Bioinformatic analysis for structure and function of TCTP from Spirometra mansoni

OBJECTIVE

To predict structure and function of translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) from Spirometra mansoni by bioinformatics technology, and to provide a theoretical basis for further study.

METHODS

Open reading frame (ORF) of EST sequence from Spirometra mansoni was obtained by ORF finder and was translated into amino acid residue by DNAclub. The structure domain was analyzed by Blast. By the method of online analysis tools: Protparam, InterProScan, protscale, SignalP-3.0, PSORT II, BepiPred, TMHMM, VectorNTI Suite 9 packages and Phyre2, the structure and function of the protein were predicted and analyzed.

RESULTS

The results showed that the EST sequence was Sm TCTP with 173 amino acid residues, theoretical molecular weight was 19 872.0 Da. The protein has the closest evolutionary status with Clonorchis sinensis, Schistosoma mansoni, and Schistosoma japonicum. Then it had no signal peptide site and transmembrane domain. Secondary structure of TCTP contained two α -helices and eight β -strands.

CONCLUSIONS

Sm TCTP was a variety of biological functions of protein that may be used as a vaccine candidate molecule and drug target.

[Soluble proteins of the plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze soluble proteins of the plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni.

METHODS

The total protein of the plerocercoid of S. mansoni was separated by SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Western blotting was performed to find out distinct antigens by sera of plerocercoid-infected mice.

RESULTS

A total of 33 protein bands were separated by SDS-PAGE (Mr 13,800-145,400). Four of them were high-abundance proteins with Mr 26,500, Mr 37,600, Mr 88,200, and Mr 130,200, respectively. At least two protein bands of Mr 31,600 and 37,600 reacted with the infected mice sera. 367 protein spots were detected on 2-DE gel, among which. about 67% proteins were found within Mr 18,840-46,800 and isoelectric point (pI) 4-7. Western blotting showed 30 antigen spots specifically reacting with sera from mice infected by S. mansoni.

CONCLUSION

Two protein bands and thirty protein spots are specific acidic proteins of S. mansoni plerocercoid.

A glycoprotein from Spirometra erinaceieuropaei plerocercoids suppresses osteoclastogenesis and proinflammatory cytokine gene expression

Various parasites modify the immune-reactions of the host. We have previously shown that crude excretory/secretory (ES) products from plerocercoids of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, the plerocercoids of which cause sparganosis in humans, suppress the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-1beta in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. As osteoclasts are cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, we hypothesised that ES products might suppress receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis. Crude ES products from plerocercoids suppressed osteoclastogenesis, judged by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinuclear cell counting, and the mature osteoclast-specific gene expression (calcitonin receptor and TRAP). Second, we purified the inhibitory factor for osteoclastogenesis from the crude ES products. The factor was a trypsin-sensitive glycoprotein and had a relative molecular mass of 90 kDa. The glycoprotein, plerocercoid-immunosuppressive factor, from crude ES products could suppress the gene expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and NO synthesis in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages.

Purification and localization of a 10 kDa calcareous corpuscle binding protein of Spirometra mansoni plerocercoid

In cestode parasites, calcareous corpuscles are thought to be associated with a number of intracellular physiologies by regulating the trafficking of mineral components. We previously separated these particular components by Ficoll, and their binding proteins of 10 kDa and 35 kDa in the Spirometra mansoni plerocercoid (sparganum). In the present study, we purified a 10 kDa protein employing octyl-Sepharose CL-4B affinity chromatography. Anti-serum raised against the purified protein showed specific reactions to the calcareous corpuscles of the worm section by immunohistochemistry, and recognized the 10 kDa protein by immunoblotting.

Amino acid sequence of a trypsin inhibitor from a Spirometra (Spirometra erinaceieuropaei)

A trypsin inhibitor that is highly homologous with bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) was co-purified along with RNase from Spirometra (Spirometra erinaceieuropaei). The amino acid sequence of this inhibitor (SETI) and the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA encoding this protein were determined by protein chemistry and gene technology. SETI contains 68 amino acid residues and has a molecular mass of 7,798 Da. SETI has 31 amino acid residues that are identical with BPTI's sequence, including 6 half-cystine and 5 aromatic amino acid residues. The active site Lys residue in BPTI is replaced by an Arg residue in SETI. SETI is an effective inhibitor of trypsin and moderately inhibits a-chymotrypsin, but less inhibits elastase or subtilisin. SETI was expressed by E. coli containing a PelB vector carrying the SETI encoding cDNA; an expression yield of 0.68 mg/l was obtained. The phylogenetic relationship of SETI and the other BPTI-like trypsin inhibitors was analyzed using most likelihood inference methods.

Synthetic studies on glycosphingolipids from protostomia phyla: synthesis of a glycosphingolipid analogue from the parasite Spirometra erinacei

Novel neutral glycosphingolipids isolated from the plerocercoids of a tapeworm, Spirometra erinacei, may be expected to be involved in host-parasite interactions. We have synthesized this glycosphingolipid analogue containing 2-branched fatty alkyl residue in place of ceramide. Glycosylation of nonreducing-end trisaccharide derivative 15 with the reducing-end disaccharide derivative 17 in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate (TMSOTf) gave the desired oligosaccharide derivative in good yield. The fully per-O-acylated 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl glycoside 19 was converted to glycosylimidate 20, which was condensed with 2-(tetradecyl)hexadecanol and subsequently deacylated to give the target glycosphingolipid analogue 22.

Effect of temperature on fatty acid composition in each lipid fraction of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei plerocercoids

The effects of temperature and host fatty acids on the fatty acid contents of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei plerocercoids were investigated to clarify their role in sparganosis. After 24 hr incubation at 18 C in host snake serum, omega6 series fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid in the phospholipid fraction of the plerocercoids, increased compared with those of plerocercoids incubated at 37 C. The changes in the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids in the phospholipid fraction of plerocercoids incubated in physiological saline for 6 hr at 10 C were almost the same as the changes at 37 C. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids of the triglyceride fraction showed almost opposite change versus the phospholipid fraction. The percentage of arachidonic acid in the phospholipid fraction of plerocercoids increased during the first 3 hr of incubation and then decreased, regardless of temperature. At 37 C, the percentage of arachidonic acid in the free fatty acid fraction fell for the first 3 hr of incubation and was significantly elevated at the end of the 6-hr incubation. At 10 C, however, arachidonic acid in the free fatty acid fraction decreased for the first hour of incubation, increased at 3 hr of incubation, then decreased again. These results suggest that fatty acids of the plerocercoids are frequently exchanged between fractions. Plerocercoids can mobilize arachidonic acid to the free fatty acid fraction more quickly at lower temperature than at higher temperature. They may utilize mobilized arachidonic acid early in the infection stage to produce prostaglandins. Alternatively, they can incorporate arachidonic acid into the phospholipid fraction again when arachidonic acid is readily available in the environment.

A monoclonal antibody against a glycolipid SEGLx from Spirometra erinaceieuropaei plerocercoid

A mouse monoclonal antibody AK97 (IgM) was established against a new type of glycosphingolipid, SEGLx, isolated from plerocercoids of tapeworm, Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. The chemical structure of SEGLx (Gal beta1-4(Fuc alpha1-3)(Glc beta1-3Gal beta1-ceramide) had been previously characterized. The specificity of AK97 was determined by thin-layer chromatography-immunostaining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. AK97 was found to be directed to SEGLx and GalSEGLx (Gal beta1-4(Fuc alpha1-3)Glc beta1-3(Gal beta1-6)Gal beta1-ceramide) and also showed cross-reactivity with the stage specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1), the epitope being defined to be the non-reducing terminal trisaccharide sequence. On immunohistochemical examination, AK97 predominantly stained the tegument, the external surfaces of worms which have a brush border-like organization. Based on the immunohistochemical findings for the staining liability as to organic solvents and the results of Western blot analysis of the plerocercoid glycoproteins, it was proved that the antigens in the tapeworm were glycolipids. Considering that the tapeworm is in direct contact with its host's tissue through the tegument, the membrane surface of which is exposed to the external environment, it is suspected that SEGLx and GalSEGLx on the tegument play functionally important roles in the host parasite interaction.

A novel fucosyltetrahexosylceramide in plerocercoids of the parasite Spirometra erinacei

This glycosphingolipid was tentatively designated as GalSEGLx, in which the carbohydrate structure is characterized by an additional galactose molecule attached to the reducing-end galactose of SEGLx [Gal beta-4 (Fuc alpha-3) Glc beta-3 Gal beta Cer], which was previously determined by us [Kawakami, Y., Nakamura, K., Kojima, H., Suzuki, M., Inagaki, F., Suzuki, A., Sonoki, S., Uchida, A., Murata, Y. & Tamai, Y. (1993) J. Biochem. 114, 677-683], through a beta 1-6 linkage. The ceramide contained sphinganine and 4D-hydroxysphinganine in an about equimolar ratio, and a non-hydroxy fatty acid with carbon atoms ranging from 16 to 28, 26:0, 28:0 and 28:1 being major components. Based on the finding that a novel carbohydrate structure. Gal beta-4 Glc beta-3 Gal, was commonly found in glycosphingolipids from the parasite, S. erinacei, we here propose the terms, spirometo series, for this core structure series, and spirometosides, for glycosphingolipids having this carbohydrate structure.

The growth factor from plerocercoids of Spirometra mansonoides is both a growth hormone agonist and a cysteine proteinase

Plerocercoids of the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides produce a substance that stimulates growth of experimental hosts. We report purification of plerocercoid growth factor (PGF) to homogeneity by a process involving isolation and solubilization of plerocercoid membranes, isoelectric point selection by chromatofocusing chromatography or preparative isoelectric focusing, and anion-exchange chromatography. A radioreceptor assay (RRA) for human growth hormone (hGH) was used to detect PGF and purity of the 27.5-kDa protein was judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Proteolytic activity was detected in the 27.5-kDa protein by gelatin substrate PAGE. Characterization of PGF as a neutral cysteine proteinase was based on substrate and inhibitor specificities and dependence on pH and thiol-containing reagents. The association of hGH agonist and proteinase activities was shown by comparing RRA and hydrolytic activities in the presence and absence of the cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64.

Molecular cloning and expression of the gene encoding a cysteine proteinase of Spirometra erinacei

A cDNA library constructed from plerocercoid of Spirometra erinacei (SEP) was immunoscreened using rabbit anti-plerocercoid proteinase polyclonal antibody. A 1.0-kb cDNA clone encoding a cysteine proteinase composed of 336 amino acids was isolated. The amino acid sequence predicted from the cDNA showed significant homology with human and mouse cathepsin L. N-terminal amino acid sequence of the native cysteine proteinase extracted from SEP was the same as that of mature proteinase predicted from the cloned gene. The gene encoding the proteinase was characterized by Southern and Northern blot analysis using the cDNA as a probe. The proteinase with a molecular mass of 34 kDa was demonstrated in in vitro translation products using anti-proteinase polyclonal antibody. A fusion protein derived from the cDNA synthesized by Escherichia coli (TB1) using the expression vector, pMAL-c2 was identified as an immunodominant antigen by epitope-selection method and had no cross-reactivity with other parasite-infected sera. A genomic DNA library derived from SEP was screened by the colony hybridization technique using the cDNA probe. A gene with 4.5 kb encoding the proteinase was obtained, which comprised three exons and two introns.

Monohexosylceramides of larval and adult forms of the tapeworm, Spirometra erinacei

The occurrence of glycosphingolipids with unique carbohydrate structures in different species of cestode, Platyhelminth, which had been shown previously, prompted us to study the molecular species of the monohexosylceramides (cerebrosides) in the pseudophyllidean cestode, Spirometra erinacei. The purpose of the study was to obtain a basis for future investigations of the physiological role of glycolipids in parasitism. Cerebrosides were isolated from S. erinacei at two growth stages, i.e., from the larval form (plerocercoid) and from the adult tapeworms (intestinal form). The cerebrosides were separated into four subfractions by silica gel column chromatography, and their constituents were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The hexoses of the cerebrosides consisted primarily of galactose in both growth stages, while only a small amount of glucose was detected. The ceramides were composed of sphinganine (d18:0) and phytosphingosine (t18:0) as sphingoid bases, and of nonhydroxy fatty acids ranging from C16 to C30 and hydroxy stearic acid (18h:0). The cerebrosides of adult tapeworms contained more 18h:0 than those of plerocercoids. The combination of hexoses and ceramides in the cerebroside molecules was slightly different in the two growth stages: the glucocerebrosides of plerocercoids contained only d18:0-nonhydroxy fatty acids in their ceramide moieties, whereas those of adult tapeworms contained varying ceramide moieties. Our data indicate that the molecular species of glycolipids present were essentially homeostatic throughout growth in spite of the entirely different environmental conditions, although there were slight differences in the hexose distribution in the two growth stages.