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Oxidative Phosphorylation Is Required for Powering Motility and Development of the Sleeping Sickness Parasite Trypanosoma brucei in the Tsetse Fly Vector. mBio 2022; 13:e0235721. [PMID: 35012336 PMCID: PMC8749461 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02357-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The single-celled parasite Trypanosoma brucei is transmitted by hematophagous tsetse flies. Life cycle progression from mammalian bloodstream form to tsetse midgut form and, subsequently, infective salivary gland form depends on complex developmental steps and migration within different fly tissues. As the parasite colonizes the glucose-poor insect midgut, ATP production is thought to depend on activation of mitochondrial amino acid catabolism via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). This process involves respiratory chain complexes and F1Fo-ATP synthase and requires protein subunits of these complexes that are encoded in the parasite's mitochondrial DNA (kDNA). Here, we show that progressive loss of kDNA-encoded functions correlates with a decreasing ability to initiate and complete development in the tsetse. First, parasites with a mutated F1Fo-ATP synthase with reduced capacity for OXPHOS can initiate differentiation from bloodstream to insect form, but they are unable to proliferate in vitro. Unexpectedly, these cells can still colonize the tsetse midgut. However, these parasites exhibit a motility defect and are severely impaired in colonizing or migrating to subsequent tsetse tissues. Second, parasites with a fully disrupted F1Fo-ATP synthase complex that is completely unable to produce ATP by OXPHOS can still differentiate to the first insect stage in vitro but die within a few days and cannot establish a midgut infection in vivo. Third, parasites lacking kDNA entirely can initiate differentiation but die soon after. Together, these scenarios suggest that efficient ATP production via OXPHOS is not essential for initial colonization of the tsetse vector but is required to power trypanosome migration within the fly. IMPORTANCE African trypanosomes cause disease in humans and their livestock and are transmitted by tsetse flies. The insect ingests these parasites with its blood meal, but to be transmitted to another mammal, the trypanosome must undergo complex development within the tsetse fly and migrate from the insect's gut to its salivary glands. Crucially, the parasite must switch from a sugar-based diet while in the mammal to a diet based primarily on amino acids when it develops in the insect. Here, we show that efficient energy production by an organelle called the mitochondrion is critical for the trypanosome's ability to swim and to migrate through the tsetse fly. Surprisingly, trypanosomes with impaired mitochondrial energy production are only mildly compromised in their ability to colonize the tsetse fly midgut. Our study adds a new perspective to the emerging view that infection of tsetse flies by trypanosomes is more complex than previously thought.
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Kushawaha PK, Pati Tripathi CD, Dube A. Leishmania donovani secretory protein nucleoside diphosphate kinase b localizes in its nucleus and prevents ATP mediated cytolysis of macrophages. Microb Pathog 2022; 166:105457. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Steketee PC, Dickie EA, Iremonger J, Crouch K, Paxton E, Jayaraman S, Alfituri OA, Awuah-Mensah G, Ritchie R, Schnaufer A, Rowan T, de Koning HP, Gadelha C, Wickstead B, Barrett MP, Morrison LJ. Divergent metabolism between Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei results in differential sensitivity to metabolic inhibition. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009734. [PMID: 34310651 PMCID: PMC8384185 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a debilitating livestock disease prevalent across sub-Saharan Africa, a main cause of which is the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma congolense. In comparison to the well-studied T. brucei, there is a major paucity of knowledge regarding the biology of T. congolense. Here, we use a combination of omics technologies and novel genetic tools to characterise core metabolism in T. congolense mammalian-infective bloodstream-form parasites, and test whether metabolic differences compared to T. brucei impact upon sensitivity to metabolic inhibition. Like the bloodstream stage of T. brucei, glycolysis plays a major part in T. congolense energy metabolism. However, the rate of glucose uptake is significantly lower in bloodstream stage T. congolense, with cells remaining viable when cultured in concentrations as low as 2 mM. Instead of pyruvate, the primary glycolytic endpoints are succinate, malate and acetate. Transcriptomics analysis showed higher levels of transcripts associated with the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, acetate generation, and the glycosomal succinate shunt in T. congolense, compared to T. brucei. Stable-isotope labelling of glucose enabled the comparison of carbon usage between T. brucei and T. congolense, highlighting differences in nucleotide and saturated fatty acid metabolism. To validate the metabolic similarities and differences, both species were treated with metabolic inhibitors, confirming that electron transport chain activity is not essential in T. congolense. However, the parasite exhibits increased sensitivity to inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate import, compared to T. brucei. Strikingly, T. congolense exhibited significant resistance to inhibitors of fatty acid synthesis, including a 780-fold higher EC50 for the lipase and fatty acid synthase inhibitor Orlistat, compared to T. brucei. These data highlight that bloodstream form T. congolense diverges from T. brucei in key areas of metabolism, with several features that are intermediate between bloodstream- and insect-stage T. brucei. These results have implications for drug development, mechanisms of drug resistance and host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter C Steketee
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Emily A Dickie
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - James Iremonger
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Crouch
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Edith Paxton
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Siddharth Jayaraman
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Omar A Alfituri
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ryan Ritchie
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Achim Schnaufer
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Rowan
- Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Harry P de Koning
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Catarina Gadelha
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Bill Wickstead
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,Glasgow Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Liam J Morrison
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Omolabi KF, Odeniran PO, Olotu FA, S Soliman ME. A Mechanistic Probe into the Dual Inhibition of T. cruzi Glucokinase and Hexokinase in Chagas Disease Treatment - A Stone Killing Two Birds? Chem Biodivers 2021; 18:e2000863. [PMID: 33411971 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202000863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Glucokinase (GLK) and Hexokinase (HK) have been characterized as essential targets in Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc)-mediated infection. A recent study reported the propensity of the concomitant inhibition of TcGLK and TcHK by compounds GLK2-003 and GLK2-004, thereby presenting an efficient approach in Chagas disease treatment. We investigated this possibility using atomic and molecular scaling methods. Sequence alignment of TcGLK and TcHK revealed that both proteins shared approximately 33.3 % homology in their glucose/inhibitor binding sites. The total binding free energies of GLK2-003 and GLK2-004 were favorable in both proteins. PRO92 and THR185 were pivotal to the binding and stabilization of the ligands in TcGLK, likewise their conserved counterparts, PRO163 and THR237 in TcHK. Both compounds also induced a similar pattern of perturbations in both TcGLK and TcHK secondary structure. Findings from this study therefore provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of dual inhibition exhibited by the compounds. These results can pave way to discover and optimize novel dual Tc inhibitors with favorable pharmacokinetics properties eventuating in the mitigation of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kehinde F Omolabi
- Molecular Bio-Computation and Drug Design Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Paul O Odeniran
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 200001, Nigeria
| | - Fisayo A Olotu
- Molecular Bio-Computation and Drug Design Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Mahmoud E S Soliman
- Molecular Bio-Computation and Drug Design Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, 4001, South Africa
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Opperdoes FR, Butenko A, Zakharova A, Gerasimov ES, Zimmer SL, Lukeš J, Yurchenko V. The Remarkable Metabolism of Vickermania ingenoplastis: Genomic Predictions. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10010068. [PMID: 33466586 PMCID: PMC7828693 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A recently redescribed two-flagellar trypanosomatid Vickermania ingenoplastis is insensitive to the classical inhibitors of respiration and thrives under anaerobic conditions. Using genomic and transcriptomic data, we analyzed its genes of the core metabolism and documented that subunits of the mitochondrial respiratory complexes III and IV are ablated, while those of complexes I, II, and V are all present, along with an alternative oxidase. This explains the previously reported conversion of glucose to acetate and succinate by aerobic fermentation. Glycolytic pyruvate is metabolized to acetate and ethanol by pyruvate dismutation, whereby a unique type of alcohol dehydrogenase (shared only with Phytomonas spp.) processes an excess of reducing equivalents formed under anaerobic conditions, leading to the formation of ethanol. Succinate (formed to maintain the glycosomal redox balance) is converted to propionate by a cyclic process involving three enzymes of the mitochondrial methyl-malonyl-CoA pathway, via a cyclic process, which results in the formation of additional ATP. The unusual structure of the V. ingenoplastis genome and its similarity with that of Phytomonas spp. imply their relatedness or convergent evolution. Nevertheless, a critical difference between these two trypanosomatids is that the former has significantly increased its genome size by gene duplications, while the latter streamlined its genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred R. Opperdoes
- De Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
- Correspondence: (F.R.O.); (V.Y.)
| | - Anzhelika Butenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; (A.B.); (A.Z.)
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic;
| | - Alexandra Zakharova
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; (A.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Evgeny S. Gerasimov
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sara L. Zimmer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus, Duluth, MN 558812, USA;
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic;
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; (A.B.); (A.Z.)
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (F.R.O.); (V.Y.)
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Pedra-Rezende Y, Fernandes MC, Mesquita-Rodrigues C, Stiebler R, Bombaça ACS, Pinho N, Cuervo P, De Castro SL, Menna-Barreto RFS. Starvation and pH stress conditions induced mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS production and autophagy in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1867:166028. [PMID: 33248274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.166028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected illness endemic in Latin America that mainly affects rural populations. The etiological agent of Chagas disease is the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which has three different parasite stages and a dixenous life cycle that includes colonization of the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. During its life cycle, T. cruzi is subjected to stress conditions, including variations in nutrient availability and pH, which impact parasite survival and differentiation. The plasticity of mitochondrial function in trypanosomatids has been defined as mitochondrial activity related to substrate availability. Thus, mitochondrial remodeling and autophagy, which is a constitutive cellular process of turnover and recycling of cellular components, may constitute a response to the nutritional and pH stress in the host. To assess these processes, epimastigotes were subjected to acidic, alkaline, and nutritional stress conditions, and mitochondrial function and its influence on the autophagic process were evaluated. Our data demonstrated that the three stress conditions affected the mitochondrial structure, inducing organelle swelling and impaired oxidative phosphorylation. Stressed epimastigotes produced increased ROS levels and overexpressed antioxidant enzymes. The stress conditions resulted in an increase in the number of autophagosomes and exacerbated the expression of different autophagy-related genes (Atgs). A correlation between mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagic phenotypes was also observed. After 24 h, acid stress and nutritional deprivation induced metacyclogenesis phenotypes (mitochondrial remodeling and autophagy). On the other hand, alkaline stress was transient due to insect blood feeding and culminated in an increase in autophagic flux as a survival mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Pedra-Rezende
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Michelle C Fernandes
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Diretoria de Extensão, Fundação Centro de Educação a Distância do Cecierj Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Mesquita-Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renata Stiebler
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina S Bombaça
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Pinho
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmanioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patricia Cuervo
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmanioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Solange L De Castro
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Shiratsubaki IS, Fang X, Souza ROO, Palsson BO, Silber AM, Siqueira-Neto JL. Genome-scale metabolic models highlight stage-specific differences in essential metabolic pathways in Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008728. [PMID: 33021977 PMCID: PMC7567352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease and a leading cause of heart failure in Latin America caused by a protozoan called Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite presents a complex multi-stage life cycle. Anti-Chagas drugs currently available are limited to benznidazole and nifurtimox, both with severe side effects. Thus, there is a need for alternative and more efficient drugs. Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) can accurately predict metabolic capabilities and aid in drug discovery in metabolic genes. This work developed an extended GEM, hereafter referred to as iIS312, of the published and validated T. cruzi core metabolism model. From iIS312, we then built three stage-specific models through transcriptomics data integration, and showed that epimastigotes present the most active metabolism among the stages (see S1-S4 GEMs). Stage-specific models predicted significant metabolic differences among stages, including variations in flux distribution in core metabolism. Moreover, the gene essentiality predictions suggest potential drug targets, among which some have been previously proven lethal, including glutamate dehydrogenase, glucokinase and hexokinase. To validate the models, we measured the activity of enzymes in the core metabolism of the parasite at different stages, and showed the results were consistent with model predictions. Our results represent a potential step forward towards the improvement of Chagas disease treatment. To our knowledge, these stage-specific models are the first GEMs built for the stages Amastigote and Trypomastigote. This work is also the first to present an in silico GEM comparison among different stages in the T. cruzi life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel S Shiratsubaki
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Xin Fang
- Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Rodolpho O O Souza
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps - LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ariel M Silber
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps - LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jair L Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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Schädeli D, Serricchio M, Ben Hamidane H, Loffreda A, Hemphill A, Beneke T, Gluenz E, Graumann J, Bütikofer P. Cardiolipin depletion–induced changes in theTrypanosoma bruceiproteome. FASEB J 2019; 33:13161-13175. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901184rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Schädeli
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mauro Serricchio
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Alessio Loffreda
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tom Beneke
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Gluenz
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Peter Bütikofer
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Zheng F, Colasante C, Voncken F. Characterisation of a mitochondrial iron transporter of the pathogen Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 233:111221. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.111221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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10
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dos Santos Júnior ADCM, Ricart CAO, Pontes AH, Fontes W, de Souza AR, Castro MS, de Sousa MV, de Lima BD. Proteome analysis of Phytomonas serpens, a phytoparasite of medical interest. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204818. [PMID: 30303999 PMCID: PMC6179244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan Phytomonas serpens (class Kinetoplastea) is an important phytoparasite that has gained medical importance due to its similarities to Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. The present work describes the first proteome analysis of P. serpens. The parasite was separated into cytosolic and high density organelle fractions, which, together with total cell extract, were subjected to LC-MS/MS analyses. Protein identification was conducted using a comprehensive database composed of genome sequences of other related kinetoplastids. A total of 1,540 protein groups were identified among the three sample fractions. Sequences from Phytomonas sp. in the database allowed the highest number of identifications, with T. cruzi and T. brucei the human pathogens providing the greatest contribution to the identifications. Based on the proteomics data obtained, we proposed a central metabolic map of P. serpens, which includes all enzymes of the citric acid cycle. Data also revealed a new range of proteins possibly responsible for immunological cross-reactivity between P. serpens and T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agenor de Castro Moreira dos Santos Júnior
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- Laboratory of Gene Biology, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Carlos André Ornelas Ricart
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Arthur Henriques Pontes
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Wagner Fontes
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Agnelo Rodrigues de Souza
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- Laboratory of Gene Biology, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Mariana Souza Castro
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Valle de Sousa
- Laboratory Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Dolabela de Lima
- Laboratory of Gene Biology, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
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The Uptake and Metabolism of Amino Acids, and Their Unique Role in the Biology of Pathogenic Trypanosomatids. Pathogens 2018; 7:pathogens7020036. [PMID: 29614775 PMCID: PMC6027508 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens7020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei, as well as Trypanosoma cruzi and more than 20 species of the genus Leishmania, form a group of flagellated protists that threaten human health. These organisms are transmitted by insects that, together with mammals, are their natural hosts. This implies that during their life cycles each of them faces environments with different physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological characteristics. In this work we review how amino acids are obtained from such environments, how they are metabolized, and how they and some of their intermediate metabolites are used as a survival toolbox to cope with the different conditions in which these parasites should establish the infections in the insects and mammalian hosts.
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12
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Colasante C, Zheng F, Kemp C, Voncken F. A plant-like mitochondrial carrier family protein facilitates mitochondrial transport of di- and tricarboxylates in Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 221:36-51. [PMID: 29581011 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The procyclic form of the human parasite Trypanosoma brucei harbors one single, large mitochondrion containing all tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes and respiratory chain complexes present also in higher eukaryotes. Metabolite exchange among subcellular compartments such as the cytoplasm, the mitochondrion, and the peroxisomes is crucial for redox homeostasis and for metabolic pathways whose enzymes are dispersed among different organelles. In higher eukaryotes, mitochondrial carrier family (MCF) proteins transport TCA-cycle intermediates across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Previously, we identified several MCF members that are essential for T. brucei survival. Among these, only one MCF protein, TbMCP12, potentially could transport dicarboxylates and tricarboxylates. Here, we conducted phylogenetic and sequence analyses and functionally characterised TbMCP12 in vivo. Our results suggested that similarly to its homologues in plants, TbMCP12 transports both dicarboxylates and tricarboxylates across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Deleting this carrier in T. brucei was not lethal, while its overexpression was deleterious. Our results suggest that the intracellular abundance of TbMCP12 is an important regulatory element for the NADPH balance and mitochondrial ATP-production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Colasante
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Division of Medical Cell Biology, Aulweg 123, University of Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Fuli Zheng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, 1 Xue Yuan Road, Fu Zhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Cordula Kemp
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Voncken
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
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Bombaça ACS, Dias FDA, Ennes-Vidal V, Garcia-Gomes ADS, Sorgine MHF, d'Avila-Levy CM, Menna-Barreto RFS. Hydrogen peroxide resistance in Strigomonas culicis: Effects on mitochondrial functionality and Aedes aegypti interaction. Free Radic Biol Med 2017; 113:255-266. [PMID: 28993269 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic molecules involved in several biological processes such as cellular signaling, proliferation, differentiation and cell death. Adaptations to oxidative environments are crucial for the success of the colonization of insects by protozoa. Strigomonas culicis is a monoxenic trypanosomatid found in the midgut of mosquitoes and presenting a life cycle restricted to the epimastigote form. Among S. culicis peculiarities, there is an endosymbiotic bacterium in the cytoplasm, which completes essential biosynthetic routes of the host cell and may represent an intermediary evolutive step in organelle origin, thus constituting an interesting model for evolutive researches. In this work, we induced ROS resistance in wild type S. culicis epimastigotes by the incubation with increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and compared the oxidative and energetic metabolisms among wild type, wild type-H2O2 resistant and aposymbiotic strains. Resistant protozoa were less sensitive to the oxidative challenge and more dependent on oxidative phosphorylation, which was demonstrated by higher oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential, increased activity of complexes II-III and IV, increased complex II gene expression and higher ATP production. Furthermore, the wild type-H2O2 resistant strain produced reduced ROS levels and showed lower lipid peroxidation, as well as an increase in gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and thiol-dependent peroxidase activity. On the other hand, the aposymbiotic strain showed impaired mitochondrial function, higher H2O2 production and deficient antioxidant response. The induction of H2O2 resistance also led to a remarkable increase in Aedes aegypti midgut binding in vitro and colonization in vivo, indicating that both the pro-oxidant environment in the mosquito gut and the oxidative stress susceptibility regulate S. culicis population in invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe de Almeida Dias
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aline Dos Santos Garcia-Gomes
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Henrique Ferreira Sorgine
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Dynamin-like proteins in Trypanosoma brucei: A division of labour between two paralogs? PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177200. [PMID: 28481934 PMCID: PMC5421789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamins and dynamin-like proteins (DLPs) belong to a family of large GTPases involved in membrane remodelling events. These include both fusion and fission processes with different dynamin proteins often having a specialised function within the same organism. Trypanosoma brucei is thought to have only one multifunctional DLP (TbDLP). While this was initially reported to function in mitochondrial division only, an additional role in endocytosis and cytokinesis was later also proposed. Since there are two copies of TbDLP present in the trypanosome genome, we investigated potential functional differences between these two paralogs by re-expressing either protein in a TbDLP RNAi background. These paralogs, called TbDLP1 and TbDLP2, are almost identical bar a few amino acid substitutions. Our results, based on cell lines carrying tagged and RNAi-resistant versions of each protein, show that overexpression of TbDLP1 alone is able to rescue the observed endocytosis and growth defects in the mammalian bloodstream form (BSF) of the parasite. While TbDLP2 shows no rescue in our experiments in BSF, this might also be due to lower expression levels of the protein in this life stage. In contrast, both TbDLP proteins apparently play more complementary roles in the insect procyclic form (PCF) since neither TbDLP1 nor TbDLP2 alone can fully restore wildtype growth and morphology in TbDLP-depleted parasites.
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Trypanosoma brucei TbIF1 inhibits the essential F1-ATPase in the infectious form of the parasite. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005552. [PMID: 28414727 PMCID: PMC5407850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial (mt) FoF1-ATP synthase of the digenetic parasite, Trypanosoma brucei, generates ATP during the insect procyclic form (PF), but becomes a perpetual consumer of ATP in the mammalian bloodstream form (BF), which lacks a canonical respiratory chain. This unconventional dependence on FoF1-ATPase is required to maintain the essential mt membrane potential (Δψm). Normally, ATP hydrolysis by this rotary molecular motor is restricted to when eukaryotic cells experience sporadic hypoxic conditions, during which this compulsory function quickly depletes the cellular ATP pool. To protect against this cellular treason, the highly conserved inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) binds the enzyme in a manner that solely inhibits the hydrolytic activity. Intriguingly, we were able to identify the IF1 homolog in T. brucei (TbIF1), but determined that its expression in the mitochondrion is tightly regulated throughout the life cycle as it is only detected in PF cells. TbIF1 appears to primarily function as an emergency brake in PF cells, where it prevented the restoration of the Δψm by FoF1-ATPase when respiration was chemically inhibited. In vitro, TbIF1 overexpression specifically inhibits the hydrolytic activity but not the synthetic capability of the FoF1-ATP synthase in PF mitochondria. Furthermore, low μM amounts of recombinant TbIF1 achieve the same inhibition of total mt ATPase activity as the FoF1-ATPase specific inhibitors, azide and oligomycin. Therefore, even minimal ectopic expression of TbIF1 in BF cells proved lethal as the indispensable Δψm collapsed due to inhibited FoF1-ATPase. In summary, we provide evidence that T. brucei harbors a natural and potent unidirectional inhibitor of the vital FoF1-ATPase activity that can be exploited for future structure-based drug design. Enzymes are catalysts that drive both a forward and reverse chemical reaction depending on the thermodynamic properties. FoF1-ATP synthase is a multiprotein enzyme that under normal physiological conditions generates ATP. However, when respiration is impeded, this rotary molecular machine reverses and hydrolyzes ATP to pump protons and maintain the essential mitochondrial membrane potential. While this activity is exceptional in most eukaryotic cells, the unique composition of the Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrion dictates that the infectious stage of this human parasite is utterly dependent on the hydrolytic activity of FoF1-ATPase. While searching for better chemotherapeutics against Human African Trypanosomiasis, several trypanocidal compounds were determined to interact with this enzyme, but they indiscriminately inhibit both the ATP hydrolytic and synthetic activities. A more promising approach involves the conserved eukaryotic protein IF1, a unidirectional inhibitor that prevents just ATP hydrolysis. Auspiciously, we identified this protein homolog in T. brucei (TbIF1) and its expression is tightly regulated between life stages of the parasite. Importantly, the introduction of exogenous TbIF1 protein specifically inhibits FoF1-ATPase and is lethal for the infectious stage of T. brucei. Therefore, we have identified a natural inhibitor of an essential and druggable enzyme that can be exploited for future structure-based drug design.
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16
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Fueyo González FJ, Ebiloma GU, Izquierdo García C, Bruggeman V, Sánchez Villamañán JM, Donachie A, Balogun EO, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Harada S, Kita K, de Koning HP, Dardonville C. Conjugates of 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate and Salicylhydroxamate and Lipocations Display Potent Antiparasite Effects by Efficiently Targeting the Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense Mitochondrion. J Med Chem 2017; 60:1509-1522. [PMID: 28112515 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We investigated a chemical strategy to boost the trypanocidal activity of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-DHBA)- and salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM)-based trypanocides with triphenylphosphonium and quinolinium lipophilic cations (LC). Three series of LC conjugates were synthesized that were active in the submicromolar (5a-d and 10d-f) to low nanomolar (6a-f) range against wild-type and multidrug resistant strains of African trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei brucei and T. congolense). This represented an improvement in trypanocidal potency of at least 200-fold, and up to >10 000-fold, compared with that of non-LC-coupled parent compounds 2,4-DHBA and SHAM. Selectivity over human cells was >500 and reached >23 000 for 6e. Mechanistic studies showed that 6e did not inhibit the cell cycle but affected parasite respiration in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of trypanosome alternative oxidase and the mitochondrial membrane potential was also studied for selected compounds. We conclude that effective mitochondrial targeting greatly potentiated the activity of these series of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Godwin U Ebiloma
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom.,Department of Biochemistry, Kogi State University , Anyigba 1008, Nigeria
| | | | - Victor Bruggeman
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC , Juan de la Cierva 3, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Anne Donachie
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria 2222, Nigeria
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University , Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Tomoo Shiba
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology , Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Shigeharu Harada
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology , Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo , Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.,School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University , Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Harry P de Koning
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow , Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
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Benz C, Kovářová J, Králová-Hromadová I, Pierik AJ, Lukeš J. Roles of the Nfu Fe-S targeting factors in the trypanosome mitochondrion. Int J Parasitol 2016; 46:641-51. [PMID: 27181928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Iron-sulphur clusters (ISCs) are protein co-factors essential for a wide range of cellular functions. The core iron-sulphur cluster assembly machinery resides in the mitochondrion, yet due to export of an essential precursor from the organelle, it is also needed for cytosolic and nuclear iron-sulphur cluster assembly. In mitochondria all [4Fe-4S] iron-sulphur clusters are synthesised and transferred to specific apoproteins by so-called iron-sulphur cluster targeting factors. One of these factors is the universally present mitochondrial Nfu1, which in humans is required for the proper assembly of a subset of mitochondrial [4Fe-4S] proteins. Although most eukaryotes harbour a single Nfu1, the genomes of Trypanosoma brucei and related flagellates encode three Nfu genes. All three Nfu proteins localise to the mitochondrion in the procyclic form of T. brucei, and TbNfu2 and TbNfu3 are both individually essential for growth in bloodstream and procyclic forms, suggesting highly specific functions for each of these proteins in the trypanosome cell. Moreover, these two proteins are functional in the iron-sulphur cluster assembly in a heterologous system and rescue the growth defect of a yeast deletion mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Benz
- Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Julie Kovářová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Ivica Králová-Hromadová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Antonio J Pierik
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8, Canada.
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18
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Trypanosoma evansi contains two auxiliary enzymes of glycolytic metabolism: Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and pyruvate phosphate dikinase. Exp Parasitol 2016; 165:7-15. [PMID: 26968775 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma evansi is a monomorphic protist that can infect horses and other animal species of economic importance for man. Like the bloodstream form of the closely related species Trypanosoma brucei, T. evansi depends exclusively on glycolysis for its free-energy generation. In T. evansi as in other kinetoplastid organisms, the enzymes of the major part of the glycolytic pathway are present within organelles called glycosomes, which are authentic but specialized peroxisomes. Since T. evansi does not undergo stage-dependent differentiations, it occurs only as bloodstream forms, it has been assumed that the metabolic pattern of this parasite is identical to that of the bloodstream form of T. brucei. However, we report here the presence of two additional enzymes, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and PPi-dependent pyruvate phosphate dikinase in T. evansi glycosomes. Their colocalization with glycolytic enzymes within the glycosomes of this parasite has not been reported before. Both enzymes can make use of PEP for contributing to the production of ATP within the organelles. The activity of these enzymes in T. evansi glycosomes drastically changes the model assumed for the oxidation of glucose by this parasite.
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D'Antonio EL, Deinema MS, Kearns SP, Frey TA, Tanghe S, Perry K, Roy TA, Gracz HS, Rodriguez A, D'Antonio J. Structure-based approach to the identification of a novel group of selective glucosamine analogue inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi glucokinase. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2016; 204:64-76. [PMID: 26778112 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Glucokinase and hexokinase from pathogenic protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi are potential drug targets for antiparasitic chemotherapy of Chagas' disease. These glucose kinases phosphorylate d-glucose with co-substrate ATP and yield glucose 6-phosphate and are involved in essential metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway. An inhibitor class was conceived that is selective for T. cruzi glucokinase (TcGlcK) using structure-based drug design involving glucosamine having a linker from the C2 amino that terminates with a hydrophobic group either being phenyl, p-hydroxyphenyl, or dioxobenzo[b]thiophenyl groups. The synthesis and characterization for two of the four compounds are presented while the other two compounds were commercially available. Four high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of TcGlcK inhibitor complexes are reported along with enzyme inhibition constants (Ki) for TcGlcK and Homo sapiens hexokinase IV (HsHxKIV). These glucosamine analogue inhibitors include three strongly selective TcGlcK inhibitors and a fourth inhibitor, benzoyl glucosamine (BENZ-GlcN), which is a similar variant exhibiting a shorter linker. Carboxybenzyl glucosamine (CBZ-GlcN) was found to be the strongest glucokinase inhibitor known to date, having a Ki of 0.71±0.05μM. Also reported are two biologically active inhibitors against in vitro T. cruzi culture that were BENZ-GlcN and CBZ-GlcN, with intracellular amastigote growth inhibition IC50 values of 16.08±0.16μM and 48.73±0.69μM, respectively. These compounds revealed little to no toxicity against mammalian NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and provide a key starting point for further drug development with this class of compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward L D'Antonio
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 1 University Boulevard, Bluffton, South Carolina 29909, USA.
| | - Mason S Deinema
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 1 University Boulevard, Bluffton, South Carolina 29909, USA
| | - Sean P Kearns
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 1 University Boulevard, Bluffton, South Carolina 29909, USA
| | - Tyler A Frey
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 1 University Boulevard, Bluffton, South Carolina 29909, USA
| | - Scott Tanghe
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Kay Perry
- NE-CAT, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Building 436E, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - Timothy A Roy
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 1 University Boulevard, Bluffton, South Carolina 29909, USA
| | - Hanna S Gracz
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, 128 Polk Hall, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Jennifer D'Antonio
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 1 University Boulevard, Bluffton, South Carolina 29909, USA
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Basu S, Horáková E, Lukeš J. Iron-associated biology of Trypanosoma brucei. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2015; 1860:363-70. [PMID: 26523873 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2015.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Revised: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Every eukaryote requires iron, which is also true for the parasitic protist Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle. T. brucei undergoes a complex life cycle during which its single mitochondrion is subject to major metabolic and morphological changes. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review covers what is known about processes associated with iron-sulfur clusters and heme metabolism in T. brucei. We discuss strategies by which iron and heme are acquired and utilized by this model parasite, emphasizing the differences between its two life cycle stages residing in the bloodstream of the mammalian host and gut of the insect vector. Finally, the role of iron in the host-parasite interactions is discussed along with their possible exploitation in fighting these deadly parasites. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The processes associated with acquisition and utilization of iron, distinct in the two life stages of T. brucei, are fine tuned for the dramatically different host environment occupied by them. Although the composition and compartmentalization of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly seem to be conserved, some unique features of the iron acquisition strategies may be exploited for medical interventions against these parasites. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE As early-branching protists, trypanosomes and related flagellates are known to harbor an array of unique features, with the acquisition of iron being another peculiarity. Thanks to intense research within the last decade, understanding of iron-sulfur cluster assembly and iron metabolism in T. brucei is among the most advanced of all eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somsuvro Basu
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Institut für Zytobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Eva Horáková
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Canada.
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A Multiplatform Metabolomic Approach to the Basis of Antimonial Action and Resistance in Leishmania infantum. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130675. [PMID: 26161866 PMCID: PMC4498920 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a rising resistance against antimony drugs, the gold-standard for treatment until some years ago. That is a serious problem due to the paucity of drugs in current clinical use. In a research to reveal how these drugs affect the parasite during treatment and to unravel the underlying basis for their resistance, we have employed metabolomics to study treatment in Leishmania infantum promastigotes. This was accomplished first through the untargeted analysis of metabolic snapshots of treated and untreated parasites both resistant and responders, utilizing a multiplatform approach to give the widest as possible coverage of the metabolome, and additionally through novel monitoring of the origin of the detected alterations through a 13C traceability experiment. Our data stress a multi-target metabolic alteration with treatment, affecting in particular the cell redox system that is essential to cope with detoxification and biosynthetic processes. Additionally, relevant changes were noted in amino acid metabolism. Our results are in agreement with other authors studying other Leishmania species.
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Quiñones W, Cáceres AJ, Ruiz MT, Concepción JL. Glycosomal membrane proteins and lipids from Leishmania mexicana. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2015; 182:27-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2014.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Lukeš J, Basu S. Fe/S protein biogenesis in trypanosomes - A review. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2014; 1853:1481-92. [PMID: 25196712 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2014.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of the African sleeping sickness of humans, and other kinetoplastid flagellates belong to the eukarytotic supergroup Excavata. This early-branching model protist is known for a broad range of unique features. As it is amenable to most techniques of forward and reverse genetics, T. brucei was subject to several studies of its iron-sulfur (Fe/S) protein biogenesis and thus represents the best studied excavate eukaryote. Here we review what is known about the Fe/S protein biogenesis of T. brucei, and focus especially on the comparative and evolutionary interesting aspects. We also explore the connections between the well-known and quite conserved ISC and CIA machineries and the tRNA thiolation pathway. Moreover, the Fe/S cluster protein biogenesis is dissected in the procyclic stage of T. brucei which has an active mitochondrion, as well as in its pathogenic bloodstream stage with a metabolically repressed organelle. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.
| | - Somsuvro Basu
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
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Hiller C, Nissen A, Benítez D, Comini MA, Krauth-Siegel RL. Cytosolic peroxidases protect the lysosome of bloodstream African trypanosomes from iron-mediated membrane damage. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004075. [PMID: 24722489 PMCID: PMC3983053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomes express three virtually identical non-selenium glutathione peroxidase (Px)-type enzymes which preferably detoxify lipid-derived hydroperoxides. As shown previously, bloodstream Trypanosoma brucei lacking the mitochondrial Px III display only a weak and transient proliferation defect whereas parasites that lack the cytosolic Px I and Px II undergo extremely fast lipid peroxidation and cell lysis. The phenotype can completely be rescued by supplementing the medium with the α-tocopherol derivative Trolox. The mechanism underlying the rapid cell death remained however elusive. Here we show that the lysosome is the origin of the cellular injury. Feeding the px I–II knockout parasites with Alexa Fluor-conjugated dextran or LysoTracker in the presence of Trolox yielded a discrete lysosomal staining. Yet upon withdrawal of the antioxidant, the signal became progressively spread over the whole cell body and was completely lost, respectively. T. brucei acquire iron by endocytosis of host transferrin. Supplementing the medium with iron or transferrin induced, whereas the iron chelator deferoxamine and apo-transferrin attenuated lysis of the px I–II knockout cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy with MitoTracker and antibodies against the lysosomal marker protein p67 revealed that disintegration of the lysosome precedes mitochondrial damage. In vivo experiments confirmed the negligible role of the mitochondrial peroxidase: Mice infected with px III knockout cells displayed only a slightly delayed disease development compared to wild-type parasites. Our data demonstrate that in bloodstream African trypanosomes, the lysosome, not the mitochondrion, is the primary site of oxidative damage and cytosolic trypanothione/tryparedoxin-dependent peroxidases protect the lysosome from iron-induced membrane peroxidation. This process appears to be closely linked to the high endocytic rate and distinct iron acquisition mechanisms of the infective stage of T. brucei. The respective knockout of the cytosolic px I–II in the procyclic insect form resulted in cells that were fully viable in Trolox-free medium. In many cell types, mitochondria are the main source of intracellular reactive oxygen species but iron-induced oxidative lysosomal damage has been described as well. African trypanosomes are the causative agents of human sleeping sickness and the cattle disease Nagana. The parasites are obligate extracellular pathogens that multiply in the bloodstream and body fluids of their mammalian hosts and as procyclic forms in their insect vector, the tsetse fly. Bloodstream Trypanosoma brucei in which the genes for cytosolic lipid hydroperoxide-detoxifying peroxidases have been knocked out undergo an extremely rapid membrane peroxidation and lyse within less than two hours when they are cultured without an exogenous antioxidant. Here we show that the primary site of intracellular damage is the single terminal lysosome of the parasites. Disintegration of the lysosome clearly precedes damage of the mitochondrion and parasite death. Iron, acquired by the endocytosis of iron-loaded host transferrin, induces cell lysis. Contrary to the cytosolic enzymes, the respective mitochondrial peroxidase is dispensable for both in vitro proliferation and mouse infectivity. This is the first report demonstrating that cytosolic thiol peroxidases are responsible for protecting the lysosome of a cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Hiller
- Biochemie-Zentrum der Universität Heidelberg (BZH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amrei Nissen
- Biochemie-Zentrum der Universität Heidelberg (BZH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Diego Benítez
- Group Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marcelo A. Comini
- Group Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
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The double-edged sword in pathogenic trypanosomatids: the pivotal role of mitochondria in oxidative stress and bioenergetics. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:614014. [PMID: 24800243 PMCID: PMC3988864 DOI: 10.1155/2014/614014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenic trypanosomatids Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania spp. are the causative agents of African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis, respectively. These diseases are considered to be neglected tropical illnesses that persist under conditions of poverty and are concentrated in impoverished populations in the developing world. Novel efficient and nontoxic drugs are urgently needed as substitutes for the currently limited chemotherapy. Trypanosomatids display a single mitochondrion with several peculiar features, such as the presence of different energetic and antioxidant enzymes and a specific arrangement of mitochondrial DNA (kinetoplast DNA). Due to mitochondrial differences between mammals and trypanosomatids, this organelle is an excellent candidate for drug intervention. Additionally, during trypanosomatids' life cycle, the shape and functional plasticity of their single mitochondrion undergo profound alterations, reflecting adaptation to different environments. In an uncoupling situation, the organelle produces high amounts of reactive oxygen species. However, these species role in parasite biology is still controversial, involving parasite death, cell signalling, or even proliferation. Novel perspectives on trypanosomatid-targeting chemotherapy could be developed based on better comprehension of mitochondrial oxidative regulation processes.
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Mbang-Benet DE, Sterkers Y, Morelle C, Kebe NM, Crobu L, Portalès P, Coux O, Hernandez JF, Meghamla S, Pagès M, Bastien P. The bacterial-like HslVU protease complex subunits are involved in the control of different cell cycle events in trypanosomatids. Acta Trop 2014; 131:22-31. [PMID: 24299926 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Revised: 11/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The trypanosomatid parasites Leishmania and Trypanosoma are responsible for the most important WHO-designated neglected tropical diseases, for which the need for cost-effective new drugs is urgent. In addition to the classical eukaryotic 20S and 26S proteasomes, these unconventional eukaryotes possess a bacterial-like protease complex, HslVU, made of proteolytic (HslV) and regulatory (HslU) subunits. In trypanosomatids, two paralogous genes are co-expressed: HslU1 and HslU2. Conflicting reports have been published with respect to subcellular localization, functional redundancy and putative roles of the different subunits of this complex in trypanosomatids. Here, we definitively established the mitochondrial localization of HslVU in L. major procyclic promastigotes and of HslV in T. brucei bloodstream trypomastigotes, the latter being the form responsible for the disease in the mammalian host. Moreover, our data demonstrate for the first time the essential nature of HslVU in the bloodstream trypomastigotes of T. brucei, in spite of mitochondrial repression at this stage. Interestingly, our work also allows distinguishing a specific role for the different members of the complex, as HslV and HslU1 appear to be involved in the control of different cell cycle events. Finally, these data validate HslVU as a promising drug target against these parasitic diseases of wide medical and economical importance.
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Menna-Barreto RFS, Perales J. The expected outcome of the Trypanosoma cruzi proteomic map: a review of its potential biological applications for drug target discovery. Subcell Biochem 2014; 74:305-322. [PMID: 24264251 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7305-9_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical illness endemic to Latin America, and its treatment remains unsatisfactory. This disease is caused by the hemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which has a complex life cycle involving three evolutive forms in both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Targeting metabolic pathways in the parasite for rational drug design represents a promising research field. This research area requires high performance techniques and proteomics become a powerful tool in this context. Here, we review advances in the construction of proteomic maps of the different forms of T. cruzi, emphasizing their biological applications towards the identification of alternative candidates for drug intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
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28
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Rodrigues JCF, Godinho JLP, de Souza W. Biology of human pathogenic trypanosomatids: epidemiology, lifecycle and ultrastructure. Subcell Biochem 2014; 74:1-42. [PMID: 24264239 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7305-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania and Trypanosoma belong to the Trypanosomatidae family and cause important human infections such as leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and sleeping sickness. Leishmaniasis, caused by protozoa belonging to Leishmania, affects about 12 million people worldwide and can present different clinical manifestations, i.e., visceral leishmaniasis (VL), cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL), diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL), and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and is mainly prevalent in Latin America but is increasingly occurring in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Sleeping sickness or human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), caused by two sub-species of Trypanosoma brucei (i.e., T. b. rhodesiense and T. b. gambiense), occurs only in sub-Saharan Africa countries. These pathogenic trypanosomatids alternate between invertebrate and vertebrate hosts throughout their lifecycles, and different developmental stages can live inside the host cells and circulate in the bloodstream or in the insect gut. Trypanosomatids have a classical eukaryotic ultrastructural organization with some of the same main organelles found in mammalian host cells, while also containing special structures and organelles that are absent in other eukaryotic organisms. For example, the mitochondrion is ramified and contains a region known as the kinetoplast, which houses the mitochondrial DNA. Also, the glycosomes are specialized peroxisomes containing glycolytic pathway enzymes. Moreover, a layer of subpellicular microtubules confers mechanic rigidity to the cell. Some of these structures have been investigated to determine their function and identify potential enzymes and metabolic pathways that may constitute targets for new chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliany Cola Fernandes Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
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Cellular growth and mitochondrial ultrastructure of leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigotes are affected by the iron chelator 2,2-dipyridyl. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2481. [PMID: 24147167 PMCID: PMC3798463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Iron is an essential element for the survival of microorganisms in vitro and in vivo, acting as a cofactor of several enzymes and playing a critical role in host-parasite relationships. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is a parasite that is widespread in the new world and considered the major etiological agent of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Although iron depletion leads to promastigote and amastigote growth inhibition, little is known about the role of iron in the biology of Leishmania. Furthermore, there are no reports regarding the importance of iron for L. (V.) braziliensis. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, the effect of iron on the growth, ultrastructure and protein expression of L. (V.) braziliensis was analyzed by the use of the chelator 2,2-dipyridyl. Treatment with 2,2-dipyridyl affected parasites' growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Multiplication of the parasites was recovered after reinoculation in fresh culture medium. Ultrastructural analysis of treated promastigotes revealed marked mitochondrial swelling with loss of cristae and matrix and the presence of concentric membranar structures inside the organelle. Iron depletion also induced Golgi disruption and intense cytoplasmic vacuolization. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of tetramethylrhodamine ester-stained parasites showed that 2,2-dipyridyl collapsed the mitochondrial membrane potential. The incubation of parasites with propidium iodide demonstrated that disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential was not associated with plasma membrane permeabilization. TUNEL assays indicated no DNA fragmentation in chelator-treated promastigotes. In addition, two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that treatment with the iron chelator induced up- or down-regulation of proteins involved in metabolism of nucleic acids and coordination of post-translational modifications, without altering their mRNA levels. Conclusions Iron chelation leads to a multifactorial response that results in cellular collapse, starting with the interruption of cell proliferation and culminating in marked mitochondrial impairment in some parasites and their subsequent cell death, whereas others may survive and resume proliferating. American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is a neglected disease that is widely distributed in the Americas. The protozoan parasite Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is one of the main causative agents of ATL, being responsible for the development of different clinical manifestations of the disease, which ranges from self-healing cutaneous lesions to disseminated and mucocutaneous forms. Because iron is essential for the survival and growth of Leishmania, as it is required for colonization of macrophages and development of lesions in mice, several chelating compounds have been tested for their effects on the growth of these parasites. In the present work, treatment of L. (V.) braziliensis with the iron chelator 2,2-dipyridyl inhibited the growth of promastigote forms in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, multiplication of the parasites was recovered after reinoculation in fresh culture medium. The iron chelator also induced mitochondrial dysfunction and altered expression of proteins involved in metabolism of nucleic acids and coordination of post-translational modifications. The events described above ultimately caused the death of some parasites, most likely due to mitochondrial dysfunction, whereas others adapted and survived, suggesting a plasticity or resilience of the mitochondrion in this parasite.
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Lai DH, Bontempi EJ, Lukeš J. Trypanosoma brucei solanesyl-diphosphate synthase localizes to the mitochondrion. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2012; 183:189-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2012.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 02/18/2012] [Accepted: 02/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Montagnes D, Roberts E, Lukeš J, Lowe C. The rise of model protozoa. Trends Microbiol 2012; 20:184-91. [PMID: 22342867 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2012.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2011] [Revised: 01/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
It is timely to evaluate the role of protozoa as model organisms given their diversity, abundance and versatility as well as the economic and ethical pressures placed on animal-based experimentation. We first define the term model organism and then examine through examples why protozoa make good models. Our examples reflect major issues including evolution, ecology, population and community biology, disease, the role of organelles, ageing, space travel, toxicity and teaching. We conclude by recognising that although protozoa may in some cases not completely mimic tissue- or whole-animal-level processes, they are extremely flexible and their use should be embraced. Finally, we offer advice on obtaining emergent model protozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Montagnes
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, BioScience Building, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
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Ienne S, Pappas G, Benabdellah K, González A, Zingales B. Horizontal gene transfer confers fermentative metabolism in the respiratory-deficient plant trypanosomatid Phytomonas serpens. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2012; 12:539-48. [PMID: 22293462 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Among trypanosomatids, the genus Phytomonas is the only one specifically adapted to infect plants. These hosts provide a particular habitat with a plentiful supply of carbohydrates. Phytomonas sp. lacks a cytochrome-mediated respiratory chain and Krebs cycle, and ATP production relies predominantly on glycolysis. We have characterised the complete gene encoding a putative pyruvate/indolepyruvate decarboxylase (PDC/IPDC) (548 amino acids) of P. serpens, that displays high amino acid sequence similarity with phytobacteria and Leishmania enzymes. No orthologous PDC/IPDC genes were found in Trypanosoma cruzi or T. brucei. Conservation of the PDC/IPDC gene sequence was verified in 14 Phytomonas isolates. A phylogenetic analysis shows that Phytomonas protein is robustly monophyletic with Leishmania spp. and C. fasciculata enzymes. In the trees this clade appears as a sister group of indolepyruvate decarboxylases of γ-proteobacteria. This supports the proposition that a horizontal gene transfer event from a donor phytobacteria to a recipient ancestral trypanosome has occurred prior to the separation between Phytomonas, Leishmania and Crithidia. We have measured the PDC activity in P. serpens cell extracts. The enzyme has a Km value for pyruvate of 1.4mM. The acquisition of a PDC, a key enzyme in alcoholic fermentation, explains earlier observations that ethanol is one of the major end-products of glucose catabolism under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This represents an alternative and necessary route to reoxidise part of the NADH produced in the highly demanding glycolytic pathway and highlights the importance of this type of event in metabolic adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Ienne
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
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Gonçalves RLS, Barreto RFSM, Polycarpo CR, Gadelha FR, Castro SL, Oliveira MF. A comparative assessment of mitochondrial function in epimastigotes and bloodstream trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. J Bioenerg Biomembr 2011; 43:651-61. [PMID: 22081211 DOI: 10.1007/s10863-011-9398-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2011] [Accepted: 09/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a hemoflagellate protozoan that causes Chagas' disease. The life cycle of T. cruzi is complex and involves different evolutive forms that have to encounter different environmental conditions provided by the host. Herein, we performed a functional assessment of mitochondrial metabolism in the following two distinct evolutive forms of T. cruzi: the insect stage epimastigote and the freshly isolated bloodstream trypomastigote. We observed that in comparison to epimastigotes, bloodstream trypomastigotes facilitate the entry of electrons into the electron transport chain by increasing complex II-III activity. Interestingly, cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity and the expression of CCO subunit IV were reduced in bloodstream forms, creating an "electron bottleneck" that favored an increase in electron leakage and H(2)O(2) formation. We propose that the oxidative preconditioning provided by this mechanism confers protection to bloodstream trypomastigotes against the host immune system. In this scenario, mitochondrial remodeling during the T. cruzi life cycle may represent a key metabolic adaptation for parasite survival in different hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata L S Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Resposta ao Estresse, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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34
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A trypanosomal pentatricopeptide repeat protein stabilizes the mitochondrial mRNAs of cytochrome oxidase subunits 1 and 2. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2011; 11:79-87. [PMID: 22058141 DOI: 10.1128/ec.05213-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family consists of organellar proteins predicted to bind to specific RNA sequences. Plants have hundreds of distinct PPR proteins, whereas other eukaryotes generally have many fewer. The genome of the parasitic protozoon Trypanosoma brucei is predicted to encode more than 30 different PPR proteins, which is an extraordinarily high number for a nonplant organism. Here we report the characterization T. brucei PPR9 (TbPPR9). Epitope tagging shows that the protein is exclusively mitochondrially localized. Interestingly, while in induced RNA interference cell lines TbPPR9 is efficiently downregulated, the level of its mRNA is not affected. Ablation of TbPPR9 selectively abolishes oxidative but not mitochondrial substrate-level phosphorylation. The molecular basis of this phenotype is the fact that TbPPR9 is required for the stability of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) and COX2 mRNAs. This is supported by the observation that ablation of TbPPR9 destabilizes the COX complex but not the cytochrome bc1 or the ATP synthase complex. Moreover, it was shown by blue native gel electrophoresis that TbPPR9 is present in a large complex of unknown composition.
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35
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Long S, Changmai P, Tsaousis AD, Skalický T, Verner Z, Wen YZ, Roger AJ, Lukeš J. Stage-specific requirement for Isa1 and Isa2 proteins in the mitochondrion of Trypanosoma brucei and heterologous rescue by human and Blastocystis orthologues. Mol Microbiol 2011; 81:1403-18. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07769.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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O2 consumption rates along the growth curve: new insights into Trypanosoma cruzi mitochondrial respiratory chain. J Bioenerg Biomembr 2011; 43:409-17. [DOI: 10.1007/s10863-011-9369-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2011] [Accepted: 06/09/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Roldán A, Comini MA, Crispo M, Krauth-Siegel RL. Lipoamide dehydrogenase is essential for both bloodstream and procyclic Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Microbiol 2011; 81:623-39. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07721.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Expresión diferencial entre estadios de Trypanosoma cruzi I en el aislamiento de un paciente con cardiomiopatía chagásica crónica de zona endémica de Santander, Colombia. BIOMEDICA 2011. [DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.v31i4.400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Benitez D, Cabrera M, Hernández P, Boiani L, Lavaggi ML, Di Maio R, Yaluff G, Serna E, Torres S, Ferreira ME, Vera de Bilbao N, Torres E, Pérez-Silanes S, Solano B, Moreno E, Aldana I, López de Ceráin A, Cerecetto H, González M, Monge A. 3-Trifluoromethylquinoxaline N,N'-dioxides as anti-trypanosomatid agents. Identification of optimal anti-T. cruzi agents and mechanism of action studies. J Med Chem 2011; 54:3624-36. [PMID: 21506600 DOI: 10.1021/jm2002469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
For a fourth approach of quinoxaline N,N'-dioxides as anti-trypanosomatid agents against T. cruzi and Leishmania, we found extremely active derivatives. The present study allows us to state the correct requirements for obtaining optimal in vitro anti-T. cruzi activity. Derivatives possessing electron-withdrawing substituents in the 2-, 3-, 6-, and 7-positions were the most active compounds. With regard to these features and taking into account their mammal cytotoxicity, some trifluoromethylquinoxaline N,N'-dioxides have been proposed as candidates for further clinical studies. Consequently, mutagenicity and in vivo analyses were performed with the most promising derivatives. In addition, with regard to the mechanism of action studies, it was demonstrated that mitochondrial dehydrogenases are involved in the anti-T. cruzi activity of the most active derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Benitez
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
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Leroux AE, Maugeri DA, Cazzulo JJ, Nowicki C. Functional characterization of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase isozymes from Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2011; 177:61-4. [PMID: 21291916 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2011.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Revised: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 01/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi exhibits two putative isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDHs). Both idh genes were cloned and the recombinant enzymes expressed in Escherichia coli. Our results showed that T. cruzi IDHs are strictly dependent on NADP(+) and display apparent affinities towards isocitrate and the coenzyme in the low micromolar range. In T. cruzi, IDHs are cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes, and there is no evidence for the typical Krebs cycle-related NAD-dependent IDH. Hence, like in Trypanosoma brucei, the Krebs cycle is not a canonical route in T. cruzi. However, the citrate produced in the mitochondrion could be isomerized into isocitrate in the cytosol and the mitochondrion by means of the putative aconitase, which would provide the substrate for both IDHs. The cytosolic IDH is significantly more abundant in amastigotes, cell-derived and metacyclic trypomastigotes than in epimastigotes. This observation fits in well with the expected oxidative burst this pathogen has to face when infecting the mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro E Leroux
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológica IQUIFIB-CONICET, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, C1113AAD Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Leroux AE, Maugeri DA, Opperdoes FR, Cazzulo JJ, Nowicki C. Comparative studies on the biochemical properties of the malic enzymes from Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2010; 314:25-33. [PMID: 21105905 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02142.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative studies showed that, like Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei exhibits functional cytosolic and mitochondrial malic enzymes (MEs), which are specifically linked to NADP. Kinetic studies provided evidence that T. cruzi and T. brucei MEs display similarly high affinities towards NADP(+) and are also almost equally efficient in catalyzing the production of NADPH. Nevertheless, in contrast to the cytosolic ME from T. cruzi, which is highly activated by l-aspartate (over 10-fold), the T. brucei homologue is slightly more active (50%) in the presence of this amino acid. In T. brucei, both isozymes appear to be clearly more abundant in the insect stage, although they can be immunodetected in the bloodstream forms. By contrast, in T. cruzi the expression of the mitochondrial ME seems to be clearly upregulated in amastigotes, whereas the cytosolic isoform appears to be more abundant in the insect stages of the parasite. It might be hypothesized that in those environments where glucose is very low or absent, these pathogens depend on NADP-linked dehydrogenases such as the MEs for NADPH production, as in those conditions the pentose phosphate pathway cannot serve as a source of essential reducing power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro E Leroux
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológica IQUIFIB-CONICET, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Cristodero M, Seebeck T, Schneider A. Mitochondrial translation is essential in bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Microbiol 2010; 78:757-69. [PMID: 20969649 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07368.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma brucei has a complex life cycle. Oxidative phosphorylation is highly active in the procyclic form but absent from bloodstream cells. The mitochondrial genome encodes several gene products that are required for oxidative phosphorylation, but it completely lacks tRNA genes. For mitochondrial translation to occur, the import of cytosolic tRNAs is therefore essential for procyclic T. brucei. Whether the same is true for the bloodstream form has not been studied so far. Here we show that the steady-state levels of mitochondrial tRNAs are essentially the same in both life stages. Editing of the imported tRNA(Trp) also occurs in both forms as well as in mitochondria of Trypanosoma evansi, which lacks a genome and a translation system. These results show that mitochondrial tRNA import is a constitutive process that must be mediated by proteins that are expressed in both forms of the life cycle and that are not encoded in the mitochondrial genome. Moreover, bloodstream cells lacking either mitochondria-specific translation elongation factor Tu or mitochondrial tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase are not viable indicating that mitochondrial translation is also essential in this stage. Both of these proteins show trypanosomatid-specific features and may therefore be excellent novel drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Cristodero
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestr. 3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Gómez Barroso JA, Pereira H, Miranda M, Pereira C, Garratt RC, Aguilar CF. Protein preparation, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi nucleoside diphosphate kinase 1. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2010; 66:862-5. [PMID: 20606293 PMCID: PMC2898481 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309110013886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2010] [Accepted: 04/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The flagellated protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) are enzymes that are involved in energy management and nucleoside balance in the cell. T. cruzi TcNDPK1, a canonical isoform, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli as an N-terminally poly-His-tagged fusion protein and crystallized. Crystals grew after 72 h in 0.2 M MgCl(2), 20% PEG 3350. Data were collected to 3.5 A resolution using synchrotron X-ray radiation at the National Synchrotron Light Laboratory (Campinas, Brazil). The crystals belonged to the trigonal space group P3, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 127.84, c = 275.49 A. Structure determination is under way and will provide relevant information that may lead to the first step in rational drug design for the treatment of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. A. Gómez Barroso
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Estructural, Instituto Multidisciplinarlo de Investigación en Biología (IMIBIO), Universidad Nacional de San Luis and CONICET, Avenida Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque 1, San Luis, Argentina
| | - H. Pereira
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador Saocarlense 400, São Carlos-SP 13560-970, Brazil
| | - M. Miranda
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosoma cruzi (LBMTC), Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET, Avenida Combatientes de Malvinas 3150, 1427 Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C. Pereira
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosoma cruzi (LBMTC), Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, Universidad de Buenos Aires and CONICET, Avenida Combatientes de Malvinas 3150, 1427 Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - R. C. Garratt
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador Saocarlense 400, São Carlos-SP 13560-970, Brazil
| | - C. F. Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Estructural, Instituto Multidisciplinarlo de Investigación en Biología (IMIBIO), Universidad Nacional de San Luis and CONICET, Avenida Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque 1, San Luis, Argentina
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Tian HF, Wen JF. [Diversity of parasitic protozoan mitochondria and adaptive evolution]. DONG WU XUE YAN JIU = ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2010; 31:35-8. [PMID: 20446451 DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1141.2010.01035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic mitochondrion generally possess a definite and canonical structure and function. However, in the unicellular parasitic protozoa, various atypical mitochondria with respect to the number, structure, and function, have been discovered consecutively, revealing the variability, plasticity and rich diversity of mitochondrion. Here, we review the mitochondrial diversity in diverse parasitic protozoa, and the underlying reason for such diversity--the adaptive evolution of mitochondrion to the micro-oxygen or anaero parasitic environment of these parasites is also analyzed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Feng Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
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Alves-Ferreira M, Guimarães ACR, Capriles PVDSZ, Dardenne LE, Degrave WM. A new approach for potential drug target discovery through in silico metabolic pathway analysis using Trypanosoma cruzi genome information. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2009; 104:1100-10. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000800006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 10/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Tielens AGM, van Hellemond JJ. Surprising variety in energy metabolism within Trypanosomatidae. Trends Parasitol 2009; 25:482-90. [PMID: 19748317 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2009.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2009] [Revised: 07/02/2009] [Accepted: 07/14/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The metabolism of Trypanosomatidae differs significantly between distinct species and can even be completely different between various life-cycle stages of the same species. It has been proposed that differences in energy metabolism are related to differences in nutrient supply in the environments of the various trypanosomatids. However, the literature shows that availability of substrates does not dictate the type of energy metabolism of trypanosomatids, as Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma lewisi and African trypanosomes all live in the bloodstream of their mammalian host, but have surprisingly large differences in metabolism. Furthermore, in trypanosomatids no obvious relationship exists between energy metabolism and phylogeny or mode of transmission. We provide an overview of the metabolic capacities in the energy metabolism of distinct trypanosomatids, and suggest that these can be divided into four different metabolic categories of increasing complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloysius G M Tielens
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, 'S Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Functional characterization of stage-specific aminotransferases from trypanosomatids. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2009; 166:172-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2009.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2009] [Revised: 03/20/2009] [Accepted: 04/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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48
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Roberts SB, Robichaux JL, Chavali AK, Manque PA, Lee V, Lara AM, Papin JA, Buck GA. Proteomic and network analysis characterize stage-specific metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2009; 3:52. [PMID: 19445715 PMCID: PMC2701929 DOI: 10.1186/1752-0509-3-52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2008] [Accepted: 05/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is a Kinetoplastid parasite of humans and is the cause of Chagas disease, a potentially lethal condition affecting the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of the human host. Constraint-based modeling has emerged in the last decade as a useful approach to integrating genomic and other high-throughput data sets with more traditional, experimental data acquired through decades of research and published in the literature. RESULTS We present a validated, constraint-based model of the core metabolism of Trypanosoma cruzi strain CL Brener. The model includes four compartments (extracellular space, cytosol, mitochondrion, glycosome), 51 transport reactions, and 93 metabolic reactions covering carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism. In addition, we make use of several replicate high-throughput proteomic data sets to specifically examine metabolism of the morphological form of T. cruzi in the insect gut (epimastigote stage). CONCLUSION This work demonstrates the utility of constraint-based models for integrating various sources of data (e.g., genomics, primary biochemical literature, proteomics) to generate testable hypotheses. This model represents an approach for the systematic study of T. cruzi metabolism under a wide range of conditions and perturbations, and should eventually aid in the identification of urgently needed novel chemotherapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth B Roberts
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Jennifer L Robichaux
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Arvind K Chavali
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Patricio A Manque
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Vladimir Lee
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Ana M Lara
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
| | - Jason A Papin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
| | - Gregory A Buck
- Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
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Trypanosoma cruzi nucleoside diphosphate kinase 1 ( TcNDPK1) has a broad nuclease activity. Parasitology 2008; 135:1661-6. [PMID: 18980701 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182008005106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Here, we present the characterization of a trypanosomatid nucleoside diphosphate kinase (TcNDPK1) exhibiting nuclease activity. This is the first identification of a NDPK with this property in trypanosomatid organisms. The recombinant TcNDPK1 protein cleaves not only linear DNA, but also supercoiled plasmid DNA. Additionally, TcNDPK1 is capable of degrading Trypanosoma cruzi genomic DNA. ATP or ADP did not affect the nuclease activity, while the absence of Mg2+ completely inhibits this activity. NDPK and nuclease activities were inhibited at the same temperature, suggesting the presence of related catalytic sites. Furthermore, phenogram analysis showed that TcNDPK1 is close to Drosophila melanogaster and human NDPKs. The unspecific nuclease activity could suggest a participation in cellular processes such as programmed cell death.
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Boiani L, Aguirre G, González M, Cerecetto H, Chidichimo A, Cazzulo JJ, Bertinaria M, Guglielmo S. Furoxan-, alkylnitrate-derivatives and related compounds as anti-trypanosomatid agents: Mechanism of action studies. Bioorg Med Chem 2008; 16:7900-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2008.07.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2008] [Revised: 07/24/2008] [Accepted: 07/25/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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