1
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Rizvi Z, Reddy GS, Gorde SM, Pundir P, Das D, Sijwali PS. Plasmodium falciparum contains functional SCF and CRL4 ubiquitin E3 ligases, and CRL4 is critical for cell division and membrane integrity. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012045. [PMID: 38416790 PMCID: PMC10927090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein ubiquitination is essential for cellular homeostasis and regulation of several processes, including cell division and genome integrity. Ubiquitin E3 ligases determine substrate specificity for ubiquitination, and Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) make the largest group among the ubiquitin E3 ligases. Although conserved and most studied in model eukaryotes, CRLs remain underappreciated in Plasmodium and related parasites. To investigate the CRLs of human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, we generated parasites expressing tagged P. falciparum cullin-1 (PfCullin-1), cullin-2 (PfCullin-2), Rbx1 (PfRbx1) and Skp1 (PfSkp1). PfCullin-1 and PfCullin-2 were predominantly expressed in erythrocytic trophozoite and schizont stages, with nucleocytoplasmic localization and chromatin association, suggesting their roles in different cellular compartments and DNA-associated processes. Immunoprecipitation, in vitro protein-protein interaction, and ubiquitination assay confirmed the presence of a functional Skp1-Cullin-1-Fbox (PfSCF) complex, comprising of PfCullin-1, PfRbx1, PfSkp1, PfFBXO1, and calcyclin binding protein. Immunoprecipitation, sequence analysis, and ubiquitination assay indicated that PfCullin-2 forms a functional human CRL4-like complex (PfCRL4), consisting of PfRbx1, cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor subunit_A and WD40 repeat proteins. PfCullin-2 knock-down at the protein level, which would hinder PfCRL4 assembly, significantly decreased asexual and sexual erythrocytic stage development. The protein levels of several pathways, including protein translation and folding, lipid biosynthesis and transport, DNA replication, and protein degradation were significantly altered upon PfCullin-2 depletion, which likely reflects association of PfCRL4 with multiple pathways. PfCullin-2-depleted schizonts had poorly delimited merozoites and internal membraned structures, suggesting a role of PfCRL4 in maintaining membrane integrity. PfCullin-2-depleted parasites had a significantly lower number of nuclei/parasite than the normal parasites, indicating a crucial role of PfCRL4 in cell division. We demonstrate the presence of functional CRLs in P. falciparum, with crucial roles for PfCRL4 in cell division and maintaining membrane integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Rizvi
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - G. Srinivas Reddy
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
| | - Somesh M. Gorde
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
| | - Priyanka Pundir
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - Divya Das
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - Puran Singh Sijwali
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, UP, India
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2
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Ong HW, de Silva C, Avalani K, Kwarcinski F, Mansfield CR, Chirgwin M, Truong A, Derbyshire ER, Zutshi R, Drewry DH. Characterization of 2,4-Dianilinopyrimidines Against Five P. falciparum Kinases PfARK1, PfARK3, PfNEK3, PfPK9, and PfPKB. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1774-1784. [PMID: 38116430 PMCID: PMC10726455 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium kinases are increasingly recognized as potential novel antiplasmodial targets for the treatment of malaria, but only a small subset of these kinases have had structure-activity relationship (SAR) campaigns reported. Herein we report the discovery of CZC-54252 (1) as an inhibitor of five P. falciparum kinases PfARK1, PfARK3, PfNEK3, PfPK9, and PfPKB. 39 analogues were evaluated against all five kinases to establish SAR at three regions of the kinase active site. Nanomolar inhibitors of each kinase were discovered. We identified common and divergent SAR trends across all five kinases, highlighting substituents in each region that improve potency and selectivity for each kinase. Potent analogues were evaluated against the P. falciparum blood stage. Eight submicromolar inhibitors were discovered, of which 37 demonstrated potent antiplasmodial activity (EC50 = 0.16 μM). Our results provide an understanding of features needed to inhibit each individual kinase and lay groundwork for future optimization efforts toward novel antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wee Ong
- Structural
Genomics Consortium and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal
Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Chandi de Silva
- Luceome
Biotechnologies, LLC, 1665 East 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Krisha Avalani
- Luceome
Biotechnologies, LLC, 1665 East 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Frank Kwarcinski
- Luceome
Biotechnologies, LLC, 1665 East 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Christopher R. Mansfield
- Department
of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Michael Chirgwin
- Department
of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Anna Truong
- Department
of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Emily R. Derbyshire
- Department
of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Reena Zutshi
- Luceome
Biotechnologies, LLC, 1665 East 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - David H. Drewry
- Structural
Genomics Consortium and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal
Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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3
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Stürmer VS, Stopper S, Binder P, Klemmer A, Lichti NP, Becker NB, Guizetti J. Progeny counter mechanism in malaria parasites is linked to extracellular resources. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011807. [PMID: 38051755 PMCID: PMC10723702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by the rapid proliferation of Plasmodium parasites in patients and disease severity correlates with the number of infected red blood cells in circulation. Parasite multiplication within red blood cells is called schizogony and occurs through an atypical multinucleated cell division mode. The mechanisms regulating the number of daughter cells produced by a single progenitor are poorly understood. We investigated underlying regulatory principles by quantifying nuclear multiplication dynamics in Plasmodium falciparum and knowlesi using super-resolution time-lapse microscopy. This confirmed that the number of daughter cells was consistent with a model in which a counter mechanism regulates multiplication yet incompatible with a timer mechanism. P. falciparum cell volume at the start of nuclear division correlated with the final number of daughter cells. As schizogony progressed, the nucleocytoplasmic volume ratio, which has been found to be constant in all eukaryotes characterized so far, increased significantly, possibly to accommodate the exponentially multiplying nuclei. Depleting nutrients by dilution of culture medium caused parasites to produce fewer merozoites and reduced proliferation but did not affect cell volume or total nuclear volume at the end of schizogony. Our findings suggest that the counter mechanism implicated in malaria parasite proliferation integrates extracellular resource status to modify progeny number during blood stage infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa S. Stürmer
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sophie Stopper
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Binder
- Institute for Theoretical Physics and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Klemmer
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nicolas P. Lichti
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils B. Becker
- Theoretical Systems Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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4
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Wenz C, Simon CS, Romão TP, Stürmer VS, Machado M, Klages N, Klemmer A, Voß Y, Ganter M, Brochet M, Guizetti J. An Sfi1-like centrin-interacting centriolar plaque protein affects nuclear microtubule homeostasis. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011325. [PMID: 37130129 PMCID: PMC10180636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria-causing parasites achieve rapid proliferation in human blood through multiple rounds of asynchronous nuclear division followed by daughter cell formation. Nuclear divisions critically depend on the centriolar plaque, which organizes intranuclear spindle microtubules. The centriolar plaque consists of an extranuclear compartment, which is connected via a nuclear pore-like structure to a chromatin-free intranuclear compartment. Composition and function of this non-canonical centrosome remain largely elusive. Centrins, which reside in the extranuclear part, are among the very few centrosomal proteins conserved in Plasmodium falciparum. Here we identify a novel centrin-interacting centriolar plaque protein. Conditional knock down of this Sfi1-like protein (PfSlp) caused a growth delay in blood stages, which correlated with a reduced number of daughter cells. Surprisingly, intranuclear tubulin abundance was significantly increased, which raises the hypothesis that the centriolar plaque might be implicated in regulating tubulin levels. Disruption of tubulin homeostasis caused excess microtubules and aberrant mitotic spindles. Time-lapse microscopy revealed that this prevented or delayed mitotic spindle extension but did not significantly interfere with DNA replication. Our study thereby identifies a novel extranuclear centriolar plaque factor and establishes a functional link to the intranuclear compartment of this divergent eukaryotic centrosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Wenz
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Marta Machado
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Natacha Klages
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anja Klemmer
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannik Voß
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Ganter
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julien Guizetti
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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5
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Calit J, Araújo JE, Deng B, Miura K, Gaitán XA, Araújo MDS, Medeiros JF, Long CA, Simeonov A, Eastman RT, Bargieri DY. Novel Transmission-Blocking Antimalarials Identified by High-Throughput Screening of Plasmodium berghei Ookluc. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0146522. [PMID: 36856421 PMCID: PMC10112123 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01465-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Safe and effective malaria transmission-blocking chemotherapeutics would allow a community-level approach to malaria control and eradication efforts by targeting the mosquito sexual stage of the parasite life cycle. However, only a single drug, primaquine, is currently approved for use in reducing transmission, and drug toxicity limits its widespread implementation. To address this limitation in antimalarial chemotherapeutics, we used a recently developed transgenic Plasmodium berghei line, Ookluc, to perform a series of high-throughput in vitro screens for compounds that inhibit parasite fertilization, the initial step of parasite development within the mosquito. Screens of antimalarial compounds, approved drug collections, and drug-like molecule libraries identified 185 compounds that inhibit parasite maturation to the zygote form. Seven compounds were further characterized to block gametocyte activation or to be cytotoxic to formed zygotes. These were further validated in mosquito membrane-feeding assays using Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. This work demonstrates that high-throughput screens using the Ookluc line can identify compounds that are active against the two most relevant human Plasmodium species and provides a list of compounds that can be explored for the development of new antimalarials to block transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Calit
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jessica E. Araújo
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária-PIVEM, Laboratório de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia/Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Bingbing Deng
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiomara A. Gaitán
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maisa da Silva Araújo
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária-PIVEM, Laboratório de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Jansen F. Medeiros
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária-PIVEM, Laboratório de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia/Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Carole A. Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Anton Simeonov
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard T. Eastman
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel Y. Bargieri
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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6
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Bohmer MJ, Wang J, Istvan ES, Luth MR, Collins JE, Huttlin EL, Wang L, Mittal N, Hao M, Kwiatkowski NP, Gygi SP, Chakrabarti R, Deng X, Goldberg DE, Winzeler EA, Gray NS, Chakrabarti D. Human Polo-like Kinase Inhibitors as Antiplasmodials. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1004-1021. [PMID: 36919909 PMCID: PMC10106425 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Protein kinases have proven to be a very productive class of therapeutic targets, and over 90 inhibitors are currently in clinical use primarily for the treatment of cancer. Repurposing these inhibitors as antimalarials could provide an accelerated path to drug development. In this study, we identified BI-2536, a known potent human polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor, with low nanomolar antiplasmodial activity. Screening of additional PLK1 inhibitors revealed further antiplasmodial candidates despite the lack of an obvious orthologue of PLKs in Plasmodium. A subset of these inhibitors was profiled for their in vitro killing profile, and commonalities between the killing rate and inhibition of nuclear replication were noted. A kinase panel screen identified PfNEK3 as a shared target of these PLK1 inhibitors; however, phosphoproteome analysis confirmed distinct signaling pathways were disrupted by two structurally distinct inhibitors, suggesting PfNEK3 may not be the sole target. Genomic analysis of BI-2536-resistant parasites revealed mutations in genes associated with the starvation-induced stress response, suggesting BI-2536 may also inhibit an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica J Bohmer
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Cancer Biolo gy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Eva S Istvan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Madeline R Luth
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jennifer E Collins
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Edward L Huttlin
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Lushun Wang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ChEM-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Mingfeng Hao
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Cancer Biolo gy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Nicholas P Kwiatkowski
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Cancer Biolo gy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ratna Chakrabarti
- Division of Cancer Research, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Xianming Deng
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ChEM-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Debopam Chakrabarti
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
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7
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Abstract
Malaria remains a significant threat to global health, and despite concerted efforts to curb the disease, malaria-related morbidity and mortality increased in recent years. Malaria is caused by unicellular eukaryotes of the genus Plasmodium, and all clinical manifestations occur during asexual proliferation of the parasite inside host erythrocytes. In the blood stage, Plasmodium proliferates through an unusual cell cycle mode called schizogony. Contrary to most studied eukaryotes, which divide by binary fission, the parasite undergoes several rounds of DNA replication and nuclear division that are not directly followed by cytokinesis, resulting in multinucleated cells. Moreover, despite sharing a common cytoplasm, these nuclei multiply asynchronously. Schizogony challenges our current models of cell cycle regulation and, at the same time, offers targets for therapeutic interventions. Over the recent years, the adaptation of advanced molecular and cell biological techniques have given us deeper insight how DNA replication, nuclear division, and cytokinesis are coordinated. Here, we review our current understanding of the chronological events that characterize the unusual cell division cycle of P. falciparum in the clinically relevant blood stage of infection.
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8
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Brusini L, Dos Santos Pacheco N, Tromer EC, Soldati-Favre D, Brochet M. Composition and organization of kinetochores show plasticity in apicomplexan chromosome segregation. J Cell Biol 2022; 221:213421. [PMID: 36006241 PMCID: PMC9418836 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202111084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Kinetochores are multiprotein assemblies directing mitotic spindle attachment and chromosome segregation. In apicomplexan parasites, most known kinetochore components and associated regulators are apparently missing, suggesting a minimal structure with limited control over chromosome segregation. In this study, we use interactomics combined with deep homology searches to identify 13 previously unknown components of kinetochores in Apicomplexa. Apicomplexan kinetochores are highly divergent in sequence and composition from animal and fungal models. The nanoscale organization includes at least four discrete compartments, each displaying different biochemical interactions, subkinetochore localizations and evolutionary rates across the phylum. We reveal alignment of kinetochores at the metaphase plate in both Plasmodium berghei and Toxoplasma gondii, suggestive of a conserved "hold signal" that prevents precocious entry into anaphase. Finally, we show unexpected plasticity in kinetochore composition and segregation between apicomplexan lifecycle stages, suggestive of diverse requirements to maintain fidelity of chromosome segregation across parasite modes of division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Brusini
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland,Correspondence to Lorenzo Brusini:
| | - Nicolas Dos Santos Pacheco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eelco C. Tromer
- Cell Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland,Mathieu Brochet:
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9
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Abugri J, Ayariga J, Sunwiale SS, Wezena CA, Gyamfi JA, Adu-Frimpong M, Agongo G, Dongdem JT, Abugri D, Dinko B. Targeting the Plasmodium falciparum proteome and organelles for potential antimalarial drug candidates. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10390. [PMID: 36033316 PMCID: PMC9398786 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an unmet need to unearth alternative treatment options for malaria, wherein this quest is more pressing in recent times due to high morbidity and mortality data arising mostly from the endemic countries coupled with partial diversion of attention from the disease in view of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. Available therapeutic options for malaria have been severely threatened with the emergence of resistance to almost all the antimalarial drugs by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite in humans, which is a worrying situation. Artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) that have so far been the mainstay of malaria have encountered resistance by malaria parasite in South East Asia, which is regarded as a notorious ground zero for the emergence of resistance to antimalarial drugs. This review analyzes a few key druggable targets for the parasite and the potential of specific inhibitors to mitigate the emerging antimalarial drug resistance problem by providing a concise assessment of the essential proteins of the malaria parasite that could serve as targets. Moreover, this work provides a summary of the advances made in malaria parasite biology and the potential to leverage these findings for antimalarial drug production.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Abugri
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Joseph Ayariga
- The Biomedical Engineering Programme, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, 36104, USA
| | - Samuel Sunyazi Sunwiale
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Cletus Adiyaga Wezena
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biosciences, University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Julien Agyemang Gyamfi
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Michael Adu-Frimpong
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Godfred Agongo
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Sciences, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Julius Tieroyaare Dongdem
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine. School of Medicine. University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale-Campus, Ghana
| | - Daniel Abugri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology PhD Programme, Laboratory of Ethnomedicine, Parasitology, and Drug Discovery, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Alabama State University, Montgomery, USA
| | - Bismarck Dinko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho. Ghana
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10
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Tomasina R, González FC, Francia ME. Structural and Functional Insights into the Microtubule Organizing Centers of Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2503. [PMID: 34946106 PMCID: PMC8705618 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) perform critical cellular tasks by nucleating, stabilizing, and anchoring microtubule's minus ends. These capacities impact tremendously a wide array of cellular functions ranging from ascribing cell shape to orchestrating cell division and generating motile structures, among others. The phylum Apicomplexa comprises over 6000 single-celled obligate intracellular parasitic species. Many of the apicomplexan are well known pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii and the Plasmodium species, causative agents of toxoplasmosis and malaria, respectively. Microtubule organization in these parasites is critical for organizing the cortical cytoskeleton, enabling host cell penetration and the positioning of large organelles, driving cell division and directing the formation of flagella in sexual life stages. Apicomplexans are a prime example of MTOC diversity displaying multiple functional and structural MTOCs combinations within a single species. This diversity can only be fully understood in light of each organism's specific MT nucleation requirements and their evolutionary history. Insight into apicomplexan MTOCs had traditionally been limited to classical ultrastructural work by transmission electron microscopy. However, in the past few years, a large body of molecular insight has emerged. In this work we describe the latest insights into nuclear MTOC biology in two major human and animal disease causing Apicomplexans: Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro Tomasina
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; (R.T.); (F.C.G.)
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Fabiana C. González
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; (R.T.); (F.C.G.)
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Maria E. Francia
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; (R.T.); (F.C.G.)
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
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11
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Singh S, Utreja D, Kumar V. Pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine: a promising fused heterocycle to target kinases in cancer therapy. Med Chem Res 2021; 31:1-25. [PMID: 34803342 PMCID: PMC8590428 DOI: 10.1007/s00044-021-02819-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide responsible for about 10 million deaths per year. To date several approaches have been developed to treat this deadly disease including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, and synthetic lethality. The targeted therapy refers to targeting only specific proteins or enzymes that are dysregulated in cancer rather than killing all rapidly dividing cells, has gained much attention in the recent past. Kinase inhibition is one of the most successful approaches in targeted therapy. As of 30 March 2021, FDA has approved 65 small molecule protein kinase inhibitors and most of them are for cancer therapy. Interestingly, several kinase inhibitors contain one or more fused heterocycles as part of their structures. Pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine is one the most interesting fused heterocycle that is an integral part of several kinase inhibitors and nucleoside drugs viz. avapritinib and remdesivir. This review articles focus on the recent advances made in the development of kinase inhibitors containing pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine scaffold. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarbjit Singh
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198 USA
| | - Divya Utreja
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab India
| | - Vimal Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Dr B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jalandhar, 144011 Punjab India
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12
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Simon CS, Stürmer VS, Guizetti J. How Many Is Enough? - Challenges of Multinucleated Cell Division in Malaria Parasites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:658616. [PMID: 34026661 PMCID: PMC8137892 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.658616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulating the number of progeny generated by replicative cell cycles is critical for any organism to best adapt to its environment. Classically, the decision whether to divide further is made after cell division is completed by cytokinesis and can be triggered by intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Contrarily, cell cycles of some species, such as the malaria-causing parasites, go through multinucleated cell stages. Hence, their number of progeny is determined prior to the completion of cell division. This should fundamentally affect how the process is regulated and raises questions about advantages and challenges of multinucleation in eukaryotes. Throughout their life cycle Plasmodium spp. parasites undergo four phases of extensive proliferation, which differ over three orders of magnitude in the amount of daughter cells that are produced by a single progenitor. Even during the asexual blood stage proliferation parasites can produce very variable numbers of progeny within one replicative cycle. Here, we review the few factors that have been shown to affect those numbers. We further provide a comparative quantification of merozoite numbers in several P. knowlesi and P. falciparum parasite strains, and we discuss the general processes that may regulate progeny number in the context of host-parasite interactions. Finally, we provide a perspective of the critical knowledge gaps hindering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this exciting and atypical mode of parasite multiplication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julien Guizetti
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Boulet C, Gaynor TL, Carvalho TG. Eryptosis and Malaria: New Experimental Guidelines and Re-Evaluation of the Antimalarial Potential of Eryptosis Inducers. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:630812. [PMID: 33777843 PMCID: PMC7994622 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.630812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythrocytes possess an unusual programmed cell death mechanism termed eryptosis, and several compounds have been previously claimed to induce eryptosis in vitro. Malaria parasites (genus Plasmodium) reside in erythrocytes during the pathogenic part of their life cycle, and the potential of several eryptosis inducers to act as antimalarials has been tested in recent years. However, the eryptosis-inducing capacity of these compounds varies significantly between eryptosis-focused studies and malaria investigations. Here, we investigated the reasons for these discrepancies, we developed a protocol to investigate eryptosis in malaria cultures and we re-evaluated the potential of eryptosis inducers as antimalarials. First, we showed that eryptosis read-out in vitro is dependent on culture conditions. Indeed, conditions that have consistently been used to study eryptosis do not support P. falciparum growth and prime erythrocytes for eryptosis. Next, we defined culture conditions that allow the detection of eryptosis while supporting P. falciparum survival. Finally, we selected six eryptosis-inducers based on their clinical use, molecular target and antimalarial activities, and re-evaluated their eryptosis inducing capacities and their potential as antimalarials. We demonstrate that none of these compounds affect the viability of naïve or P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes in vitro. Nevertheless, three of these compounds impair parasite development, although through a mechanism unrelated to eryptosis and yet to be elucidated. We conclude that careful consideration of experimental set up is key for the accurate assessment of the eryptosis-inducing potential of compounds and their evaluation as potential antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Boulet
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Taylah L Gaynor
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Teresa G Carvalho
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Adderley J, Williamson T, Doerig C. Parasite and Host Erythrocyte Kinomics of Plasmodium Infection. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:508-524. [PMID: 33593681 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria remains a heavy public health and socioeconomic burden in tropical and subtropical regions. Increasing resistance against front-line treatments implies that novel targets for antimalarial intervention are urgently required. Protein kinases of both the parasites and their host cells possess strong potential in this respect. We present an overview of the updated kinome of Plasmodium falciparum, the species that is the largest contributor to malaria mortality, and of current knowledge pertaining to the function of parasite-encoded protein kinases during the parasite's life cycle. Furthermore, we detail recent advances in drug initiatives targeting Plasmodium kinases and outline the potential of protein kinases in the context of the growing field of host-directed therapies, which is currently being explored as a novel way to combat parasite drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Adderley
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Tayla Williamson
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Christian Doerig
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia.
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