1
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Mathavan I, Liu LJ, Robinson SW, El-Sakkary N, Elatico AJJ, Gomez D, Nellas R, Owens RJ, Zuercher W, Navratilova I, Caffrey CR, Beis K. Identification of Inhibitors of the Schistosoma mansoni VKR2 Kinase Domain. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1715-1722. [PMID: 36385939 PMCID: PMC9661718 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic flatworms. Current treatment relies on just one partially effective drug, praziquantel (PZQ). Schistosoma mansoni Venus Kinase Receptors 1 and 2 (SmVKR1 and SmVKR2) are important for parasite growth and egg production, and are potential targets for combating schistosomiasis. VKRs consist of an extracellular Venus Flytrap Module (VFTM) linked via a transmembrane helix to a kinase domain. Here, we initiated a drug discovery effort to inhibit the activity of the SmVKR2 kinase domain (SmVKR2KD) by screening the GSK published kinase inhibitor set 2 (PKIS2). We identified several inhibitors, of which four were able to inhibit its enzymatic activity and induced phenotypic changes in ex vivo S. mansoni. Our crystal structure of the SmVKR2KD displays an active-like state that sheds light on the activation process of VKRs. Our data provide a basis for the further exploration of SmVKR2 as a possible drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indran Mathavan
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, South Kensington SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Rutherford
Appleton Laboratory, Research Complex at
Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Lawrence J. Liu
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sean W. Robinson
- Kinetic
Discovery Ltd., an Exscientia group company, The Schrödinger Building, Oxford Science
Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, United Kingdom
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Adam Jo J. Elatico
- Institute
of Chemistry, College of Science, University
of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1101
| | - Darwin Gomez
- Institute
of Chemistry, College of Science, University
of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1101
| | - Ricky Nellas
- Institute
of Chemistry, College of Science, University
of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1101
| | - Raymond J. Owens
- The Rosalind
Franklin Institute, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
- Division
of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United
Kingdom
| | - William Zuercher
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Iva Navratilova
- Kinetic
Discovery Ltd., an Exscientia group company, The Schrödinger Building, Oxford Science
Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, United Kingdom
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Konstantinos Beis
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, South Kensington SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Rutherford
Appleton Laboratory, Research Complex at
Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
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Review: Schistosoma mansoni phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 256:110632. [PMID: 34119651 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni worms are under a milieu of external and internal signaling pathways. The life-cycle stages are exposed to enormous stimuli within the mammalian and the snail hosts and as free-living stages in the fresh water. Furthermore, there is a unique interplay between the male and the female worms involving many stimuli from the male essential for full development of the female. PI3K/Akt/mTOR is an evolutionarily divergent signal transduction pathway universal to nearly every multicellular organism. This work reviews the Schistosoma mansoni PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathways and the involvement of the signal in the worms' physiology concerning the uptake of glucose, reproduction and survival. The inhibitors of the signal pathway used against Schistosoma mansoni were summarized. Given the importance of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway, its inhibition could be a promising control strategy against schistosomiasis.
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Leippe P, Broichhagen J, Cailliau K, Mougel A, Morel M, Dissous C, Trauner D, Vicogne J. Transformation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases into Glutamate Receptors and Photoreceptors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201915352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Leippe
- Department of ChemistryLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science Butenandtstrasse 5–13 81377 München Germany
- Present address: Department of Chemical BiologyMax Planck Institute for Medical Research Jahnstr. 29 69120 Heidelberg Germany
| | - Johannes Broichhagen
- Department of ChemistryLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science Butenandtstrasse 5–13 81377 München Germany
- Present address: Department of Chemical BiologyForschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie Robert-Rössle Str. 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Katia Cailliau
- CNRS UMR 8576University of Lille Villeneuve d'Asq France
| | - Alexandra Mougel
- Univ. LilleCNRSInserm, CHU LilleInstitut Pasteur de LilleU1019—UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL) 59000 Lille France
| | - Marion Morel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyBoonshoft School of MedicineWright State University Dayton OH 45435 USA
| | - Colette Dissous
- Univ. LilleCNRSInserm, CHU LilleInstitut Pasteur de LilleU1019—UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL) 59000 Lille France
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of ChemistryLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science Butenandtstrasse 5–13 81377 München Germany
- Department of ChemistrySilver Center for Arts and ScienceNew York University 100 Washington Square East New York NY 10003 USA
| | - Jérôme Vicogne
- Univ. LilleCNRSInserm, CHU LilleInstitut Pasteur de LilleU1019—UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL) 59000 Lille France
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4
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Leippe P, Broichhagen J, Cailliau K, Mougel A, Morel M, Dissous C, Trauner D, Vicogne J. Transformation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases into Glutamate Receptors and Photoreceptors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:6720-6723. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201915352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Leippe
- Department of ChemistryLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science Butenandtstrasse 5–13 81377 München Germany
- Present address: Department of Chemical BiologyMax Planck Institute for Medical Research Jahnstr. 29 69120 Heidelberg Germany
| | - Johannes Broichhagen
- Department of ChemistryLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science Butenandtstrasse 5–13 81377 München Germany
- Present address: Department of Chemical BiologyForschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie Robert-Rössle Str. 10 13125 Berlin Germany
| | - Katia Cailliau
- CNRS UMR 8576University of Lille Villeneuve d'Asq France
| | - Alexandra Mougel
- Univ. LilleCNRSInserm, CHU LilleInstitut Pasteur de LilleU1019—UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL) 59000 Lille France
| | - Marion Morel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyBoonshoft School of MedicineWright State University Dayton OH 45435 USA
| | - Colette Dissous
- Univ. LilleCNRSInserm, CHU LilleInstitut Pasteur de LilleU1019—UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL) 59000 Lille France
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of ChemistryLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science Butenandtstrasse 5–13 81377 München Germany
- Department of ChemistrySilver Center for Arts and ScienceNew York University 100 Washington Square East New York NY 10003 USA
| | - Jérôme Vicogne
- Univ. LilleCNRSInserm, CHU LilleInstitut Pasteur de LilleU1019—UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL) 59000 Lille France
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5
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Gouignard N, Cherrier F, Brito-Fravallo E, Pain A, Zmarlak NM, Cailliau K, Genève C, Vernick KD, Dissous C, Mitri C. Dual role of the Anopheles coluzzii Venus Kinase Receptor in both larval growth and immunity. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3615. [PMID: 30837655 PMCID: PMC6401105 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40407-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases and especially malaria are responsible for more than half million deaths annually. The increase of insecticide resistance in wild populations of Anopheles malaria vectors emphasises the need for novel vector control strategies as well as for identifying novel vector targets. Venus kinase receptors (VKRs) constitute a Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) family only found in invertebrates. In this study we functionally characterized Anopheles VKR in the Gambiae complex member, Anophelescoluzzii. Results showed that Anopheles VKR can be activated by L-amino acids, with L-arginine as the most potent agonist. VKR was not required for the fecundity of A. coluzzii, in contrast to reports from other insects, but VKR function is required in both Anopheles males and females for development of larval progeny. Anopheles VKR function is also required for protection against infection by Plasmodium parasites, thus identifying a novel linkage between reproduction and immunity in Anopheles. The insect specificity of VKRs as well as the essential function for reproduction and immunity suggest that Anopheles VKR could be a potentially druggable target for novel vector control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadège Gouignard
- CIIL- Institut Biologie de Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur Lille, Lille, France.,Department of Basic Science & Craniofacial Biology, New York University, College of Dentistry, New York, USA
| | - Floriane Cherrier
- Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR2000, Paris, France.,Oncogenesis of Lymphoma unit, INSERM U1053 - BaRITOn, Bordeaux, France
| | - Emma Brito-Fravallo
- Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR2000, Paris, France
| | - Adrien Pain
- Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR2000, Paris, France.,Institut Pasteur - Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub - C3BI, USR, 3756 IP CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Natalia Marta Zmarlak
- Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR2000, Paris, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- Team "Signal Division Regulation", CNRS UMR 8576, University of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Corinne Genève
- Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR2000, Paris, France
| | - Kenneth D Vernick
- Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR2000, Paris, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- CIIL- Institut Biologie de Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur Lille, Lille, France.
| | - Christian Mitri
- Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Unit, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. .,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR2000, Paris, France.
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6
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Kinases: Molecular Stage Directors for Schistosome Development and Differentiation. Trends Parasitol 2017; 34:246-260. [PMID: 29276074 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding schistosome biology is still a challenging mission. The reproductive biology of this parasitic trematode is closely associated with the pathologic consequences of schistosomiasis, the devastating infectious disease caused by members of the family Schistosomatidae worldwide. Recent studies of signaling mechanisms confirmed the prominent roles of protein kinases (PKs) in directing schistosome biology, and first evidence was obtained for an additional contribution of kinases with substrates different from proteins (non-PKs). This review provides an overview of the Schistosoma mansoni kinome in the context of male-female interaction and summarizes recent studies of kinases controlling development and differentiation. Due to their importance for schistosome biology, kinases represent Achilles' heels and are therefore of high value also for translational research.
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7
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Elhenawy AA, Ashour RH, Nabih N, Shalaby NM, El-karef AA, Abou-El-Wafa HS. Insulin growth factor inhibitor as a potential new anti-schistosoma drug: An in vivo experimental study. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 95:1346-1358. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
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8
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Role of the venus kinase receptor in the female reproductive physiology of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11730. [PMID: 28916758 PMCID: PMC5601475 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11434-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Venus kinase receptors (VKR) are a subfamily of invertebrate receptor tyrosine kinases, which have only recently been discovered. They contain an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain and an extracellular Venus FlyTrap domain. VKRs have been functionally and pharmacologically characterized in only two invertebrate species, namely the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni and the mosquito Aedes aegypti, where they play a crucial role in oogenesis. Here, we report the characterization of a VKR in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. We performed an in-depth profiling study of the SgVKR transcript levels in different tissues throughout the female adult stage. Using the RNA interference technique, the possible role of SgVKR was investigated. SgVKR knockdown had significant effects on ovarian ecdysteroid levels and on the size of oocytes during the vitellogenic stage. SgVKR is probably involved in the complex cross-talk between several important pathways regulating female reproductive physiology. Contrary to A. aegypti and S. mansoni, we cannot conclude that this receptor is essential for reproduction, since silencing SgVKR did not affect fecundity or fertility. Considering the evolutionary distance between A. aegypti and S. gregaria, as well as the differences in regulation of their female reproductive physiology, this article constitutes a valuable asset in better understanding VKRs.
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9
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Gelmedin V, Morel M, Hahnel S, Cailliau K, Dissous C, Grevelding CG. Evidence for Integrin - Venus Kinase Receptor 1 Alliance in the Ovary of Schistosoma mansoni Females Controlling Cell Survival. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006147. [PMID: 28114363 PMCID: PMC5289644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In metazoan integrin signaling is an important process of mediating extracellular and intracellular communication processes. This can be achieved by cooperation of integrins with growth factor receptors (GFRs). Schistosoma mansoni is a helminth parasite inducing schistosomiasis, an infectious disease of worldwide significance for humans and animals. First studies on schistosome integrins revealed their role in reproductive processes, being involved in spermatogenesis and oogenesis. With respect to the roles of eggs for maintaining the parasite´s life cycle and for inducing the pathology of schistosomiasis, elucidating reproductive processes is of high importance. Here we studied the interaction of the integrin receptor Smβ-Int1 with the venus kinase receptor SmVKR1 in S. mansoni. To this end we cloned and characterized SmILK, SmPINCH, and SmNck2, three putative bridging molecules for their role in mediating Smβ-Int1/SmVKR1 cooperation. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these molecules form clusters that are specific for parasitic platyhelminths as it was shown for integrins before. Transcripts of all genes colocalized in the ovary. In Xenopus oocytes germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was only induced if all members were simultaneously expressed. Coimmunoprecipitation results suggest that a Smβ-Int1-SmILK-SmPINCH-SmNck2-SmVKR1 complex can be formed leading to the phosphorylation and activation of SmVKR1. These results indicate that SmVKR1 can be activated in a ligand-independent manner by receptor-complex interaction. RNAi and inhibitor studies to knock-down SmILK as a representative complex member concurrently revealed effects on the extracellular matrix surrounding the ovary and oocyte localization within the ovary, oocyte survival, and egg production. By TUNEL assays, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), Caspase-3 assay, and transcript profiling of the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family members BAK/BAX we obtained first evidence for roles of this signaling complex in mediating cell death in immature and primary oocytes. These results suggest that the Smβ-Int1/SmVKR1 signaling complex is important for differentiation and survival in oocytes of paired schistosomes. Parasites of the genus Schistosoma cause schistosomiasis, a life-threatening infectious disease for humans and animals worldwide. Among the remarkable biological features of schistosomes is the differentiation of the female gonads which is controlled by pairing with the male and a prerequisite for egg production. Eggs, however, are not only important for the maintenance of the life-cycle; they also cause the pathological consequences of schistosomiasis. Part of the eggs gets trapped in host tissues such as liver and spleen and trigger inflammatory processes, finally leading to liver cirrhosis. Research activities of the last decade have indicated that different families of cellular and receptor-type kinases but also integrins contribute to the control of mitogenic activity and differentiation the female goands. In this context an unusual class of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) has been identified, the venus kinase receptors (SmVKRs). By biochemical and molecular approaches we demonstrate that SmVKR1 activation can be achieved by cooperation with a signaling complex consisting of the beta integrin receptor Smβ-Int1 and the bridging molecules SmILK, SmPINCH, SmNck2. Besides unravelling a novel way of SmVKR1 activation, we provide evidence that this complex controls the differentiation status of oocytes by regulating cell death-associated processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Gelmedin
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Marion Morel
- CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Inserm U1019 - CNRS UMR 8204, University Lille, Lille, France
| | - Steffen Hahnel
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Katia Cailliau
- UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, CNRS UMR 8576, University Lille, Lille, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Inserm U1019 - CNRS UMR 8204, University Lille, Lille, France
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Buro C, Burmeister C, Quack T, Grevelding CG. Identification and first characterization of SmEps8, a potential interaction partner of SmTK3 and SER transcribed in the gonads of Schistosoma mansoni. Exp Parasitol 2016; 180:55-63. [PMID: 28017636 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In eukaryotes the roles of protein kinases (PKs) regulating important biological processes such as growth and differentiation are well known. Molecular, biochemical, and physiological analyses trying to unravel principles of schistosome development have substantiated the importance for PKs also in this parasite. Amongst others the role of SmTK3 was studied, one of the first cellular PKs characterized from Schistosoma mansoni. Its function was demonstrated in mitogenic and differentiation processes in the gonads. Furthermore, first insights were obtained for the downstream part of a signal transduction cascade SmTK3 is involved in, which includes the diaphanous homolog SmDia. Here we attempted to further unravel the SmTK3 signaling cascade by searching for upstream interaction partners. Using yeast three-hybrid (Y3H) analyses we detected the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway substrate 8 of S. mansoni (SmEps8) as the most interesting candidate. By detailed interaction analyses we showed a contribution of the Src homology (SH) domains SH2 and SH3 of SmTK3 to binding, with a clear bias towards SH2. Compared to full-length SmEps8, binding was enhanced when only its 5' part including the phosphotyrosine binding domain (PTB) was used for interaction analyses including the SH2 domain of SmTK3, although phosphorylation seemed not to play a decisive role for binding. RT-PCR analyses and in situ hybridization experiments demonstrated similar transcription patterns of SmTK3 and SmEPS8, which co-localize in the reproductive organs. Furthermore, first evidence was obtained for SmEps8 interaction and colocalization with SER, one of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) homologs detected in S. mansoni. The results of this study provide first evidence for a SER-SmEps8-SmTK3-SmDia signal transduction pathway controlling differentiation processes in the gonads of S. mansoni.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Buro
- BFS, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - C Burmeister
- BFS, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - T Quack
- BFS, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - C G Grevelding
- BFS, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany.
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11
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Morel M, Vanderstraete M, Cailliau K, Hahnel S, Grevelding CG, Dissous C. SmShb, the SH2-Containing Adaptor Protein B of Schistosoma mansoni Regulates Venus Kinase Receptor Signaling Pathways. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163283. [PMID: 27636711 PMCID: PMC5026347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Venus kinase receptors (VKRs) are invertebrate receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) formed by an extracellular Venus Fly Trap (VFT) ligand binding domain associated via a transmembrane domain with an intracellular tyrosine kinase (TK) domain. Schistosoma mansoni VKRs, SmVKR1 and SmVKR2, are both implicated in reproductive activities of the parasite. In this work, we show that the SH2 domain-containing protein SmShb is a partner of the phosphorylated form of SmVKR1. Expression of these proteins in Xenopus oocytes allowed us to demonstrate that the SH2 domain of SmShb interacts with the phosphotyrosine residue (pY979) located in the juxtamembrane region of SmVKR1. This interaction leads to phosphorylation of SmShb on tyrosines and promotes SmVKR1 signaling towards the JNK pathway. SmShb transcripts are expressed in all parasite stages and they were found in ovary and testes of adult worms, suggesting a possible colocalization of SmShb and SmVKR1 proteins. Silencing of SmShb in adult S. mansoni resulted in an accumulation of mature sperm in testes, indicating a possible role of SmShb in gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Morel
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 –UMR 8204—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 –UMR 8204—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576—UGSF—Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Lille, France
| | - Steffen Hahnel
- BFS, Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Colette Dissous
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 –UMR 8204—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
- * E-mail:
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12
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Abstract
For decades, Praziquantel (PZQ) is the drug of choice against one of the most afflicting helminthic diseases worldwide, schistosomiasis. With respect to the fear of upcoming PZQ resistance, efforts are needed to find new chemotherapeutic options. Protein kinases (PKs) are essential molecules in signaling processes and indispensable to life. Aberrant PK functions take distinctive roles in human diseases and represent targets in chemotherapies. In schistosomes, conserved PKs were found to possess similar pivotal roles contributing not only to reproduction processes, but also to the pathology of schistosomiasis, which is closely associated to egg production. Exploiting the similarity of PKs of humans and schistosomes, PK inhibitors designed to treat human diseases may serve as lead compounds for new drugs against schistosomiasis.
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13
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Dissous C. Venus Kinase Receptors at the Crossroads of Insulin Signaling: Their Role in Reproduction for Helminths and Insects. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:118. [PMID: 26284029 PMCID: PMC4522560 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Venus kinase receptors (VKRs) are invertebrate receptor tyrosine kinases (TKs) first discovered in the human parasite Schistosoma. They contain an extracellular Venus FlyTrap module similar to the ligand-binding domain of G protein-coupled receptors of class C and an intracellular TK domain similar to that of insulin receptors. VKRs are present from cnidarians to echinoderms. They were shown to be activated by amino-acids, to induce insulin-like intracellular pathways, and to be highly expressed in larvae and in gonads of helminths and insects. The function of VKR in gametogenesis was demonstrated in schistosomes by VKR silencing and recent studies in Aedes aegypti have confirmed the importance of VKR in mosquito egg formation. AaeVKR was shown to bind to ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone and to activate the production of ecdysteroids by the ovary, independently of signaling mediated by insulin-like peptides. These new data confirm and specify the function of VKRs in the reproduction of helminths and insects and they open interesting perspectives for elucidating the role of VKRs in other models. VKR targeting would also provide opportunities for the control of parasites and various vector-borne infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colette Dissous
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, INSERM U1019, University Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
- CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
- *Correspondence: Colette Dissous,
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Morel M, Vanderstraete M, Cailliau K, Lescuyer A, Lancelot J, Dissous C. Compound library screening identified Akt/PKB kinase pathway inhibitors as potential key molecules for the development of new chemotherapeutics against schistosomiasis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2014; 4:256-66. [PMID: 25516836 PMCID: PMC4266776 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A wide range of PK inhibitors affects schistosome viability and reproduction. Structure and activity of the Akt/PKB protein are highly conserved in Schistosoma mansoni. Commercial Akt inhibitors are active on the recombinant SmAkt protein. Akt pathway inhibitors have schistosomicidal activity in vitro. SmAkt can be considered as a potential target for the control of schistosomiasis.
Protein kinases (PKs) are one of the largest protein families in most eukaryotic organisms. These enzymes are involved in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation and metabolism and a large number of the anticancer drugs currently used are directed against PKs. The structure and function of PKs are well conserved throughout evolution. In schistosome parasites, PKs were shown to be involved in essential functions at every stage of the parasite life cycle, making these enzymes promising anti-parasite drug targets. In this study, we tested a panel of commercial inhibitors for various PKs and analyzed their effects on pairing and egg production by schistosomes as well as their toxicity towards schistosomula larvae. Results obtained confirmed the deleterious effect of PK targeting on Schistosoma mansoni physiology and the important function of different tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases in the biology and reproduction of this parasite. They also indicated for the first time that the Protein kinase B (also called Akt) which is a major downstream target of many receptor tyrosine kinases and a central player at the crossroads of signal transduction pathways activated in response to growth factors and insulin, can constitute a novel target for anti-schistosome chemotherapy. Structural and functional studies have shown that SmAkt is a conserved kinase and that its activity can be inhibited by commercially available Akt inhibitors. In treated adult worms, Akt/PKB kinase pathway inhibitors induced profound alterations in pairing and egg laying and they also greatly affected the viability of schistosomula larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Morel
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- Laboratoire de Régulation des Signaux de Division, Université Lille 1 Sciences et Technology, EA 4479, IFR 147, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Arlette Lescuyer
- Laboratoire de Régulation des Signaux de Division, Université Lille 1 Sciences et Technology, EA 4479, IFR 147, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Julien Lancelot
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
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Morel M, Vanderstraete M, Hahnel S, Grevelding CG, Dissous C. Receptor tyrosine kinases and schistosome reproduction: new targets for chemotherapy. Front Genet 2014; 5:238. [PMID: 25101117 PMCID: PMC4102852 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosome parasites still represent a serious public health concern and a major economic problem in developing countries. Pathology of schistosomiasis is mainly due to massive egg production by these parasites and to inflammatory responses raised against the eggs which are trapped in host tissues. Tyrosine kinases (TKs) are key molecules that control cell differentiation and proliferation and they already represent important targets in cancer therapy. During recent years, it has been shown that receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) signaling was active in reproductive organs and that it could regulate sexual maturation of schistosomes and egg production. This opens interesting perspectives for the control of transmission and pathogenesis of schistosomiasis based on new therapies targeting schistosome RTKs. This review relates the numerous data showing the major roles of kinase signaling in schistosome reproduction. It describes the conserved and particular features of schistosome RTKs, their implication in gametogenesis and reproduction processes and summarizes recent works indicating that RTKs and their signaling partners are interesting chemotherapeutical targets in new programs of control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Morel
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University Lille Nord de France Lille Cedex, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University Lille Nord de France Lille Cedex, France
| | - Steffen Hahnel
- Biomedical Centre for Research Seltersberg, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- Biomedical Centre for Research Seltersberg, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen Giessen, Germany
| | - Colette Dissous
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University Lille Nord de France Lille Cedex, France
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You H, Stephenson RJ, Gobert GN, McManus DP. Revisiting glucose uptake and metabolism in schistosomes: new molecular insights for improved schistosomiasis therapies. Front Genet 2014; 5:176. [PMID: 24966871 PMCID: PMC4052099 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms required for schistosomes to take up glucose, the major nutritional source exploited by these blood flukes from their mammalian hosts and the subsequent metabolism required to fuel growth and fecundity, can provide new avenues for developing novel interventions for the control of schistosomiasis. This aspect of parasitism is particularly important to paired adult schistosomes, due to their considerable requirements for the energy needed to produce the extensive numbers of eggs laid daily by the female worm. This review describes recent advances in characterizing glucose metabolism in adult schistosomes. Potential intervention targets are discussed within the insulin signaling and glycolysis pathways, both of which play critical roles in the carbohydrate and energy requirements of schistosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong You
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rachel J. Stephenson
- Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Geoffrey N. Gobert
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald P. McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbane, QLD, Australia
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Hahnel S, Quack T, Parker-Manuel SJ, Lu Z, Vanderstraete M, Morel M, Dissous C, Cailliau K, Grevelding CG. Gonad RNA-specific qRT-PCR analyses identify genes with potential functions in schistosome reproduction such as SmFz1 and SmFGFRs. Front Genet 2014; 5:170. [PMID: 24959172 PMCID: PMC4050651 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In the search for new strategies to fight schistosomiasis, the unique reproductive biology of Schistosoma mansoni has come into the focus of research. The development of the gonads and the ability of egg production are fundamental not only for continuing the life cycle but also for pathogenicity. Previous studies of schistosome biology demonstrated an influence of pairing on gonad development of the female and on gene expression profiles in both genders. Due to the limited access to specific tissues, however, most of these studies were done at the level of whole worms neglecting individual tissues that may be targets of pairing-dependent processes. Recently, we established a protocol allowing the isolation of testes and ovaries from adult S. mansoni. Here, we describe tissue-specific qRT-PCR analyses comparing transcript levels of selected genes on the basis of RNA from gonads and whole worms. Gene expression in ovary and testes was in some cases found to be significantly influenced by pairing, which was not traceable in whole worms. Among the candidate genes identified as regulated by pairing in gonads were the frizzled homolog SmFz1 and the two fibroblast growth factor receptor homologs SmFGFR-A and SmFGFR-B. First functional characterizations were done, including comparative qRT-PCR analyses, in situ-localization experiments, heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes (SmFGFR-A/B), and inhibitor studies using the Fz/Dvl-pathway inhibitor 3289-8625, or BIBF1120 blocking FGFR-signaling. Besides confirming gonad localization and receptor functions, inhibitor-induced phenotypes were observed in vitro such as decreased egg production as well as drastic effects on gonad differentiation, morphology, embryogenesis, and survival of adult worms. In summary, these results emphasise the usefulness of tissue-specific qRT-PCRs for selection of candidate genes with important roles in reproduction, allowing subsequent studies to determine their suitability as drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Hahnel
- Biologisch-Medizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Quack
- Biologisch-Medizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - Sophia J Parker-Manuel
- Biologisch-Medizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - Zhigang Lu
- Biologisch-Medizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, CNRS-UMR 8204, INSERM U1019, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France Lille Cedex, France
| | - Marion Morel
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, CNRS-UMR 8204, INSERM U1019, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France Lille Cedex, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, CNRS-UMR 8204, INSERM U1019, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France Lille Cedex, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- Laboratoire de Régulation des Signaux de Division, EA 4479, IFR 147, Université Lille 1 Sciences et Technology, Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex France
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- Biologisch-Medizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg, Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
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Vanderstraete M, Gouignard N, Cailliau K, Morel M, Hahnel S, Leutner S, Beckmann S, Grevelding CG, Dissous C. Venus kinase receptors control reproduction in the platyhelminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004138. [PMID: 24875530 PMCID: PMC4038586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Venus Kinase Receptor (VKR) is a single transmembrane molecule composed of an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain close to that of insulin receptor and an extracellular Venus Flytrap (VFT) structure similar to the ligand binding domain of many class C G Protein Coupled Receptors. This receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) was first discovered in the platyhelminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni, then in a large variety of invertebrates. A single vkr gene is found in most genomes, except in S. mansoni in which two genes Smvkr1 and Smvkr2 exist. VKRs form a unique family of RTKs present only in invertebrates and their biological functions are still to be discovered. In this work, we show that SmVKRs are expressed in the reproductive organs of S. mansoni, particularly in the ovaries of female worms. By transcriptional analyses evidence was obtained that both SmVKRs fulfill different roles during oocyte maturation. Suppression of Smvkr expression by RNA interference induced spectacular morphological changes in female worms with a strong disorganization of the ovary, which was dominated by the presence of primary oocytes, and a defect of egg formation. Following expression in Xenopus oocytes, SmVKR1 and SmVKR2 receptors were shown to be activated by distinct ligands which are L-Arginine and calcium ions, respectively. Signalling analysis in Xenopus oocytes revealed the capacity of SmVKRs to activate the PI3K/Akt/p70S6K and Erk MAPK pathways involved in cellular growth and proliferation. Additionally, SmVKR1 induced phosphorylation of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). Activation of JNK by SmVKR1 was supported by the results of yeast two-hybrid experiments identifying several components of the JNK pathway as specific interacting partners of SmVKR1. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the functions of SmVKR in gametogenesis, and particularly in oogenesis and egg formation. By eliciting signalling pathways potentially involved in oocyte proliferation, growth and migration, these receptors control parasite reproduction and can therefore be considered as potential targets for anti-schistosome therapies. Schistosomiasis is a chronic, debilitating disease affecting more than 200 million people in the world caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. Pathology is mainly due to massive egg production by parasites and formation of granulomas around the eggs trapped in liver and different organs. Therefore, targeting the molecular processes responsible for gonad development or egg production in schistosomes appears as a valuable strategy to reduce pathogenesis and dissemination of schistosomiasis. In the present study, we investigated the importance of Venus Kinase Receptors (VKRs) which are unusual receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) with an extracellular Venus Flytrap (VFT) ligand-binding domain in the control of reproduction of schistosomes. SmVKRs are expressed in female ovaries of Schistosoma mansoni and the knock-down of their expression provoked dramatic alterations of the oocyte content in ovaries and reduction of egg formation. SmVKRs were also shown to activate different signalling pathways potentially involved in oocyte proliferation, growth and migration. Therefore our results demonstrate that VKRs are essential actors of oogenesis and egg formation in S. mansoni. Moreover, their presence in a large variety of invertebrate species including other helminth parasites and insect parasite vectors can open new perspectives in the control of various vector-borne infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Vanderstraete
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nadège Gouignard
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- EA 4479, IFR 147, Universite Lille 1 Sciences et Technologies, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Marion Morel
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Steffen Hahnel
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Silke Leutner
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Svenja Beckmann
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Colette Dissous
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
- * E-mail:
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Dissous C, Morel M, Vanderstraete M. Venus kinase receptors: prospects in signaling and biological functions of these invertebrate kinases. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 5:72. [PMID: 24860549 PMCID: PMC4026697 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Venus kinase receptors (VKRs) form a family of invertebrate receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) initially discovered in the parasitic platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni. VKRs are single transmembrane receptors that contain an extracellular venus fly trap structure similar to the ligand-binding domain of G protein-coupled receptors of class C, and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain close to that of insulin receptors. VKRs are found in a large variety of invertebrates from cnidarians to echinoderms and are highly expressed in larval stages and in gonads, suggesting a role of these proteins in embryonic and larval development as well as in reproduction. VKR gene silencing could demonstrate the function of these receptors in oogenesis as well as in spermatogenesis in S. mansoni. VKRs are activated by amino acids and are highly responsive to arginine. As many other RTKs, they form dimers when activated by ligands and induce intracellular pathways involved in protein synthesis and cellular growth, such as MAPK and PI3K/Akt/S6K pathways. VKRs are not present in vertebrates or in some invertebrate species. Questions remain open about the origin of this little-known RTK family in evolution and its role in emergence and specialization of Metazoa. What is the meaning of maintenance or loss of VKR in some phyla or species in terms of development and physiological functions? The presence of VKRs in invertebrates of economical and medical importance, such as pests, vectors of pathogens, and platyhelminth parasites, and the implication of these RTKs in gametogenesis and reproduction processes are valuable reasons to consider VKRs as interesting targets in new programs for eradication/control of pests and infectious diseases, with the main advantage in the case of parasite targeting that VKR counterparts are absent from the vertebrate host kinase panel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colette Dissous
- INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
| | - Marion Morel
- INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- INSERM U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
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Vanderstraete M, Gouignard N, Ahier A, Morel M, Vicogne J, Dissous C. The venus kinase receptor (VKR) family: structure and evolution. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:361. [PMID: 23721482 PMCID: PMC3703292 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) form a family of transmembrane proteins widely conserved in Metazoa, with key functions in cell-to-cell communication and control of multiple cellular processes. A new family of RTK named Venus Kinase Receptor (VKR) has been described in invertebrates. The VKR receptor possesses a Venus Fly Trap (VFT) extracellular module, a bilobate structure that binds small ligands to induce receptor kinase activity. VKR was shown to be highly expressed in the larval stages and gonads of several invertebrates, suggesting that it could have functions in development and/or reproduction. RESULTS Analysis of recent genomic data has allowed us to extend the presence of VKR to five bilaterian phyla (Platyhelminthes, Arthropoda, Annelida, Mollusca, Echinodermata) as well as to the Cnidaria phylum. The presence of NveVKR in the early-branching metazoan Nematostella vectensis suggested that VKR arose before the bilaterian radiation. Phylogenetic and gene structure analyses showed that the 40 receptors identified in 36 animal species grouped monophyletically, and likely evolved from a common ancestor. Multiple alignments of tyrosine kinase (TK) and VFT domains indicated their important level of conservation in all VKRs identified up to date. We showed that VKRs had inducible activity upon binding of extracellular amino-acids and molecular modeling of the VFT domain confirmed the structure of the conserved amino-acid binding site. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the presence of VKR in a large number of invertebrates, including primitive metazoans like cnidarians, but also its absence from nematodes and chordates. This little-known RTK family deserves to be further explored in order to determine its evolutionary origin, its possible interest for the emergence and specialization of Metazoa, and to understand its function in invertebrate development and/or reproductive biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Vanderstraete
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille, France
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Dual targeting of insulin and venus kinase Receptors of Schistosoma mansoni for novel anti-schistosome therapy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2226. [PMID: 23696913 PMCID: PMC3656120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chemotherapy of schistosomiasis relies on a single drug, Praziquantel (PZQ) and mass-use of this compound has led to emergence of resistant strains of Schistosoma mansoni, therefore pointing out the necessity to find alternative drugs. Through their essential functions in development and metabolism, receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) could represent valuable drug targets for novel anti-schistosome chemotherapies. Taking advantage of the similarity between the catalytic domains of S. mansoni insulin receptors (SmIR1 and SmIR2) and Venus Kinase Receptors (SmVKR1 and SmVKR2), we studied the possibility to fight schistosomes by targeting simultaneously the four receptors with a single drug. Methodology/Principal Findings Several commercial RTK inhibitors were tested for their potential to inhibit the kinase activities of SmIR1, SmIR2, SmVKR1 and SmVKR2 intracellular domains (ICD) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. We measured the inhibitory effect of chemicals on meiosis resumption induced by the active ICD of the schistosome kinases in oocytes. The IR inhibitor, tyrphostin AG1024, was the most potent inhibitory compound towards SmIR and SmVKR kinases. In vitro studies then allowed us to show that AG1024 affected the viability of both schistosomula and adult worms of S. mansoni. At micromolar doses, AG1024 induced apoptosis and caused schistosomula death in a dose-dependent manner. In adult worms, AG1024 provoked alterations of reproductive organs, as observed by confocal laser scanner microscopy. With 5 µM AG1024, parasites were no more feeding and laying eggs, and they died within 48 h with 10 µM. Conclusion/Significance IRs and VKRs are essential in S. mansoni for key biological processes including glucose uptake, metabolism and reproduction. Our results demonstrate that inhibiting the kinase potential and function of these receptors by a single chemical compound AG1024 at low concentrations, leads to death of schistosomula and adult worms. Thus, AG1024 represents a valuable hit compound for further design of anti-kinase drugs applicable to anti-schistosome chemotherapy. Schistosomiasis is a chronic, debilitating disease that affects over 200 million people in the world. The pathology of schistosomiasis is caused mainly by host immune responses to parasite eggs and due to the formation of granulomas in liver and other tissues. There is no vaccine for schistosomiasis and treatment relies essentially on a single drug, Praziquantel. However, reduced susceptibility of schistosome isolates to Praziquantel has been reported, raising serious concerns about the need to develop new drugs against schistosomes. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) control many cellular and developmental processes and they are important targets in cancer therapy. In this paper, we have investigated the possibility to fight schistosomes by targeting with a single drug, insulin receptors (IRs) involved in parasite growth and metabolism and Venus Kinase Receptors (VKRs) which are unusual IR-like RTKs expressed in the parasite reproductive organs of Schistosoma mansoni. Diverse RTK inhibitors have been tested on kinase activities of these RTKs. The well-known IR inhibitor, tyrphostin AG1024, was demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of both S. mansoni VKRs and IRs, able to induce in vitro death of larvae and adult worms at micromolar doses. AG1024 could represent a good hit compound for the development of novel drugs against schistosomes.
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Long T, Vanderstraete M, Cailliau K, Morel M, Lescuyer A, Gouignard N, Grevelding CG, Browaeys E, Dissous C. SmSak, the second Polo-like kinase of the helminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni: conserved and unexpected roles in meiosis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40045. [PMID: 22768216 PMCID: PMC3386946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinases (Plks) are a family of conserved regulators of a variety of events throughout the cell cycle, expanded from one Plk in yeast to five Plks in mammals (Plk1-5). Plk1 is the best characterized member of the Plk family, homolog to the founding member Polo of Drosophila, and plays a major role in cell cycle progression by triggering G2/M transition. Plk4/Sak (for Snk (Serum-inducible kinase) akin kinase) is a unique member of the family, structurally distinct from other Plk members, with essential functions in centriole duplication. The genome of the trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni contains only two Plk genes encoding SmPlk1 and SmSak. SmPlk1 has been shown already to be required for gametogenesis and parasite reproduction. In this work, in situ hybridization indicated that the structurally conserved Plk4 protein, SmSak, was largely expressed in schistosome female ovary and vitellarium. Expression of SmSak in Xenopus oocytes confirmed its Plk4 conserved function in centriole amplification. Moreover, analysis of the function of SmSak in meiosis progression of G2-blocked Xenopus oocytes indicated that, in contrast to SmPlk1, SmSak cannot induce G2/M transition in the absence of endogenous Plk1 (Plx1). Unexpectedly, meiosis progression was spontaneously observed in Plx1-depleted oocytes co-expressing SmSak and SmPlk1. Molecular interaction between SmSak and SmPlk1 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation of both proteins. These data indicate that Plk1 and Plk4 proteins have the potential to interact and cross-activate in cells, thus attributing for the first time a potential role of Plk4 proteins in meiosis/mitosis entry. This unexpected role of SmSak in meiosis could be relevant to further consider the function of this novel Plk in schistosome reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thavy Long
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- EA 4479, IFR 147, Universite Lille 1 Sciences et Technologies, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Marion Morel
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Arlette Lescuyer
- EA 4479, IFR 147, Universite Lille 1 Sciences et Technologies, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Nadege Gouignard
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | | | - Edith Browaeys
- EA 4479, IFR 147, Universite Lille 1 Sciences et Technologies, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
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