The divergent ER-mitochondria encounter structures (ERMES) are conserved in parabasalids but lost in several anaerobic lineages with hydrogenosomes

BACKGROUND

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria membrane contact sites (MCS) are extensively studied in aerobic eukaryotes; however, little is known about MCS in anaerobes with reduced forms of mitochondria named hydrogenosomes. In several eukaryotic lineages, the direct physical tether between ER and the outer mitochondrial membrane is formed by ER-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES). The complex consists of four core proteins (Mmm1, Mmm2, Mdm12, and Mdm10) which are involved in phospholipid trafficking. Here we investigated ERMES distribution in organisms bearing hydrogenosomes and employed Trichomonas vaginalis as a model to estimate ERMES cellular localization, structure, and function.

RESULTS

Homology searches revealed that Parabasalia-Anaeramoebae, anaerobic jakobids, and anaerobic fungi are lineages with hydrogenosomes that retain ERMES, while ERMES components were gradually lost in Fornicata, and are absent in Preaxostyla and Archamoebae. In T. vaginalis and other parabasalids, three ERMES components were found with the expansion of Mmm1. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed that Mmm1 localized in ER, while Mdm12 and Mmm2 were partially localized in hydrogenosomes. Pull-down assays and mass spectrometry of the ERMES components identified a parabasalid-specific Porin2 as a substitute for the Mdm10. ERMES modeling predicted a formation of a continuous hydrophobic tunnel of TvMmm1-TvMdm12-TvMmm2 that is anchored via Porin2 to the hydrogenosomal outer membrane. Phospholipid-ERMES docking and Mdm12-phospholipid dot-blot indicated that ERMES is involved in the transport of phosphatidylinositol phosphates. The absence of enzymes involved in hydrogenosomal phospholipid metabolism implies that ERMES is not involved in the exchange of substrates between ER and hydrogenosomes but in the unidirectional import of phospholipids into hydrogenosomal membranes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our investigation demonstrated that ERMES mediates ER-hydrogenosome interactions in parabasalid T. vaginalis, while the complex was lost in several other lineages with hydrogenosomes.

Double-Stranded RNA Viruses Are Released From Trichomonas vaginalis Inside Small Extracellular Vesicles and Modulate the Exosomal Cargo

Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasitic protist that infects the human urogenital tract. During the infection, trichomonads adhere to the host mucosa, acquire nutrients from the vaginal/prostate environment, and release small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) that contribute to the trichomonad adherence and modulate the host-parasite communication. Approximately 40–70% of T. vaginalis strains harbor a double-stranded RNA virus called Trichomonasvirus (TVV). Naked TVV particles have the potential to stimulate a proinflammatory response in human cells, however, the mode of TVV release from trichomonads to the environment is not clear. In this report, we showed for the first time that TVV particles are released from T. vaginalis cells within sEVs. The sEVs loaded with TVV stimulated a higher proinflammatory response of human HaCaT cells in comparison to sEVs from TVV negative parasites. Moreover, a comparison of T. vaginalis isogenic TVV plus and TVV minus clones revealed a significant impact of TVV infection on the sEV proteome and RNA cargo. Small EVs from TVV positive trichomonads contained 12 enriched and 8 unique proteins including membrane-associated BspA adhesine, and about a 2.5-fold increase in the content of small regulatory tsRNA. As T. vaginalis isolates are frequently infected with TVV, the release of TVV via sEVs to the environment represents an important factor with the potential to enhance inflammation-related pathogenesis during trichomoniasis.

The hydrogenosomes of Trichomonas vaginalis

This review is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the discovery of hydrogenosomes by Miklós Müller and Donald Lindmark, which we will celebrate the following year. It was a long journey from the first observation of enigmatic rows of granules in trichomonads at the end of the 19^th century to their first biochemical characterization in 1973. The key experiments by Müller and Lindmark revealed that the isolated granules contain hydrogen-producing hydrogenase, similar to some anaerobic bacteria-a discovery that gave birth to the field of hydrogenosomes. It is also important to acknowledge the parallel work of the team of Apolena Čerkasovová, Jiří Čerkasov, and Jaroslav Kulda, who demonstrated that these granules, similar to mitochondria, produce ATP. However, the evolutionary origin of hydrogenosomes remained enigmatic until the turn of the millennium, when it was finally accepted that hydrogenosomes and mitochondria evolved from a common ancestor. After a historical introduction, the review provides an overview of hydrogenosome biogenesis, hydrogenosomal protein import, and the relationship between the peculiar structure of membrane translocases and its low inner membrane potential due to the lack of respiratory complexes. Next, it summarizes the current state of knowledge on energy metabolism, the oxygen defense system, and iron/sulfur cluster assembly.

Identification of Endosymbiotic Virus in Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Trichomonas vaginalis

Accumulated evidence suggests that the endosymbiotic Trichomonasvirus (TVV) may play a role in the pathogenesis and drug susceptibility of Trichomonas vaginalis. Several reports have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from TVV-positive (TVV+) trichomonads can modulate the immune response in human vaginal epithelial cells and animal models. These results prompted us to examine whether EVs released from TVV+ isolates contained TVV. We isolated small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from six T. vaginalis isolates that were either TVV free (ATCC 50143), harbored a single (ATCC 30236, ATCC 30238, T1), two (ATCC PRA-98), or three TVV subspecies (ATCC 50148). The presence of TVV subspecies in the six isolates was observed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the presence of cup-shaped sEVs with a size range from 30–150 nm. Trichomonas vaginalis tetraspanin (TvTSP1; TVAG_019180), the classical exosome marker, was identified in all the sEV preparations. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis showed that all the sEVs isolated from TVV+ isolates contain viral capsid proteins derived from the same TVV subspecies in that isolate as demonstrated by RT-PCR. To provide more comprehensive information on the TVV subspecies population in other T. vaginalis isolates, we investigated the distribution of TVV subspecies in twenty-four isolates by mining the New-Generation Sequencing (NGS) RNAseq datasets. Our results should be beneficial for future studies investigating the role of TVV on the pathogenicity of T. vaginalis and the possible transmission of virus subspecies among different isolates via sEVs.

The response of Naegleria gruberi to oxidative stress

Aerobic organisms require oxygen for respiration but must simultaneously cope with oxidative damages inherently linked with this molecule. Unicellular amoeboflagellates of the genus Naegleria, containing both free-living species and opportunistic parasite, thrive in aerobic environments. However, they are also known to maintain typical features of anaerobic organisms. Here, we describe the mechanisms of oxidative damage mitigation in Naegleria gruberi and focus on the molecular characteristics of three noncanonical proteins interacting with oxygen and its derived reactive forms. We show that this protist expresses hemerythrin, protoglobin and an aerobic-type rubrerythrin, with spectral properties characteristic of the cofactors they bind. We provide evidence that protoglobin and hemerythrin interact with oxygen in vitro and confirm the mitochondrial localization of rubrerythrin by immunolabeling. Our proteomic analysis and immunoblotting following heavy metal treatment revealed upregulation of hemerythrin, while rotenone treatment resulted in an increase in rubrerythrin protein levels together with vast upregulation of alternative oxidase. Our study provided new insights into the mechanisms employed by N. gruberi to cope with different types of oxidative stress and allowed us to propose specific roles for three unique and understudied proteins: hemerythrin, protoglobin and rubrerythrin.

Proteomic Analysis of Trichomonas vaginalis Phagolysosome, Lysosomal Targeting, and Unconventional Secretion of Cysteine Peptidases

The lysosome represents a central degradative compartment of eukaryote cells, yet little is known about the biogenesis and function of this organelle in parasitic protists. Whereas the mannose 6-phosphate (M6P)-dependent system is dominant for lysosomal targeting in metazoans, oligosaccharide-independent sorting has been reported in other eukaryotes. In this study, we investigated the phagolysosomal proteome of the human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, its protein targeting and the involvement of lysosomes in hydrolase secretion. The organelles were purified using Percoll and OptiPrep gradient centrifugation and a novel purification protocol based on the phagocytosis of lactoferrin-covered magnetic nanoparticles. The analysis resulted in a lysosomal proteome of 462 proteins, which were sorted into 21 classes. Hydrolases represented the largest functional class and included proteases, lipases, phosphatases, and glycosidases. Identification of a large set of proteins involved in vesicular trafficking (80) and turnover of actin cytoskeleton rearrangement (29) indicate a dynamic phagolysosomal compartment. Several cysteine proteases such as TvCP2 were previously shown to be secreted. Our experiments showed that secretion of TvCP2 was strongly inhibited by chloroquine, which increases intralysosomal pH, thus indicating that TvCP2 secretion occurs through lysosomes rather than the classical secretory pathway. Unexpectedly, we identified divergent homologues of the M6P receptor TvMPR in the phagolysosomal proteome, although T. vaginalis lacks enzymes for M6P formation. To test whether oligosaccharides are involved in lysosomal targeting, we selected the lysosome-resident cysteine protease CLCP, which possesses two glycosylation sites. Mutation of any of the sites redirected CLCP to the secretory pathway. Similarly, the introduction of glycosylation sites to secreted β-amylase redirected this protein to lysosomes. Thus, unlike other parasitic protists, T. vaginalis seems to utilize glycosylation as a recognition marker for lysosomal hydrolases. Our findings provide the first insight into the complexity of T. vaginalis phagolysosomes, their biogenesis, and role in the unconventional secretion of cysteine peptidases.

A cytosolic ferredoxin-independent hydrogenase possibly mediates hydrogen uptake in Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonads, represented by the highly prevalent sexually transmitted human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, are anaerobic eukaryotes with hydrogenosomes in the place of the standard mitochondria. Hydrogenosomes form indispensable FeS-clusters, synthesize ATP, and release molecular hydrogen as a waste product. Hydrogen formation is catalyzed by [FeFe] hydrogenase, the hallmark enzyme of all hydrogenosomes found in various eukaryotic anaerobes. Eukaryotic hydrogenases were originally thought to be exclusively localized within organelles, but today few eukaryotic anaerobes are known that possess hydrogenase in their cytosol. We identified a thus-far unknown hydrogenase in T. vaginalis cytosol that cannot use ferredoxin as a redox partner but can use cytochrome b5 as an electron acceptor. Trichomonads overexpressing the cytosolic hydrogenase, while maintaining the carbon flux through hydrogenosomes, show decreased excretion of hydrogen and increased excretion of methylated alcohols, suggesting that the cytosolic hydrogenase uses the hydrogen gas as a source of reducing power for the reactions occurring in the cytoplasm and thus accounts for the overall redox balance. This is the first evidence of hydrogen uptake in a eukaryote, although further work is needed to confirm it. Assembly of the catalytic center of [FeFe] hydrogenases (H-cluster) requires the activity of three dedicated maturases, and these proteins in T. vaginalis are exclusively localized in hydrogenosomes, where they participate in the maturation of organellar hydrogenases. Despite the different subcellular localization of cytosolic hydrogenase and maturases, the H-cluster is present in the cytosolic enzyme, suggesting the existence of an alternative mechanism of H-cluster assembly.

Anaerobic peroxisomes in Entamoeba histolytica metabolize myo-inositol

Entamoeba histolytica is believed to be devoid of peroxisomes, like most anaerobic protists. In this work, we provided the first evidence that peroxisomes are present in E. histolytica, although only seven proteins responsible for peroxisome biogenesis (peroxins) were identified (Pex1, Pex6, Pex5, Pex11, Pex14, Pex16, and Pex19). Targeting matrix proteins to peroxisomes is reduced to the PTS1-dependent pathway mediated via the soluble Pex5 receptor, while the PTS2 receptor Pex7 is absent. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that peroxisomal markers (Pex5, Pex14, Pex16, Pex19) are present in vesicles distinct from mitosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the endosome/phagosome system, except Pex11, which has dual localization in peroxisomes and mitosomes. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that Pex14 localized to vesicles of approximately 90-100 nm in diameter. Proteomic analyses of affinity-purified peroxisomes and in silico PTS1 predictions provided datasets of 655 and 56 peroxisomal candidates, respectively; however, only six proteins were shared by both datasets, including myo-inositol dehydrogenase (myo-IDH). Peroxisomal NAD-dependent myo-IDH appeared to be a dimeric enzyme with high affinity to myo-inositol (Km 0.044 mM) and can utilize also scyllo-inositol, D-glucose and D-xylose as substrates. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that orthologs of myo-IDH with PTS1 are present in E. dispar, E. nutalli and E. moshkovskii but not in E. invadens, and form a monophyletic clade of mostly peroxisomal orthologs with free-living Mastigamoeba balamuthi and Pelomyxa schiedti. The presence of peroxisomes in E. histolytica and other archamoebae breaks the paradigm of peroxisome absence in anaerobes and provides a new potential target for the development of antiparasitic drugs.

The Mastigamoeba balamuthi Genome and the Nature of the Free-Living Ancestor of Entamoeba

The transition of free-living organisms to parasitic organisms is a mysterious process that occurs in all major eukaryotic lineages. Parasites display seemingly unique features associated with their pathogenicity; however, it is important to distinguish ancestral preconditions to parasitism from truly new parasite-specific functions. Here, we sequenced the genome and transcriptome of anaerobic free-living Mastigamoeba balamuthi and performed phylogenomic analysis of four related members of the Archamoebae, including Entamoeba histolytica, an important intestinal pathogen of humans. We aimed to trace gene histories throughout the adaptation of the aerobic ancestor of Archamoebae to anaerobiosis and throughout the transition from a free-living to a parasitic lifestyle. These events were associated with massive gene losses that, in parasitic lineages, resulted in a reduction in structural features, complete losses of some metabolic pathways, and a reduction in metabolic complexity. By reconstructing the features of the common ancestor of Archamoebae, we estimated preconditions for the evolution of parasitism in this lineage. The ancestor could apparently form chitinous cysts, possessed proteolytic enzyme machinery, compartmentalized the sulfate activation pathway in mitochondrion-related organelles, and possessed the components for anaerobic energy metabolism. After the split of Entamoebidae, this lineage gained genes encoding surface membrane proteins that are involved in host–parasite interactions. In contrast, gene gains identified in the M. balamuthi lineage were predominantly associated with polysaccharide catabolic processes. A phylogenetic analysis of acquired genes suggested an essential role of lateral gene transfer in parasite evolution (Entamoeba) and in adaptation to anaerobic aquatic sediments (Mastigamoeba).

Anaerobic peroxisomes in Mastigamoeba balamuthi

The adaptation of eukaryotic cells to anaerobic conditions is reflected by substantial changes to mitochondrial metabolism and functional reduction. Hydrogenosomes belong among the most modified mitochondrial derivative and generate molecular hydrogen concomitant with ATP synthesis. The reduction of mitochondria is frequently associated with loss of peroxisomes, which compartmentalize pathways that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thus protect against cellular damage. The biogenesis and function of peroxisomes are tightly coupled with mitochondria. These organelles share fission machinery components, oxidative metabolism pathways, ROS scavenging activities, and some metabolites. The loss of peroxisomes in eukaryotes with reduced mitochondria is thus not unexpected. Surprisingly, we identified peroxisomes in the anaerobic, hydrogenosome-bearing protist Mastigamoeba balamuthi We found a conserved set of peroxin (Pex) proteins that are required for protein import, peroxisomal growth, and division. Key membrane-associated Pexs (MbPex3, MbPex11, and MbPex14) were visualized in numerous vesicles distinct from hydrogenosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and Golgi complex. Proteomic analysis of cellular fractions and prediction of peroxisomal targeting signals (PTS1/PTS2) identified 51 putative peroxisomal matrix proteins. Expression of selected proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed specific targeting to peroxisomes. The matrix proteins identified included components of acyl-CoA and carbohydrate metabolism and pyrimidine and CoA biosynthesis, whereas no components related to either β-oxidation or catalase were present. In conclusion, we identified a subclass of peroxisomes, named "anaerobic" peroxisomes that shift the current paradigm and turn attention to the reductive evolution of peroxisomes in anaerobic organisms.

Redox Pathways as Drug Targets in Microaerophilic Parasites

The microaerophilic parasites Entamoeba histolytica, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Giardia lamblia jointly cause hundreds of millions of infections in humans every year. Other microaerophilic parasites such as Tritrichomonas foetus and Spironucleus spp. pose a relevant health problem in veterinary medicine. Unfortunately, vaccines against these pathogens are unavailable, but their microaerophilic lifestyle opens opportunities for specifically developed chemotherapeutics. In particular, their high sensitivity towards oxygen can be exploited by targeting redox enzymes. This review focusses on the redox pathways of microaerophilic parasites and on drugs, either already in use or currently in the state of development, which target these pathways.

Dynamic secretome of Trichomonas vaginalis: Case study of β-amylases

The secretion of virulence factors by parasitic protists into the host environment plays a fundamental role in multifactorial host-parasite interactions. Several effector proteins are known to be secreted by Trichomonas vaginalis, a human parasite of the urogenital tract. However, a comprehensive profiling of the T. vaginalis secretome remains elusive, as do the mechanisms of protein secretion. In this study, we used high-resolution label-free quantitative MS to analyze the T. vaginalis secretome, considering that secretion is a time- and temperature-dependent process, to define the cutoff for secreted proteins. In total, we identified 2 072 extracellular proteins, 89 of which displayed significant quantitative increases over time at 37 °C. These 89 bona fide secreted proteins were sorted into 13 functional categories. Approximately half of the secreted proteins were predicted to possess transmembrane helixes. These proteins mainly include putative adhesins and leishmaniolysin-like metallopeptidases. The other half of the soluble proteins include several novel potential virulence factors, such as DNaseII, pore-forming proteins, and β-amylases. Interestingly, current bioinformatic tools predicted the secretory signal in only 18% of the identified T. vaginalis-secreted proteins. Therefore, we used β-amylases as a model to investigate the T. vaginalis secretory pathway. We demonstrated that two β-amylases (BA1 and BA2) are transported via the classical endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi pathways, and in the case of BA1, we showed that the protein is glycosylated with multiple N-linked glycans of Hex5HexNAc2 structure. The secretion was inhibited by brefeldin A but not by FLI-06. Another two β-amylases (BA3 and BA4), which are encoded in the T. vaginalis genome but absent from the secretome, were targeted to the lysosomal compartment. Collectively, under defined in vitro conditions, our analysis provides a comprehensive set of constitutively secreted proteins that can serve as a reference for future comparative studies, and it provides the first information about the classical secretory pathway in this parasite.

Lateral gene transfer of p-cresol- and indole-producing enzymes from environmental bacteria to Mastigamoeba balamuthi

p-Cresol and indole are volatile biologically active products of the bacterial degradation of tyrosine and tryptophan respectively. They are typically produced by bacteria in animal intestines, soil and various sediments. Here, we demonstrate that the free-living eukaryote Mastigamoeba balamuthi and its pathogenic relative Entamoeba histolytica produce significant amounts of indole via tryptophanase activity. Unexpectedly, M. balamuthi also produces p-cresol in concentrations that are bacteriostatic to non-p-cresol-producing bacteria. The ability of M. balamuthi to produce p-cresol, which has not previously been observed in any eukaryotic microbe, was gained due to the lateral acquisition of a bacterial gene for 4-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase (HPAD). In bacteria, the genes for HPAD and the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent activating enzyme (AE) are present in a common operon. In M. balamuthi, HPAD displays a unique fusion with the AE that suggests the operon-mediated transfer of genes from a bacterial donor. We also clarified that the tyrosine-to-4-hydroxyphenylacetate conversion proceeds via the Ehrlich pathway. The acquisition of the bacterial HPAD gene may provide M. balamuthi a competitive advantage over other microflora in its native habitat.

OsmC and incomplete glycine decarboxylase complex mediate reductive detoxification of peroxides in hydrogenosomes of Trichomonas vaginalis

Osmotically inducible protein (OsmC) and organic hydroperoxide resistance protein (Ohr) are small, thiol-dependent peroxidases that comprise a family of prokaryotic protective proteins central to the defense against deleterious effects of organic hydroperoxides, which are reactive molecules that are formed during interactions between the host immune system and pathogens. Trichomonas vaginalis, a sexually transmitted parasite of humans, possesses OsmC homologues in its hydrogenosomes, anaerobic mitochondrial organelles that harbor enzymes and pathways that are sensitive to oxidative damage. The glycine decarboxylase complex (GDC), which consists of four proteins (i.e., L, H, P and T), is in eukaryotes exclusively mitochondrial enzymatic system that catalyzes oxidative decarboxylation and deamination of glycine. However, trichomonad hydrogenosomes contain only the L and H proteins, whose physiological functions are unknown. Here, we found that the hydrogenosomal L and H proteins constitute a lipoate-dependent redox system that delivers electrons from reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to OsmC for the reductive detoxification of peroxides. Our searches of genome databases revealed that, in addition to prokaryotes, homologues of OsmC/Ohr family proteins with predicted mitochondrial localization are present in various eukaryotic lineages. Therefore, we propose that the novel OsmC-GDC-based redox system may not be limited to T. vaginalis.

Lateral gene transfer and gene duplication played a key role in the evolution of Mastigamoeba balamuthi hydrogenosomes

Lateral gene transfer (LGT) is an important mechanism of evolution for protists adapting to oxygen-poor environments. Specifically, modifications of energy metabolism in anaerobic forms of mitochondria (e.g., hydrogenosomes) are likely to have been associated with gene transfer from prokaryotes. An interesting question is whether the products of transferred genes were directly targeted into the ancestral organelle or initially operated in the cytosol and subsequently acquired organelle-targeting sequences. Here, we identified key enzymes of hydrogenosomal metabolism in the free-living anaerobic amoebozoan Mastigamoeba balamuthi and analyzed their cellular localizations, enzymatic activities, and evolutionary histories. Additionally, we characterized 1) several canonical mitochondrial components including respiratory complex II and the glycine cleavage system, 2) enzymes associated with anaerobic energy metabolism, including an unusual D-lactate dehydrogenase and acetyl CoA synthase, and 3) a sulfate activation pathway. Intriguingly, components of anaerobic energy metabolism are present in at least two gene copies. For each component, one copy possesses an mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS), whereas the other lacks an MTS, yielding parallel cytosolic and hydrogenosomal extended glycolysis pathways. Experimentally, we confirmed that the organelle targeting of several proteins is fully dependent on the MTS. Phylogenetic analysis of all extended glycolysis components suggested that these components were acquired by LGT. We propose that the transformation from an ancestral organelle to a hydrogenosome in the M. balamuthi lineage involved the lateral acquisition of genes encoding extended glycolysis enzymes that initially operated in the cytosol and that established a parallel hydrogenosomal pathway after gene duplication and MTS acquisition.

Rubber substrates and their influence on isomerization of conjugated dienes in pheromone dispensers

Release rate and degree of isomerization of pheromones with conjugated double bonds were studied in dispensers prepared from several rubber substrates. The substrates compared were made of rubber, cured with elemental sulfur or accelerators based on organic sulfur compounds or organic peroxides. Isomerization of the double bonds occurs immediately after impregnation of the substrate, and the degree of isomerization increases during field use and/or storage. The propensity of the isomers to isomerize corresponds to their proportion in the equilibrium mixture. AnE,Z isomer is isomerized faster than theE,E isomer, and finally a near-equilibrium mixture of the four isomers is present. Minimal isomerization was found in non-sulfur-cured substrates which are the material of choice.

Iron-induced changes in the proteome of Trichomonas vaginalis hydrogenosomes

Iron plays a crucial role in metabolism as a key component of catalytic and redox cofactors, such as heme or iron-sulfur clusters in enzymes and electron-transporting or regulatory proteins. Limitation of iron availability by the host is also one of the mechanisms involved in immunity. Pathogens must regulate their protein expression according to the iron concentration in their environment and optimize their metabolic pathways in cases of limitation through the availability of respective cofactors. Trichomonas vaginalis, a sexually transmitted pathogen of humans, requires high iron levels for optimal growth. It is an anaerobe that possesses hydrogenosomes, mitochondrion-related organelles that harbor pathways of energy metabolism and iron-sulfur cluster assembly. We analyzed the proteomes of hydrogenosomes obtained from cells cultivated under iron-rich and iron-deficient conditions employing two-dimensional peptide separation combining IEF and nano-HPLC with quantitative MALDI-MS/MS. We identified 179 proteins, of which 58 were differentially expressed. Iron deficiency led to the upregulation of proteins involved in iron-sulfur cluster assembly and the downregulation of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Interestingly, iron affected the expression of only some of multiple protein paralogues, whereas the expression of others was iron independent. This finding indicates a stringent regulation of differentially expressed multiple gene copies in response to changes in the availability of exogenous iron.

The core components of organelle biogenesis and membrane transport in the hydrogenosomes of Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasitic protist of the Excavata group. It contains an anaerobic form of mitochondria called hydrogenosomes, which produce hydrogen and ATP; the majority of mitochondrial pathways and the organellar genome were lost during the mitochondrion-to-hydrogenosome transition. Consequently, all hydrogenosomal proteins are encoded in the nucleus and imported into the organelles. However, little is known about the membrane machineries required for biogenesis of the organelle and metabolite exchange. Using a combination of mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, in vitro import assays and reverse genetics, we characterized the membrane proteins of the hydrogenosome. We identified components of the outer membrane (TOM) and inner membrane (TIM) protein translocases include multiple paralogs of the core Tom40-type porins and Tim17/22/23 channel proteins, respectively, and uniquely modified small Tim chaperones. The inner membrane proteins TvTim17/22/23-1 and Pam18 were shown to possess conserved information for targeting to mitochondrial inner membranes, but too divergent in sequence to support the growth of yeast strains lacking Tim17, Tim22, Tim23 or Pam18. Full complementation was seen only when the J-domain of hydrogenosomal Pam18 was fused with N-terminal region and transmembrane segment of the yeast homolog. Candidates for metabolite exchange across the outer membrane were identified including multiple isoforms of the β-barrel proteins, Hmp35 and Hmp36; inner membrane MCF-type metabolite carriers were limited to five homologs of the ATP/ADP carrier, Hmp31. Lastly, hydrogenosomes possess a pathway for the assembly of C-tail-anchored proteins into their outer membrane with several new tail-anchored proteins being identified. These results show that hydrogenosomes and mitochondria share common core membrane components required for protein import and metabolite exchange; however, they also reveal remarkable differences that reflect the functional adaptation of hydrogenosomes to anaerobic conditions and the peculiar evolutionary history of the Excavata group.

The minimal proteome in the reduced mitochondrion of the parasitic protist Giardia intestinalis

The mitosomes of Giardia intestinalis are thought to be mitochondria highly-reduced in response to the oxygen-poor niche. We performed a quantitative proteomic assessment of Giardia mitosomes to increase understanding of the function and evolutionary origin of these enigmatic organelles. Mitosome-enriched fractions were obtained from cell homogenate using Optiprep gradient centrifugation. To distinguish mitosomal proteins from contamination, we used a quantitative shot-gun strategy based on isobaric tagging of peptides with iTRAQ and tandem mass spectrometry. Altogether, 638 proteins were identified in mitosome-enriched fractions. Of these, 139 proteins had iTRAQ ratio similar to that of the six known mitosomal markers. Proteins were selected for expression in Giardia to verify their cellular localizations and the mitosomal localization of 20 proteins was confirmed. These proteins include nine components of the FeS cluster assembly machinery, a novel diflavo-protein with NADPH reductase activity, a novel VAMP-associated protein, and a key component of the outer membrane protein translocase. None of the novel mitosomal proteins was predicted by previous genome analyses. The small proteome of the Giardia mitosome reflects the reduction in mitochondrial metabolism, which is limited to the FeS cluster assembly pathway, and a simplicity in the protein import pathway required for organelle biogenesis.

Efficacy of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase inhibitors, D-eritadenine and (S)-DHPA, against the growth of Cryptosporidium parvum in vitro

D-eritadenine and (S)-DHPA are aliphatic adenosine analogues known to target S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) and potent antiviral compounds. In the present study, we demonstrate that these two compounds also display efficacy against recombinant SAHH enzyme of the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, as well as inhibition of parasite growth in vitro. Our data confirm that SAHH could serve as a rational drug target in cryptosporidial infection and antiviral adenosine analogues are potential candidates for drug development against cryptosporidiosis.

Beyond cuticular hydrocarbons: evidence of proteinaceous secretion specific to termite kings and queens

In 1959, P. Karlson and M. Lüscher introduced the term 'pheromone', broadly used nowadays for various chemicals involved in intraspecific communication. To demonstrate the term, they depicted the situation in termite societies, where king and queen inhibit the reproduction of nest-mates by an unknown chemical substance. Paradoxically, half a century later, neither the source nor the chemical identity of this 'royal' pheromone is known. In this study, we report for the first time the secretion of polar compounds of proteinaceous origin by functional reproductives in three termite species, Prorhinotermes simplex, Reticulitermes santonensis and Kalotermes flavicollis. Aqueous washes of functional reproductives contained sex-specific proteinaceous compounds, virtually absent in non-reproducing stages. Moreover, the presence of these compounds was clearly correlated with the age of reproductives and their reproductive status. We discuss the putative function of these substances in termite caste recognition and regulation.

Corazonin- and PDF-immunoreactivities in the cephalic ganglia of termites

Antisera against the pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) and corazonin (Crz) reacted with distinct sets of neurons in the cephalic ganglia of termites. The locations of immunoreactive cells were similar but their numbers differed among the eight species examined: PDF-ir occurred in 0-6 cells in each optic lobe and 1-2 pairs of cells in the subosophageal ganglion (SOG), and Crz-ir in 0-2 pairs of cells in the pars intecerebralis, 3-14 cells in each lateral protocerebrum, and 0-6 pairs of cells in the SOG. Staining patterns were identical in the pseudergates, soldiers, and substitutive reproductives of Prorhinotermes simplex. Workers and soldiers were compared in the remaining 7 species. The only caste divergence was detected in Coptotermes formosanus, in which the soldiers differed from the workers by lack of 4 Crz-ir perikarya in the pars intercerebralis and occasionally also by the absence of 2 Crz-ir perikarya in the SOG. Diurnal changes in PDF-ir and Crz-ir were examined in P. simplex kept under long day (18:6h light:darkness) or short day (10:14 h) photoperiods. No circadian fluctuations in the distribution or the intensity of immunostaining were found in the pseudergates and soldiers that were sacrificed in 4h intervals or in the male and female substitutive reproductives examined in 6h intervals.

Reductive evolution of the mitochondrial processing peptidases of the unicellular parasites trichomonas vaginalis and giardia intestinalis

Mitochondrial processing peptidases are heterodimeric enzymes (alpha/betaMPP) that play an essential role in mitochondrial biogenesis by recognizing and cleaving the targeting presequences of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins. The two subunits are paralogues that probably evolved by duplication of a gene for a monomeric metallopeptidase from the endosymbiotic ancestor of mitochondria. Here, we characterize the MPP-like proteins from two important human parasites that contain highly reduced versions of mitochondria, the mitosomes of Giardia intestinalis and the hydrogenosomes of Trichomonas vaginalis. Our biochemical characterization of recombinant proteins showed that, contrary to a recent report, the Trichomonas processing peptidase functions efficiently as an alpha/beta heterodimer. By contrast, and so far uniquely among eukaryotes, the Giardia processing peptidase functions as a monomer comprising a single betaMPP-like catalytic subunit. The structure and surface charge distribution of the Giardia processing peptidase predicted from a 3-D protein model appear to have co-evolved with the properties of Giardia mitosomal targeting sequences, which, unlike classic mitochondrial targeting signals, are typically short and impoverished in positively charged residues. The majority of hydrogenosomal presequences resemble those of mitosomes, but longer, positively charged mitochondrial-type presequences were also identified, consistent with the retention of the Trichomonas alphaMPP-like subunit. Our computational and experimental/functional analyses reveal that the divergent processing peptidases of Giardia mitosomes and Trichomonas hydrogenosomes evolved from the same ancestral heterodimeric alpha/betaMPP metallopeptidase as did the classic mitochondrial enzyme. The unique monomeric structure of the Giardia enzyme, and the co-evolving properties of the Giardia enzyme and substrate, provide a compelling example of the power of reductive evolution to shape parasite biology.

Distribution of corazonin and pigment-dispersing factor in the cephalic ganglia of termites

Distribution of neurones detectable with antisera to the corazonin (Crz) and the pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) was mapped in the workers or pseudergates of 10 species representing six out of seven termite families. All species contained two triads of Crz-immunoreactive (Crz-ir) neurones in the protocerebrum. Their fibres were linked to the opposite hemisphere, formed a network in the fronto-lateral protocerebrum, and projected to the corpora cardiaca (CC); in most species the fibres also supplied the deuto- and tritocerebrum and the frontal ganglion. Some species possessed additional Crz-ir perikarya in the protocerebrum and the suboesophageal ganglion (SOG). The PDF-ir somata were primarily located in the optic lobe (OL) and SOG. OL harboured a group (3 groups in Coptotermes) of 2-6 PDF-ir cells with processes extending to the medulla, connecting to the contralateral OL, forming 1-2 networks in the protocerebrum, and in most species running also to CC. Such a PDF-ir system associated with the OL was missing in Reticulitermes. Except for Mastotermes, the termites contained 1-2 PDF-ir cell pairs in the SOG and two species had additional perikarya in the protocerebrum. The results are consistent with the view of a monophyletic termite origin and demonstrate how the Crz-ir and PDF-ir systems diversified in the course of termite phylogeny.

The systemic effects of juvenoids on the red firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus and on the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum with data on life table response

BACKGROUND

A series of juvenoid alcohols and their glycosidic derivatives (juvenogens), synthesized at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague, commercially used juvenoids and the natural derivatives of juvabione were evaluated for their systemic juvenilizing effect on the red firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus L., and on the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris. A life table response experiment was designed, and demographic characteristics were computed for a cohort of A. pisum following chronic exposure to a range of concentrations of the selected trans-isomer of carbamate juvenoid 8 applied via the broad bean (Vicia faba L.) root system.

RESULTS

Using the ratio of topical and per os activities, promising effects were found in two alkyl beta-D-glucopyranosides (3 and 9) and the trans-isomer of carbamate juvenoid 8 in tests on P. apterus. In A. pisum, the highest systemic activity was found in tests with the trans-isomer of carbamate juvenoid 8. The longevity, the number of offspring per female and the number of offspring per reproducing female significantly decreased with concentrations of 0.05 mg mL(-1) and higher. While the net reproductive rate R(0) and the intrinsic rate of natural increase r(m) displayed similar trends, the generation time G varied slightly between 11.6 and 12.8 days.

CONCLUSION

Expected systemic activity of glycosidic juvenogens in P. apterus was not confirmed by exposure of the pea aphid on broad bean treated with aqueous solutions of the compounds. Nevertheless, the carbamate juvenoid alcohol 8 displayed a considerable juvenilizing effect on A. pisum in screening tests. Furthermore, this compound indicated a sublethal effect as the realized fecundity U(x) decreased disproportionately to the age-specific survival L(x) with increased concentration. The population parameters are compared with the data in similar demographic studies and are discussed together with the possibilities of using the compounds of this structural type in practice.

Insect pest management agents: hormonogen esters (juvenogens)

The chemical part of this investigation focused on designing structures and synthesizing a series of six new esters (juvenogens), derived from biologically active insect juvenile hormone bioanalogues (juvenoids, JHAs) and unsaturated short-chain linear and branched fatty acids for possible application as biochemically targeted insect hormonogen agents. The structures of the new compounds were assigned on the basis of a detailed NMR analysis of their (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra. The biological part of this investigation focused on introductory biological screening tests with these compounds against the red firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus), termites (Reticulitermes santonensis and Prorhinotermes simplex), and the blowfly (Neobellieria bullata). The biological activity of the juvenogens was studied in relation to the fatty acid functionality in the structures. Notable biological activity in topical tests and medium activity in peroral tests was found for the juvenogens 3 and 7 with P. apterus. The compounds 6 and 8 showed the lowest activity in both topical and oral assays with P. apterus. Considerable effect of all tested juvenogens was observed in P. simplex; however, the juvenogens 5 and 6 (derivatives of the only branched short-chain fatty acid) showed no activity against R. santonensis. The effect of the compounds 3-8 on larval hatching of N. bullata was only moderate (larval hatching 80-90%); however, the proliferation effect caused by 5, 6, and 8 is more pronounced than the effect caused by 3, 4, and 7.

Characterization ofS-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase fromCryptosporidium parvum

The S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase from the apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parvum (CpSAHH) has been characterized. CpSAHH is a single-copy, intronless gene of 1479 bp encoding a protein of 493 amino acids with a molecular mass of 55.6 kDa. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that CpSAHH is expressed both in intracellular stages (in C. parvum-infected HCT-8 cells 24 h after infection) and in sporozoites. CpSAHH was expressed in Escherichia coli TB1 cells as a fusion with maltose-binding protein. The recombinant fusion was cleaved by Factor Xa and the enzymatic activity of both the fusion protein and the purified separated CpSAHH was measured. The enzymatic activity of CpSAHH was inhibited by d-eritadenine, S-DHPA and Ara-A.

Frataxin, a conserved mitochondrial protein, in the hydrogenosome of Trichomonas vaginalis

Recent data suggest that frataxin plays a key role in eukaryote cellular iron metabolism, particularly in mitochondrial heme and iron-sulfur (FeS) cluster biosynthesis. We have now identified a frataxin homologue (T. vaginalis frataxin) from the human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Instead of mitochondria, this unicellular eukaryote possesses hydrogenosomes, peculiar organelles that produce hydrogen but nevertheless share common ancestry with mitochondria. T. vaginalis frataxin contains conserved residues implicated in iron binding, and in silico, it is predicted to form a typical alpha-beta sandwich motif. The short N-terminal extension of T. vaginalis frataxin resembles presequences that target proteins to hydrogenosomes, a prediction confirmed by the results of overexpression of T. vaginalis frataxin in T. vaginalis. When expressed in the mitochondria of a frataxin-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, T. vaginalis frataxin partially restored defects in heme and FeS cluster biosynthesis. Although components of heme synthesis or heme-containing proteins have not been found in T. vaginalis to date, T. vaginalis frataxin was also shown to interact with S. cerevisiae ferrochelatase by using a Biacore assay. The discovery of conserved iron-metabolizing pathways in mitochondria and hydrogenosomes provides additional evidence not only of their common evolutionary history, but also of the fundamental importance of this pathway for eukaryotes.

Juvenile hormone III, hydroprene and a juvenogen as soldier caste differentiation regulators in three Reticulitermes species: potential of juvenile hormone analogues in termite control

The efficacy of juvenile hormone III (JH III) and two JH-mimicking compounds was compared in laboratory experiments with Reticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi), R. santonensis Feytaud and R. virginicus (Banks). Induction of presoldier, soldier and/or soldier-worker intercaste differentiation was taken as positive response to the treatment. The novel juvenogen, a fatty acid ester of a juvenoid alcohol, induced greatest soldier differentiation in all species tested, followed by hydroprene. JH III was less effective. Representatives of three Reticulitermes species showed similar trends in soldier induction rates. Differences in mortality in treatments of termites of the same species from different colonies with the same compound were observed and evidently were caused by differences in the conditions of respective colonies.

Can juvenogens, biochemically targeted hormonogen compounds, assist in environmentally safe insect pest management?

Two different types of juvenogens, biochemically targeted hormonogen compounds were tested for their potency to act as insect pest management agents. In the performed biological screening, wax-like esteric juvenogens (3-10) proved to be convenient agents for controlling blowfly and termites, and displayed species selectivity: cis-N-{2-[4-(2-butanoyloxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethyl carbamate (3) was highly active on blowfly (Neobellieria bullata), while trans-N-{2-[4-(2-hexadecanoyloxycyclohexyl)methyl]-phenoxy}ethyl carbamate (6) showed high activity on termite (Prorhinotermes simplex). Glycosidic juvenogens, isomeric N-{2-{4-{[2-(beta-D-galactopyranosyloxy)cyclohexyl]methyl}phenoxy}ethyl carbamates (13 and 14), were proved to act as systemic agents, suitable for protecting plants against phytophagous insects (e.g. aphids). Due to the prolonged action of juvenogens, which is connected with the sequential liberating of the biologically active molecule of the insect juvenile hormone bioanalog from the juvenogen molecule by means of enzymic systems of target insects and/or their host plants, more insect individuals can be treated by juvenogens, which are species-targeted structures due to their different physicochemical properties. The results achieved with both types of juvenogens were promising, concerning their final effect on the tested insect species, and the compounds 3-6, 9 (cis-(9Z)-N-{2-[4-(2-(octadec-9-enoyl)oxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethyl carbamate), 13 and 14 proved to represent convenient insect pest management agents for potential practical applications against different insect pests.

Alternative pathway of metronidazole activation in Trichomonas vaginalis hydrogenosomes

Metronidazole and related 5-nitroimidazoles are the only available drugs in the treatment of human urogenital trichomoniasis caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The drugs are activated to cytotoxic anion radicals by their reduction within the hydrogenosomes. It has been established that electrons required for metronidazole activation are released from pyruvate by the activity of pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase and transferred to the drug by a low-redox-potential carrier, ferredoxin. Here we describe a novel pathway involved in the drug activation within the hydrogenosome. The source of electrons is malate, another major hydrogenosomal substrate, which is oxidatively decarboxylated to pyruvate and CO2 by NAD-dependent malic enzyme. The electrons released during this reaction are transferred from NADH to ferredoxin by NADH dehydrogenase homologous to the catalytic module of mitochondrial complex I, which uses ferredoxin as electron acceptor. Trichomonads acquire high-level metronidazole resistance only after both pyruvate- and malate-dependent pathways of metronidazole activation are eliminated from the hydrogenosomes.

Residues of diflubenzuron on horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) leaves and their efficacy against the horse chestnut leafminer, Cameraria ohridella

Residues of the insect growth regulator diflubenzuron were quantified on horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) leaves treated with a diflubenzuron 480 g litre(-1) SC, Dimilin. To analyse the samples, an analytical procedure was developed involving a simple extraction step followed by high-performance liquid chromatography on an octadecyl-modified silica column with methanol + 0.01 M ammonium acetate mobile phase. The results showed diflubenzuron to be highly stable on horse chestnut leaves; more than 4 months (127 days) after application, 38% (on average) of the insecticide still remained on/in the leaves. The data confirmed biological observations showing diflubenzuron's long-term efficacy against the horse chestnut leafminer, Cameraria ohridella Deschka and Dimić, which is the most important pest of the horse chestnut in Europe. The hypothesis of possible penetration of diflubenzuron into the leaf mass is explored and discussed.

Juvenogens as potential agents in termite control: laboratory screening

Preliminary screening tests of eight juvenogens, fatty acid esters of two parent juvenoid alcohols, showed high juvenilizing effect in the termite Prorhinotermes simplex (Hagen). This effect is manifested by differentiation of termite workers into pre-soldiers, soldiers and/or soldier-intercastes ('soldiers'). Juvenogen 9 was tested with five other termite species: Zootermopsis angusticollis Hagen, Kalotermes flavicollis F, Cryptotermes declivis Tsai & Chen, Reticulitermes santonensis de Feytaud, and R flaviceps Oshima, and showed promising efficacy in force-feeding (FF) as well as in choice bioassays. In the economically important subterranean termites R santonensis and R flaviceps, after application of 0.5 mg ml(-1) in FF experiments ca 57 and 73%, respectively, of workers changed into soldiers. In Zootermopsis angusticollis application of 0.05 mg ml(-1) caused differentiation in 62% soldiers, and 57% soldiers differentiated after topical application of 1 microg of the tested compound per termite. Differentiation of excessive soldiers induced by a juvenile hormone-mimicking compound may cause disruption of the social structure and ultimately the death of the colony.

Pyruvate decarboxylase, the target for omeprazole in metronidazole-resistant and iron-restricted Tritrichomonas foetus

The substituted benzimidazole omeprazole, used for the treatment of human peptic ulcer disease, inhibits the growth of the metronidazole-resistant bovine pathogen Tritrichomonas foetus in vitro (MIC at which the growth of parasite cultures is inhibited by 50%, 22 microg/ml [63 microM]). The antitrichomonad activity appears to be due to the inhibition of pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), which is the key enzyme responsible for ethanol production and which is strongly upregulated in metronidazole-resistant trichomonads. PDC was purified to homogeneity from the cytosol of metronidazole-resistant strain. The tetrameric enzyme of 60-kDa subunits is inhibited by omeprazole (50% inhibitory concentration, 16 microg/ml). Metronidazole-susceptible T. foetus, which expresses very little PDC, is only slightly affected. Omeprazole has the same inhibitory effect on T. foetus cells grown under iron-limited conditions. Similarly to metronidazole-resistant cells, T. foetus cells grown under iron-limited conditions have nonfunctional hydrogenosomal metabolism and rely on cytosolic PDC-mediated ethanol fermentation.

Malic enzymes of Trichomonas vaginalis: two enzyme families, two distinct origins

The cytosolic malic enzyme of the amitochondriate protist Trichomonas vaginalis was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The corresponding gene was sequenced and compared with its hydrogenosomal homologue from the same organism. The enzymes were found to differ in coenzyme specificity, molecular mass and physiological role. The cytosolic malic enzyme is a dimer consisting of two 42-kDa subunits with strict specificity for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP(+)), and has a presumed function of pyruvate and NADPH production. The hydrogenosomal malic enzyme is a tetramer of 60-kDa subunits that preferentially utilizes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) to NADP(+). The hydrogenosomal enzyme supplies the hydrogenosome with pyruvate for further catabolic processes linked with substrate-level phosphorylation. Phylogenetic analysis of malic enzymes showed the existence of two distinct families of these enzymes in nature, which differ in subunit size. The trichomonad cytosolic malic enzyme belongs to the small subunit-type family that occurs almost exclusively in prokaryotes. In contrast, the hydrogenosomal malic enzyme displays a close relationship with the large subunit-type family of the enzyme, which is found in mitochondria, plastids and the cytosol of eukaryotes. The eubacterial origin of trichomonad cytosolic malic enzyme suggests an occurrence of horizontal gene transfer from a eubacterium to the ancestor of T. vaginalis. The presence of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic type of malic enzyme in different compartments of a single eukaryotic cell appears to be unique in nature.

Sex pheromone of horse-chestnut leafminer Camneraria ohridella and its use in a pheromone-based monitoring system

Gas chromatography combined with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), electroantennography (EAG), and wind-tunnel and field experiments were used to reinvestigate the composition of Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Lithocolletinae) sex pheromone. The GC-EAD experiments showed one EAD-active area corresponding to the major pheromone component. (8E,10Z)-tetradeca-8,10-dienal. The EAG experiments proved that (9E)-tetracedecenal and stereoisomers of (8E,10Z)-tetradeca-8,10-dienal exhibited significant electrophysiological activity and could, therefore, be considered as possible minor pheromone components. However, wind-tunnel and field experiments demonstrated that none of these compounds affect the efficacy of the main pheromone component. A monitoring system based on (8E,10Z)tetradeca-8,10-dienal was developed and used to study the flight activity of C. ohridella.

Fatty acid esters of juvenoid alcohols as insect hormonogen agents (juvenogens)

A series of 8 new juvenogens (3--10) was prepared starting from a pair of isomeric insect juvenile hormone bioanalogues ( and ). The biological activity of the juvenogens -- was tested for their effect on reproduction of the blowfly Neobellieria (Sarcophaga) bullata and for the juvenilizing activity on the termite Prorhinotermes simplex. Results of biological screening are important in structure--activity studies and promising for potential practical application of some of the juvenogens studied, especially against termites.

Iron-induced changes in pyruvate metabolism of Tritrichomonas foetus and involvement of iron in expression of hydrogenosomal proteins

The main function of the hydrogenosome, a typical organelle of trichomonads, is to convert malate or pyruvate to H(2), CO(2) and acetate by a pathway associated with ATP synthesis. This pathway relies on activity of iron-sulfur proteins such as pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), hydrogenase and ferredoxin. To examine the effect of iron availability on proper hydrogenosomal function, the metabolic activity of the hydrogenosome and expression of hydrogenosomal enzymes were compared in Tritrichomonas foetus maintained under iron-rich (150 microM iron nitrilotriacetate) or iron-restricted (180 microM 2,2-dipyridyl) conditions in vitro. The activities of PFOR and hydrogenase, and also production of acetate and H(2), were markedly decreased or absent in iron-restricted trichomonads. Moreover, a decrease in activity of the hydrogenosomal malic enzyme, which is a non-Fe-S protein, was also observed. Impaired function of hydrogenosomes under iron-restricted conditions was compensated for by activation of the cytosolic pathway, mediating conversion of pyruvate to ethanol via acetaldehyde. This metabolic switch was fully reversible. Production of hydrogen by iron-restricted trichomonads was restored to the level of organisms grown under iron-rich conditions within 3 h after addition of 150 microM iron nitrilotriacetate. Protein analysis of purified hydrogenosomes from iron-restricted cells showed decreased levels of proteins corresponding to PFOR, malic enzyme and ferredoxin. Accordingly, these cells displayed decreased steady-state level and synthesis of mRNAs encoding PFOR and hydrogenosomal malic enzyme. These data demonstrate that iron is essential for function of the hydrogenosome, show its involvement in the expression of hydrogenosomal proteins and indicate the presence of iron-dependent control of gene transcription in Tt. foetus.

Chaperone activity of tobacco HSP18, a small heat-shock protein, is inhibited by ATP

NtHSP18P (HSP18), a cytosolic class I small heat-shock protein from tobacco pollen grains, was expressed in Escherichia coli. The viability of these cells was improved by 50% at 50 degrees C, demonstrating its functionality in vivo. Purified recombinant protein formed 240 kDa HSP18 oligomers, irrespective of temperature. These oligomers interacted with the model substrate citrate synthase (CS) to form large complexes in a temperature-dependent manner. Furthermore, HSP18 prevented thermally induced aggregation of CS at 45 degrees C. The fluorescence probe bis-ANS revealed the exposure of HSP18 hydrophobic surfaces at this temperature. Reactivation of chemically denatured CS was also significantly enhanced by HSP18. Surprisingly, HSP18 function was inhibited (in contrast to the related chaperone alphabeta-crystallin and plant sHSPs studied so far) by the presence of ATP in a concentration-dependent manner. The conformational changes of HSP18 imposed by ATP binding were indicated by the difference in the quenching of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, and implied more compact structure with ATP. Fluorescence measurements with bis-ANS showed that the conformational shift of HSP18 is suppressed in the presence of ATP. Decreased chaperone activity of HSP18 in the presence of ATP is caused by the lower affinity of conformationally blocked HSP18 for the substrate, as demonstrated by a higher susceptibility of model substrate, malate dehydrogenase, to proteolytic cleavage. Our results suggest that the chaperone activity of some plant sHSPs could be regulated by the availability of ATP in the cytoplasm, which would provide a mechanism to monitor the cell environment, control biological activity of sHSPs, and coordinate it with other ATP-dependent chaperones such as HSP70.

Purification and specificity of two alpha-glucosidase isoforms of the parasitic protist Trichomonas vaginalis

Two isoforms of alpha-glucosidase were purified from the parasitic protist Trichomonas vaginalis. Both consisted of 103 kDa subunits, but differed in pH optimum and substrate specificity. Isoform 1 had a pH optimum around 4.5 and negligible activity on glucose oligomers other than maltose, while isoform 2 with a pH optimum of 5.5 hydrolyzed also such substrates at considerable rates. Neither had activity on glycogen or starch. Isoform 1 had a specific activity for hydrolysis of maltose of 30 U/mg protein and isoform 2 101 U/mg protein. The Km values were 0.4 mM and 2.0 mM, respectively. Isoform 2 probably corresponds to the activity detected on the cell surface.

High-molecular-mass complexes formed in vivo contain smHSPs and HSP70 and display chaperone-like activity

Stress can have profound effects on the cell. The elicitation of the stress response in the cell is often accompanied by the synthesis of high-molecular-mass complexes, sometimes termed heat shock granules (HSGs). The presence of the complexes has been shown to be important for the survival of cells subjected to stress. We purified these complexes from heat-stressed BY-2 tobacco cells. HSG complexes formed in vivo contain predominantly smHSPs, HSP40 and HSP70 and display chaperone-like activity. Tubulins as well as other proteins may be part of the complex or its substrate. The proteins, except smHSPs and to some extent HSP70, were hypersensitive to proteolysis, suggesting that they were partially denatured and not an integral part of the HSG complexes. When citrate synthase was used as the substrate, in vivo generated HSG complexes exhibited strong nucleotide-dependent in vitro chaperone activity. Measurable ATP-mediated hydrolytic activity was detected. Isolated HSG complexes are stable until ATP is added, which leads to rapid dissociation of the complex into subunits. It is proposed that smHSPs form the core of the complex in association with ATP-dependent HSP70 and HSP40 cochaperones. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Sequence of a Giardia lamblia gene coding for the glycolytic enzyme, pyruvate,phosphate dikinase

The sequence of the gene coding for pyruvate,phosphate dikinase (EC 2.7.9.1) in Giardia lamblia (syn. G. duodenalis) has been established. The deduced amino acid sequence is very similar to all of its known homologs from the protist, Entamoeba histolytica, the eubacterium, Clostridium symbiosum and plant chloroplasts. Phylogenetic reconstruction with neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods reveals that the sequences form two clades, one comprising the anaerobic microorganisms, and the other the chloroplast enzymes.

Primary structure and eubacterial relationships of the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase of the amitochondriate eukaryote Trichomonas vaginalis

In the eukaryotic unicellular organism Trichomonas vaginalis a key step of energy metabolism, the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate with the formation of acetyl-CoA, is catalyzed by the iron-sulfur protein pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO) and not by the almost-ubiquitous pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex. This enzyme is localized in the hydrogenosome, an organelle bounded by a double membrane. PFO and its closely related homolog, pyruvate:flavodoxin oxidoreductase, are enzymes found in a number of archaebacteria and eubacteria. The presence of these enzymes in eukaryotes is restricted, however, to a few amitochondriate groups. To gain more insight into the evolutionary relationships of T. vaginalis PFO we determined the primary structure of its two genes (pfoA and pfoB). The deduced amino acid sequences showed 95% positional identity. Motifs implicated in related enzymes in liganding the Fe-S centers and thiamine pyrophosphate were well conserved. The T. vaginalis PFOs were found to be homologous to eubacterial pyruvate:flavodoxin oxidoreductases and showed about 40% amino acid identity to these enzymes over their entire length. Lack of eubacterial PFO sequences precluded a comparison. pfoA and pfoB revealed a greater distance from related enzymes of Archaebacteria. The conceptual translation of the nucleotide sequences predicted an amino-terminal pentapeptide not present in the mature protein. This processed leader sequence was similar to but shorter than leader sequences noted in other hydrogenosomal proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Primary structure of the hydrogenosomal malic enzyme of Trichomonas vaginalis and its relationship to homologous enzymes

The complete nucleotide sequence has been established for two genes (maeA and maeB) coding for different subunits of the hydrogenosomal malic enzyme [malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) EC 1.1.1.39] of Trichomonas vaginalis. Two further genes (maeC and maeD) of this enzyme have been partially sequenced. The complete open reading frames code for polypeptides of 567 amino acids in length. These two open reading frames are similar with less than 12 percent pairwise nucleotide differences and less than 9 percent pairwise amino acid differences. The open reading frames of the two partially sequenced genes correspond to the amino-terminal part of the polypeptides coded and are similar to the corresponding parts of the completely sequenced ones. The deduced translation products of the two complete genes differ in their calculated pI values by 1.5 pH unit. The genes code for polypeptides which contain 12 or 11 amino-terminal amino-acyl residues not present in the proteins isolated from the cell. Other hydrogenosomal enzymes also have similar amino-terminal extensions which probably play a role in organellar targeting and translocation of the newly synthesized polypeptides. A comparison of 19 related enzymes from bacteria and eukaryotes with the maeA product revealed 34-45 percent amino acid identity. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on nonconservative amino acid differences with maximum parsimony (phylogenetic analysis using parsimony, PAUP) and distance based (neighbor-joining, NJ) methods showed that the T. vaginalis enzyme is the most divergent of all eukaryotic malic enzymes, indicating its long independent evolutionary history.

Purification and partial characterization of malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) from Tritrichomonas foetus hydrogenosomes

Malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) from Tritrichomonas foetus hydrogenosomes was purified close to homogeneity by a combination of differential centrifugation, zwitterionic detergent solubilization, Red-Sepharose chromatography and anion-exchange chromatography. The enzyme with apparent subunit size of 59 kDa and native molecular mass of 308 kDa utilized NAD+ preferentially to NADP+ as a cofactor and required Mn2+ or Mg2+ for its activity. Affinity curves for malate and coenzymes were hyperbolic. Km for malate was 100 microM and 458 microM in the presence of NAD+ and NADP+, respectively. Km for NAD+ and for NADP+ in the presence of malate was 18 microM and 207 microM, respectively. The enzyme is proposed to be a tetramer with a possible physiological role in the maintenance of an appropriate NAD+/NADH ratio in hydrogenosomes.