential of COP9 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swagata Ghosh
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Laura Farr
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Aditya Singh
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Laura-Ann Leaton
- Division of Biomedical Informatics and Personalized Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Jay Padalia
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Debbie-Ann Shirley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - David Sullivan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Shannon Moonah
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
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Zhang H, Liu J, Ying Z, Li S, Wu Y, Liu Q. Toxoplasma gondii UBL-UBA shuttle proteins contribute to the degradation of ubiquitinylated proteins and are important for synchronous cell division and virulence. FASEB J 2020; 34:13711-13725. [PMID: 32808330 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202000759rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite that causes lethal diseases in immunocompromised patients. Ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) regulates many cellular processes by degrading ubiquitinylated proteins. The UBL-UBA shuttle protein family, which escorts the ubiquitinylated proteins to the proteasome for degradation, are crucial components of UPS. Here, we identified three UBL-UBA shuttle proteins (TGGT1_304680, DNA damage inducible protein 1, DDI1; TGGT1_295340, UV excision repair protein rad23 protein, RAD23; and TGGT1_223680, ubiquitin family protein, DSK2) localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus of T gondii. Deletion of shuttle proteins inhibited parasites growth and resulted in accumulation of ubiquitinylated proteins. Cell division of triple-gene knockout strain was asynchronous. In addition, we found that the retroviral aspartic protease activity of the nonclassical shuttle protein DDI1 was important for the virulence of Toxoplasma in mice. These results showed the critical roles of UBL-UBA shuttle proteins in regulating the degradation of ubiquitinylated proteins and cell division of T gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhu Ying
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Li
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yihan Wu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qun Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Dos Santos Pacheco N, Tosetti N, Koreny L, Waller RF, Soldati-Favre D. Evolution, Composition, Assembly, and Function of the Conoid in Apicomplexa. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:688-704. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Broncel M, Dominicus C, Vigetti L, Nofal SD, Bartlett EJ, Touquet B, Hunt A, Wallbank BA, Federico S, Matthews S, Young JC, Tate EW, Tardieux I, Treeck M. Profiling of myristoylation in Toxoplasma gondii reveals an N-myristoylated protein important for host cell penetration. eLife 2020; 9:e57861. [PMID: 32618271 PMCID: PMC7373427 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
N-myristoylation is a ubiquitous class of protein lipidation across eukaryotes and N-myristoyl transferase (NMT) has been proposed as an attractive drug target in several pathogens. Myristoylation often primes for subsequent palmitoylation and stable membrane attachment, however, growing evidence suggests additional regulatory roles for myristoylation on proteins. Here we describe the myristoylated proteome of Toxoplasma gondii using chemoproteomic methods and show that a small-molecule NMT inhibitor developed against related Plasmodium spp. is also functional in Toxoplasma. We identify myristoylation on a transmembrane protein, the microneme protein 7 (MIC7), which enters the secretory pathway in an unconventional fashion with the myristoylated N-terminus facing the lumen of the micronemes. MIC7 and its myristoylation play a crucial role in the initial steps of invasion, likely during the interaction with and penetration of the host cell. Myristoylation of secreted eukaryotic proteins represents a substantial expansion of the functional repertoire of this co-translational modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Broncel
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Caia Dominicus
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Luis Vigetti
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Team Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble AlpesGrenobleFrance
| | - Stephanie D Nofal
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Edward J Bartlett
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City CampusLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Bastien Touquet
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Team Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble AlpesGrenobleFrance
| | - Alex Hunt
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Bethan A Wallbank
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Stefania Federico
- The Peptide Chemistry STP, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Stephen Matthews
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South KensingtonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Joanna C Young
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Edward W Tate
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City CampusLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Isabelle Tardieux
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Team Membrane Dynamics of Parasite-Host Cell Interactions, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble AlpesGrenobleFrance
| | - Moritz Treeck
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
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Meinnel T, Dian C, Giglione C. Myristoylation, an Ancient Protein Modification Mirroring Eukaryogenesis and Evolution. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 45:619-632. [PMID: 32305250 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
N-myristoylation (MYR) is a crucial fatty acylation catalyzed by N-myristoyltransferases (NMTs) that is likely to have appeared over 2 billion years ago. Proteome-wide approaches have now delivered an exhaustive list of substrates undergoing MYR across approximately 2% of any proteome, with constituents, several unexpected, associated with different membrane compartments. A set of <10 proteins conserved in eukaryotes probably represents the original set of N-myristoylated targets, marking major changes occurring throughout eukaryogenesis. Recent findings have revealed unexpected mechanisms and reactivity, suggesting competition with other acylations that are likely to influence cellular homeostasis and the steady state of the modification landscape. Here, we review recent advances in NMT catalysis, substrate specificity, and MYR proteomics, and discuss concepts regarding MYR during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Meinnel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Cyril Dian
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Carmela Giglione
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
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