Divergent polo box domains underpin the unique kinetoplastid kinetochore

NMR study of the structure and dynamics of the BRCT domain from the kinetochore protein KKT4

KKT4 is a multi-domain kinetochore protein specific to kinetoplastids, such as Trypanosoma brucei. It lacks significant sequence similarity to known kinetochore proteins in other eukaryotes. Our recent X-ray structure of the C-terminal region of KKT4 shows that it has a tandem BRCT (BRCA1 C Terminus) domain fold with a sulfate ion bound in a typical binding site for a phosphorylated serine or threonine. Here we present the 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignments for the BRCT domain of KKT4 (KKT4463-645) from T. brucei. We show that the BRCT domain can bind phosphate ions in solution using residues involved in sulfate ion binding in the X-ray structure. We have used these assignments to characterise the secondary structure and backbone dynamics of the BRCT domain in solution. Mutating the residues involved in phosphate ion binding in T. brucei KKT4 BRCT results in growth defects confirming the importance of the BRCT phosphopeptide-binding activity in vivo. These results may facilitate rational drug design efforts in the future to combat diseases caused by kinetoplastid parasites.

Dynamic localization of the chromosomal passenger complex in trypanosomes is controlled by the orphan kinesins KIN-A and KIN-B

The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) is an important regulator of cell division, which shows dynamic subcellular localization throughout mitosis, including kinetochores and the spindle midzone. In traditional model eukaryotes such as yeasts and humans, the CPC consists of the catalytic subunit Aurora B kinase, its activator INCENP, and the localization module proteins Borealin and Survivin. Intriguingly, Aurora B and INCENP as well as their localization pattern are conserved in kinetoplastids, an evolutionarily divergent group of eukaryotes that possess unique kinetochore proteins and lack homologs of Borealin or Survivin. It is not understood how the kinetoplastid CPC assembles nor how it is targeted to its subcellular destinations during the cell cycle. Here, we identify two orphan kinesins, KIN-A and KIN-B, as bona fide CPC proteins in Trypanosoma brucei, the kinetoplastid parasite that causes African sleeping sickness. KIN-A and KIN-B form a scaffold for the assembly of the remaining CPC subunits. We show that the C-terminal unstructured tail of KIN-A interacts with the KKT8 complex at kinetochores, while its N-terminal motor domain promotes CPC translocation to spindle microtubules. Thus, the KIN-A:KIN-B complex constitutes a unique 'two-in-one' CPC localization module, which directs the CPC to kinetochores from S phase until metaphase and to the central spindle in anaphase. Our findings highlight the evolutionary diversity of CPC proteins and raise the possibility that kinesins may have served as the original transport vehicles for Aurora kinases in early eukaryotes.

An unconventional regulatory circuitry involving Aurora B controls anaphase onset and error-free chromosome segregation in trypanosomes

Accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis requires that all chromosomes establish stable bi-oriented attachments with the spindle apparatus. Kinetochores form the interface between chromosomes and spindle microtubules and as such are under tight control by complex regulatory circuitry. As part of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), the Aurora B kinase plays a central role within this circuitry by destabilizing improper kinetochore-microtubule attachments and relaying the attachment status to the spindle assembly checkpoint, a feedback control system that delays the onset of anaphase by inhibiting the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome. Intriguingly, Aurora B is conserved even in kinetoplastids, an evolutionarily divergent group of eukaryotes, whose kinetochores are composed of a unique set of structural and regulatory proteins. Kinetoplastids do not have a canonical spindle checkpoint and it remains unclear how their kinetochores are regulated to ensure the fidelity and timing of chromosome segregation. Here, we show in Trypanosoma brucei, the kinetoplastid parasite that causes African sleeping sickness, that inhibition of Aurora B using an analogue-sensitive approach arrests cells in metaphase, with a reduction in properly bi-oriented kinetochores. Aurora B phosphorylates several kinetochore proteins in vitro, including the N-terminal region of the divergent Bub1-like protein KKT14. Depletion of KKT14 partially overrides the cell cycle arrest caused by Aurora B inhibition, while overexpression of a non-phosphorylatable KKT14 protein results in a prominent delay in the metaphase-to-anaphase transition. Finally, we demonstrate using a nanobody-based system that re-targeting the catalytic module of the CPC to the outer kinetochore is sufficient to promote mitotic exit but causes massive chromosome mis-segregation in anaphase. Our results indicate that the CPC and KKT14 are involved in an unconventional pathway controlling mitotic exit and error-free chromosome segregation in trypanosomes.

Divergent polo boxes in KKT2 bind KKT1 to initiate the kinetochore assembly cascade in Trypanosoma brucei

Chromosome segregation requires assembly of the macromolecular kinetochore complex onto centromeric DNA. While most eukaryotes have canonical kinetochore proteins that are widely conserved among eukaryotes, evolutionarily divergent kinetoplastids have a unique set of kinetochore proteins. Little is known about the mechanism of kinetochore assembly in kinetoplastids. Here we characterize two homologous kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins, KKT2 and KKT3, that constitutively localize at centromeres. They have three domains that are highly conserved among kinetoplastids: an N-terminal kinase domain of unknown function, the centromere localization domain in the middle, and the C-terminal domain that has weak similarity to polo boxes of Polo-like kinases. We show that the kinase activity of KKT2 is essential for accurate chromosome segregation, while that of KKT3 is dispensable for cell growth in Trypanosoma brucei. Crystal structures of their divergent polo boxes reveal differences between KKT2 and KKT3. We also show that the divergent polo boxes of KKT3 are sufficient to recruit KKT2 in trypanosomes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the divergent polo boxes of KKT2 interact directly with KKT1 and that KKT1 interacts with KKT6. These results show that the divergent polo boxes of KKT2 and KKT3 are protein-protein interaction domains that initiate kinetochore assembly in T. brucei.

CLK1/CLK2-driven signalling at the Leishmania kinetochore is captured by spatially referenced proximity phosphoproteomics

Kinetochores in the parasite Leishmania and related kinetoplastids appear to be unique amongst eukaryotes and contain protein kinases as core components. Using the kinetochore kinases KKT2, KKT3 and CLK2 as baits, we developed a BirA* proximity biotinylation methodology optimised for sensitivity, XL-BioID, to investigate the composition and function of the Leishmania kinetochore. We could detect many of the predicted components and also discovered two novel kinetochore proteins, KKT24 and KKT26. Using KKT3 tagged with a fast-acting promiscuous biotin ligase variant, we took proximity biotinylation snapshots of the kinetochore in synchronised parasites. To quantify proximal phosphosites at the kinetochore as the parasite progressed through the cell cycle, we further developed a spatially referenced proximity phosphoproteomics approach. This revealed a group of phosphosites at the kinetochore that were highly dynamic during kinetochore assembly. We show that the kinase inhibitor AB1 targets CLK1/CLK2 (KKT10/KKT19) in Leishmania leading to defective cytokinesis. Using AB1 to uncover CLK1/CLK2 driven signalling pathways important for kinetochore function at G2/M, we found a set of 16 inhibitor responsive kinetochore-proximal phosphosites. Our results exploit new proximity labelling approaches to provide a direct analysis of the Leishmania kinetochore, which is emerging as a promising drug target.

Targeted protein degradation using deGradFP in Trypanosoma brucei

Targeted protein degradation is an invaluable tool in studying the function of proteins. Such a tool was not available in Trypanosoma brucei, an evolutionarily divergent eukaryote that causes human African trypanosomiasis. Here, we have adapted deGradFP (degrade green fluorescent protein [GFP]), a protein degradation system based on the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex and anti-GFP nanobody, in T. brucei. As a proof of principle, we targeted a kinetoplastid kinetochore protein (KKT3) that constitutively localizes at kinetochores in the nucleus. Induction of deGradFP in a cell line that had both alleles of KKT3 tagged with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) caused a more severe growth defect than RNAi in procyclic (insect form) cells. deGradFP also worked on a cytoplasmic protein (COPII subunit, SEC31). Given the ease in making GFP fusion cell lines in T. brucei, deGradFP can serve as a powerful tool to rapidly deplete proteins of interest, especially those with low turnover rates.

Targeted protein degradation using deGradFP in Trypanosoma brucei

Targeted protein degradation is an invaluable tool in studying the function of proteins. Such a tool was not available in Trypanosoma brucei, an evolutionarily divergent eukaryote that causes human African trypanosomiasis. Here, we have adapted deGradFP (degrade green fluorescent protein [GFP]), a protein degradation system based on the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex and anti-GFP nanobody, in T. brucei. As a proof of principle, we targeted a kinetoplastid kinetochore protein (KKT3) that constitutively localizes at kinetochores in the nucleus. Induction of deGradFP in a cell line that had both alleles of KKT3 tagged with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) caused a more severe growth defect than RNAi in procyclic (insect form) cells. deGradFP also worked on a cytoplasmic protein (COPII subunit, SEC31). Given the ease in making GFP fusion cell lines in T. brucei, deGradFP can serve as a powerful tool to rapidly deplete proteins of interest, especially those with low turnover rates.

Plasticity in centromere organization and kinetochore composition: Lessons from diversity

Kinetochores are the macromolecular protein complexes that govern chromosome movement by binding spindle microtubules during mitosis and meiosis. Centromeres are the specific chromosomal regions that serve as the platform on which kinetochores assemble. Despite their essentiality for proper chromosome segregation, the size and organization of centromeres vary dramatically between species, while different compositions of kinetochores are found among eukaryotes. Here we discuss recent progress in understanding centromeres and kinetochores in non-traditional model eukaryotes. We specifically focus on select lineages (holocentric insects, early diverging fungi, and kinetoplastids) that lack CENP-A, a centromere-specific histone H3 variant that is critical for kinetochore specification and assembly in many eukaryotes. We also highlight some organisms that might have hitherto unknown types of kinetochore proteins.

A CLK1-KKT2 Signaling Pathway Regulating Kinetochore Assembly in Trypanosoma brucei

During mitosis, eukaryotic cells must duplicate and separate their chromosomes in a precise and timely manner. The apparatus responsible for this is the kinetochore, which is a large protein structure that links chromosomal DNA and spindle microtubules to facilitate chromosome alignment and segregation. The proteins that comprise the kinetochore in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei are divergent from yeast and mammals and comprise an inner kinetochore complex composed of 24 distinct proteins (KKT1 to KKT23, KKT25) that include four protein kinases, CLK1 (KKT10), CLK2 (KKT19), KKT2, and KKT3. We recently reported the identification of a specific trypanocidal inhibitor of T. brucei CLK1, an amidobenzimidazole, AB1. We now show that chemical inhibition of CLK1 with AB1 impairs inner kinetochore recruitment and compromises cell cycle progression, leading to cell death. Here, we show that KKT2 is a substrate for CLK1 and identify phosphorylation of S508 by CLK1 to be essential for KKT2 function and for kinetochore assembly. Additionally, KKT2 protein kinase activity is required for parasite proliferation but not for assembly of the inner kinetochore complex. We also show that chemical inhibition of the aurora kinase AUK1 does not affect CLK1 phosphorylation of KKT2, indicating that AUK1 and CLK1 are in separate regulatory pathways. We propose that CLK1 is part of a divergent signaling cascade that controls kinetochore function via phosphorylation of the inner kinetochore protein kinase KKT2. IMPORTANCE In eukaryotic cells, kinetochores are large protein complexes that link chromosomes to dynamic microtubule tips, ensuring proper segregation and genomic stability during cell division. Several proteins tightly coordinate kinetochore functions, including the protein kinase aurora kinase B. The kinetochore has diverse evolutionary roots. For example, trypanosomatids, single-cell parasitic protozoa that cause several neglected tropical diseases, possess a unique repertoire of kinetochore components whose regulation during the cell cycle remains unclear. Here, we shed light on trypanosomatid kinetochore biology by showing that the protein kinase CLK1 coordinates the assembly of the inner kinetochore by phosphorylating one of its components, KKT2, allowing the timely spatial recruitment of the rest of the kinetochore proteins and posterior attachment to microtubules in a process that is aurora kinase B independent.

Kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT2 and KKT3 have unique centromere localization domains

The kinetochore is the macromolecular protein complex that assembles onto centromeric DNA and binds spindle microtubules. Evolutionarily divergent kinetoplastids have an unconventional set of kinetochore proteins. It remains unknown how kinetochores assemble at centromeres in these organisms. Here, we characterize KKT2 and KKT3 in the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei. In addition to the N-terminal kinase domain and C-terminal divergent polo boxes, these proteins have a central domain of unknown function. We show that KKT2 and KKT3 are important for the localization of several kinetochore proteins and that their central domains are sufficient for centromere localization. Crystal structures of the KKT2 central domain from two divergent kinetoplastids reveal a unique zinc-binding domain (termed the CL domain for centromere localization), which promotes its kinetochore localization in T. brucei. Mutations in the equivalent domain in KKT3 abolish its kinetochore localization and function. Our work shows that the unique central domains play a critical role in mediating the centromere localization of KKT2 and KKT3.

Repurposing of synaptonemal complex proteins for kinetochores in Kinetoplastida

Chromosome segregation in eukaryotes is driven by the kinetochore, a macromolecular complex that connects centromeric DNA to microtubules of the spindle apparatus. Kinetochores in well-studied model eukaryotes consist of a core set of proteins that are broadly conserved among distant eukaryotic phyla. By contrast, unicellular flagellates of the class Kinetoplastida have a unique set of 36 kinetochore components. The evolutionary origin and history of these kinetochores remain unknown. Here, we report evidence of homology between axial element components of the synaptonemal complex and three kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT16-18. The synaptonemal complex is a zipper-like structure that assembles between homologous chromosomes during meiosis to promote recombination. By using sensitive homology detection protocols, we identify divergent orthologues of KKT16-18 in most eukaryotic supergroups, including experimentally established chromosomal axis components, such as Red1 and Rec10 in budding and fission yeast, ASY3-4 in plants and SYCP2-3 in vertebrates. Furthermore, we found 12 recurrent duplications within this ancient eukaryotic SYCP^2–3 gene family, providing opportunities for new functional complexes to arise, including KKT16-18 in the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei. We propose the kinetoplastid kinetochore system evolved by repurposing meiotic components of the chromosome synapsis and homologous recombination machinery that were already present in early eukaryotes.

Structural characterization of KKT4, an unconventional microtubule-binding kinetochore protein

The kinetochore is the macromolecular machinery that drives chromosome segregation by interacting with spindle microtubules. Kinetoplastids (such as Trypanosoma brucei), a group of evolutionarily divergent eukaryotes, have a unique set of kinetochore proteins that lack any significant homology to canonical kinetochore components. To date, KKT4 is the only kinetoplastid kinetochore protein that is known to bind microtubules. Here we use X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and crosslinking mass spectrometry to characterize the structure and dynamics of KKT4. We show that its microtubule-binding domain consists of a coiled-coil structure followed by a positively charged disordered tail. The structure of the C-terminal BRCT domain of KKT4 reveals that it is likely a phosphorylation-dependent protein-protein interaction domain. The BRCT domain interacts with the N-terminal region of the KKT4 microtubule-binding domain and with a phosphopeptide derived from KKT8. Taken together, these results provide structural insights into the unconventional kinetoplastid kinetochore protein KKT4.

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Structures of microtubule-binding and BRCT domains in KKT4 are reported

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The microtubule-binding domain consists of a coiled coil and a disordered tail

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KKT4 interacts with microtubules via a basic surface at the coiled-coil N terminus

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KKT4 has a phosphopeptide-binding BRCT domain

Trypanosome KKIP1 Dynamically Links the Inner Kinetochore to a Kinetoplastid Outer Kinetochore Complex

Kinetochores perform an essential role in eukaryotes, coupling chromosomes to the mitotic spindle. In model organisms they are composed of a centromere-proximal inner kinetochore and an outer kinetochore network that binds to microtubules. In spite of universal function, the composition of kinetochores in extant eukaryotes differs greatly. In trypanosomes and other Kinetoplastida, kinetochores are extremely divergent, with most components showing no detectable similarity to proteins in other systems. They may also be very different functionally, potentially binding to the spindle directly via an inner-kinetochore protein. However, we do not know the extent of the trypanosome kinetochore, and proteins interacting with a highly divergent Ndc80/Nuf2-like protein (KKIP1) suggest the existence of more centromere-distal complexes. Here we use quantitative proteomics from multiple start-points to define a stable 9-protein kinetoplastid outer kinetochore (KOK) complex. This complex incorporates proteins recruited from other nuclear processes, exemplifying the role of moonlighting proteins in kinetochore evolution. The outer kinetochore complex is physically distinct from inner-kinetochore proteins, but nanometer-scale label separation shows that KKIP1 bridges the two plates in the same orientation as Ndc80. Moreover, KKIP1 exhibits substantial elongation at metaphase, altering kinetochore structure in a manner consistent with pulling at the outer plate. Together, these data suggest that the KKIP1/KOK likely constitute the extent of the trypanosome outer kinetochore and that this assembly binds to the spindle with sufficient strength to stretch the kinetochore, showing design parallels may exist in organisms with very different kinetochore composition.

1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignments for the microtubule-binding domain of the kinetoplastid kinetochore protein KKT4 from Trypanosoma brucei

KKT4 is a kinetoplastid-specific microtubule-binding kinetochore protein that lacks significant similarity to any known kinetochore or microtubule-binding proteins. Here we present the ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N resonance assignments for several fragments from the microtubule-binding domain of KKT4 (KKT4^115-343) from Trypanosoma brucei. These assignments provide the starting point for detailed investigations of the structure, dynamics and interactions of the microtubule-binding region of KKT4.

Polo-like kinase in trypanosomes: an odd member out of the Polo family

Polo-like kinases (Plks) are evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein kinases playing crucial roles during multiple stages of mitosis and cytokinesis in yeast and animals. Plks are characterized by a unique Polo-box domain, which plays regulatory roles in controlling Plk activation, interacting with substrates and targeting Plk to specific subcellular locations. Plk activity and protein abundance are subject to temporal and spatial control through transcription, phosphorylation and proteolysis. In the early branching protists, Plk orthologues are present in some taxa, such as kinetoplastids and Giardia, but are lost in apicomplexans, such as Plasmodium. Works from characterizing a Plk orthologue in Trypanosoma brucei, a kinetoplastid protozoan, discover its essential roles in regulating the inheritance of flagellum-associated cytoskeleton and the initiation of cytokinesis, but not any stage of mitosis. These studies reveal evolutionarily conserved and species-specific features in the control of Plk activation, substrate recognition and protein abundance, and suggest the divergence of Plk function and regulation for specialized needs in this flagellated unicellular eukaryote.

Centromeres under Pressure: Evolutionary Innovation in Conflict with Conserved Function

Centromeres are essential genetic elements that enable spindle microtubule attachment for chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis. While this function is preserved across species, centromeres display an array of dynamic features, including: (1) rapidly evolving DNA; (2) wide evolutionary diversity in size, shape and organization; (3) evidence of mutational processes to generate homogenized repetitive arrays that characterize centromeres in several species; (4) tolerance to changes in position, as in the case of neocentromeres; and (5) intrinsic fragility derived by sequence composition and secondary DNA structures. Centromere drive underlies rapid centromere DNA evolution due to the "selfish" pursuit to bias meiotic transmission and promote the propagation of stronger centromeres. Yet, the origins of other dynamic features of centromeres remain unclear. Here, we review our current understanding of centromere evolution and plasticity. We also detail the mutagenic processes proposed to shape the divergent genetic nature of centromeres. Changes to centromeres are not simply evolutionary relics, but ongoing shifts that on one side promote centromere flexibility, but on the other can undermine centromere integrity and function with potential pathological implications such as genome instability.

Characterization of unconventional kinetochore kinases KKT10 and KKT19 in Trypanosoma brucei

The kinetochore is a macromolecular protein complex that drives chromosome segregation in eukaryotes. Unlike most eukaryotes that have canonical kinetochore proteins, evolutionarily divergent kinetoplastids, such as Trypanosoma brucei, have unconventional kinetochore proteins. T. brucei also lacks a canonical spindle checkpoint system, and it therefore remains unknown how mitotic progression is regulated in this organism. Here, we characterized, in the procyclic form of T. brucei, two paralogous kinetochore proteins with a CLK-like kinase domain, KKT10 and KKT19, which localize at kinetochores in metaphase but disappear at the onset of anaphase. We found that these proteins are functionally redundant. Double knockdown of KKT10 and KKT19 led to a significant delay in the metaphase to anaphase transition. We also found that phosphorylation of two kinetochore proteins, KKT4 and KKT7, depended on KKT10 and KKT19 in vivo Finally, we showed that the N-terminal part of KKT7 directly interacts with KKT10 and that kinetochore localization of KKT10 depends not only on KKT7 but also on the KKT8 complex. Our results reveal that kinetochore localization of KKT10 and KKT19 is tightly controlled to regulate the metaphase to anaphase transition in T. bruceiThis article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Evolution of metabolic capabilities and molecular features of diplonemids, kinetoplastids, and euglenids

Background

The Euglenozoa are a protist group with an especially rich history of evolutionary diversity. They include diplonemids, representing arguably the most species-rich clade of marine planktonic eukaryotes; trypanosomatids, which are notorious parasites of medical and veterinary importance; and free-living euglenids. These different lifestyles, and particularly the transition from free-living to parasitic, likely require different metabolic capabilities. We carried out a comparative genomic analysis across euglenozoan diversity to see how changing repertoires of enzymes and structural features correspond to major changes in lifestyles.

Results

We find a gradual loss of genes encoding enzymes in the evolution of kinetoplastids, rather than a sudden decrease in metabolic capabilities corresponding to the origin of parasitism, while diplonemids and euglenids maintain more metabolic versatility. Distinctive characteristics of molecular machines such as kinetochores and the pre-replication complex that were previously considered specific to parasitic kinetoplastids were also identified in their free-living relatives. Therefore, we argue that they represent an ancestral rather than a derived state, as thought until the present. We also found evidence of ancient redundancy in systems such as NADPH-dependent thiol-redox. Only the genus Euglena possesses the combination of trypanothione-, glutathione-, and thioredoxin-based systems supposedly present in the euglenozoan common ancestor, while other representatives of the phylum have lost one or two of these systems. Lastly, we identified convergent losses of specific metabolic capabilities between free-living kinetoplastids and ciliates. Although this observation requires further examination, it suggests that certain eukaryotic lineages are predisposed to such convergent losses of key enzymes or whole pathways.

Conclusions

The loss of metabolic capabilities might not be associated with the switch to parasitic lifestyle in kinetoplastids, and the presence of a highly divergent (or unconventional) kinetochore machinery might not be restricted to this protist group. The data derived from the transcriptomes of free-living early branching prokinetoplastids suggests that the pre-replication complex of Trypanosomatidae is a highly divergent version of the conventional machinery. Our findings shed light on trends in the evolution of metabolism in protists in general and open multiple avenues for future research.

Identification of four unconventional kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT22-25 in Trypanosoma brucei

The kinetochore is a multi-protein complex that drives chromosome segregation in eukaryotes. It assembles onto centromere DNA and interacts with spindle microtubules during mitosis and meiosis. Although most eukaryotes have canonical kinetochore proteins, kinetochores of evolutionarily divergent kinetoplastid species consist of at least 20 unconventional kinetochore proteins (KKT1–20). In addition, 12 proteins (KKT-interacting proteins 1–12, KKIP1–12) are known to localize at kinetochore regions during mitosis. It remains unclear whether KKIP proteins interact with KKT proteins. Here, we report the identification of four additional kinetochore proteins, KKT22–25, in Trypanosoma brucei. KKT22 and KKT23 constitutively localize at kinetochores, while KKT24 and KKT25 localize from S phase to anaphase. KKT23 has a Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase domain, which is not found in any kinetochore protein known to date. We also show that KKIP1 co-purifies with KKT proteins, but not with KKIP proteins. Finally, our affinity purification of KKIP2/3/4/6 identifies a number of proteins as their potential interaction partners, many of which are implicated in RNA binding or processing. These findings further support the idea that kinetoplastid kinetochores are unconventional.

Who Needs a Contractile Actomyosin Ring? The Plethora of Alternative Ways to Divide a Protozoan Parasite

Cytokinesis, or the division of the cytoplasm, following the end of mitosis or meiosis, is accomplished in animal cells, fungi, and amoebae, by the constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring, comprising filamentous actin, myosin II, and associated proteins. However, despite this being the best-studied mode of cytokinesis, it is restricted to the Opisthokonta and Amoebozoa, since members of other evolutionary supergroups lack myosin II and must, therefore, employ different mechanisms. In particular, parasitic protozoa, many of which cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans and animals as well as considerable economic losses, employ a wide diversity of mechanisms to divide, few, if any, of which involve myosin II. In some cases, cell division is not only myosin II-independent, but actin-independent too. Mechanisms employed range from primitive mechanical cell rupture (cytofission), to motility- and/or microtubule remodeling-dependent mechanisms, to budding involving the constriction of divergent contractile rings, to hijacking host cell division machinery, with some species able to utilize multiple mechanisms. Here, I review current knowledge of cytokinesis mechanisms and their molecular control in mammalian-infective parasitic protozoa from the Excavata, Alveolata, and Amoebozoa supergroups, highlighting their often-underappreciated diversity and complexity. Billions of people and animals across the world are at risk from these pathogens, for which vaccines and/or optimal treatments are often not available. Exploiting the divergent cell division machinery in these parasites may provide new avenues for the treatment of protozoal disease.

Expression and Interactions of Kinetoplastid Kinetochore Proteins (KKTs) from Trypanosoma brucei

Background:

Kinetochores are the macromolecular protein complex that drives chromosome segregation by interacting with centromeric DNA and spindle microtubules in eukaryotes. Kinetochores in well studied eukaryotes bind DNA through widely conserved components like Centromere Protein (CENP)-A and bind microtubules through the Ndc80 complex. However, unconventional type of kinetochore proteins (KKT1-20) were identified in evolutionarily divergent kinetoplastid species such as Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), indicating that chromosome segregation is driven by a distinct set of proteins. KKT proteins are comprised of sequential α-helixes that tend to form coiled-coil structures, which will further lead to polymerization and misfolding of proteins, resulting in the formation of inclusion bodies.

Results and Conclusion:

We expressed and purified the stable KKT proteins with Maltose Binding Protein (MBP) fusion tag in E. coli or Protein A tag in Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293T cells. Furthermore, we identified interactions among KKT proteins using yeast two-hybrid system. The study provides an important basis for further better understanding of the structure and function of KKT proteins.

Coordination of the Cell Cycle in Trypanosomes

Trypanosomes have complex life cycles within which there are both proliferative and differentiation cell divisions. The coordination of the cell cycle to achieve these different divisions is critical for the parasite to infect both host and vector. From studying the regulation of the proliferative cell cycle of the Trypanosoma brucei procyclic life cycle stage, three subcycles emerge that control the duplication and segregation of ( a) the nucleus, ( b) the kinetoplast, and ( c) a set of cytoskeletal structures. We discuss how the clear dependency relationships within these subcycles, and the potential for cross talk between them, are likely required for overall cell cycle coordination. Finally, we look at the implications this interdependence has for proliferative and differentiation divisions through the T. brucei life cycle and in related parasitic trypanosomatid species.

Faithful chromosome segregation in Trypanosoma brucei requires a cohort of divergent spindle-associated proteins with distinct functions

Faithful chromosome segregation depends on correct spindle microtubule-kinetochore attachment and requires certain spindle-associated proteins (SAPs) involved in regulating spindle dynamics and chromosome segregation. Little is known about the spindle-associated proteome in the early divergent Trypanosoma brucei and its roles in chromosome segregation. Here we report the identification of a cohort of divergent SAPs through localization-based screening and proximity-dependent biotin identification. We identified seven new SAPs and seventeen new nucleolar proteins that associate with the spindle, and demonstrated that the kinetochore protein KKIP4 also associates with the spindle. These SAPs localize to distinct subdomains of the spindle during mitosis, and all but one localize to nucleus during interphase and post-mitotic phases. Functional analyses of three nucleus- and spindle-associated proteins (NuSAPs) revealed distinct functions in chromosome segregation. NuSAP1 is a kinetoplastid-specific protein required for equal chromosome segregation and for maintaining the stability of the kinetochore proteins KKIP1 and KKT1. NuSAP2 is a highly divergent ASE1/PRC1/MAP65 homolog playing an essential role in promoting the G2/M transition. NuSAP3 is a kinetoplastid-specific Kif13-1-binding protein maintaining Kif13-1 protein stability and regulating the G2/M transition. Together, our work suggests that chromosome segregation in T. brucei requires a cohort of kinetoplastid-specific and divergent SAPs with distinct functions.

Identification of inhibitors of an unconventional Trypanosoma brucei kinetochore kinase

The discovery of 20 unconventional kinetochore proteins in Trypanosoma brucei has opened a new and interesting area of evolutionary research to study a biological process previously thought to be highly conserved in all eukaryotes. In addition, the discovery of novel proteins involved in a critical cellular process provides an opportunity to exploit differences between kinetoplastid and human kinetochore proteins to develop therapeutics for diseases caused by kinetoplastid parasites. Consequently, we identified two of the unconventional kinetochore proteins as key targets (the highly related kinases KKT10 and KKT19). Recombinant T. brucei KKT19 (TbKKT19) protein was produced, a peptide substrate phosphorylated by TbKKT19 identified (KKLRRTLSVA), Michaelis constants for KKLRRTLSVA and ATP were determined (179 μM and 102 μM respectively) and a robust high-throughput compatible biochemical assay developed. This biochemical assay was validated pharmacologically with inhibition by staurosporine and hypothemycin (IC₅₀ values of 288 nM and 65 nM respectively). Surprisingly, a subsequent high-throughput screen of a kinase-relevant compound library (6,624 compounds) yielded few hits (8 hits; final hit rate 0.12%). The low hit rate observed was unusual for a kinase target, particularly when screened against a compound library enriched with kinase hinge binding scaffolds. In an attempt to understand the low hit rate a TbKKT19 homology model, based on human cdc2-like kinase 1 (CLK1), was generated. Analysis of the TbKKT19 sequence and structure revealed no obvious features that could explain the low hit rates. Further work will therefore be necessary to explore this unique kinetochore kinase as well as to assess whether the few hits identified can be developed into tool molecules or new drugs.

Use of Mass Spectrometry to Study the Centromere and Kinetochore

A number of paths have led to the present list of centromere proteins, which is essentially complete for constitutive structural proteins, but still may be only partial if we consider the many other proteins that briefly visit the centromere and kinetochore to fine-tune the chromatin and adjust other functions. Elegant genetics led to the description of the budding yeast point centromere in 1980. In the same year was published the serendipitous discovery of antibodies that stained centromeres of human mitotic chromosomes in antisera from CREST patients. Painstaking biochemical analyses led to the identification of the human centromere antigens several years later, with the first yeast proteins being described 6 years after that. Since those early days, the discovery and cloning of centromere and kinetochore proteins has largely been driven by improvements in technology. These began with expression cloning methods, which allowed antibodies to lead to cDNA clones. Next, functional screens for kinetochore proteins were made possible by the isolation of yeast centromeric DNAs. Ultimately, the completion of genome sequences for humans and model organisms permitted the coupling of biochemical fractionation with protein identification by mass spectrometry. Subsequent improvements in mass spectrometry have led to the current state where virtually all structural components of the kinetochore are known and where a high-resolution map of the entire structure will likely emerge within the next several years.

The kinetoplastid kinetochore protein KKT4 is an unconventional microtubule tip-coupling protein

The evolutionarily divergent class of kinetoplastid organisms has a set of unconventional kinetochore proteins that drive chromosome segregation, but it is unclear which components interact with spindle microtubules. Llauró et al. now identify KKT4 as the first microtubule-binding kinetochore protein in Trypanosoma brucei, a major human pathogenic parasite.

Kinetochores are multiprotein machines that drive chromosome segregation by maintaining persistent, load-bearing linkages between chromosomes and dynamic microtubule tips. Kinetochores in commonly studied eukaryotes bind microtubules through widely conserved components like the Ndc80 complex. However, in evolutionarily divergent kinetoplastid species such as Trypanosoma brucei, which causes sleeping sickness, the kinetochores assemble from a unique set of proteins lacking homology to any known microtubule-binding domains. Here, we show that the T. brucei kinetochore protein KKT4 binds directly to microtubules and maintains load-bearing attachments to both growing and shortening microtubule tips. The protein localizes both to kinetochores and to spindle microtubules in vivo, and its depletion causes defects in chromosome segregation. We define a microtubule-binding domain within KKT4 and identify several charged residues important for its microtubule-binding activity. Thus, despite its lack of significant similarity to other known microtubule-binding proteins, KKT4 has key functions required for driving chromosome segregation. We propose that it represents a primary element of the kinetochore–microtubule interface in kinetoplastids.

Degradation of cyclin B is critical for nuclear division in Trypanosoma brucei

Kinetoplastids have a nucleus that contains the nuclear genome and a kinetoplast that contains the mitochondrial genome. These single-copy organelles must be duplicated and segregated faithfully to daughter cells at each cell division. In Trypanosoma brucei, although duplication of both organelles starts around the same time, segregation of the kinetoplast precedes that of the nucleus. Cytokinesis subsequently takes place so that daughter cells inherit a single copy of each organelle. Very little is known about the molecular mechanism that governs the timing of these events. Furthermore, it is thought that T. brucei lacks a spindle checkpoint that delays the onset of nuclear division in response to spindle defects. Here we show that a mitotic cyclin CYC6 has a dynamic localization pattern during the cell cycle, including kinetochore localization. Using CYC6 as a molecular cell cycle marker, we confirmed that T. brucei cannot delay the onset of anaphase in response to a bipolar spindle assembly defect. Interestingly, expression of a stabilized form of CYC6 caused the nucleus to arrest in a metaphase-like state without preventing cytokinesis. We propose that trypanosomes have an ability to regulate the timing of nuclear division by modulating the CYC6 protein level, without a spindle checkpoint.

Conservation and Variation in Strategies for DNA Replication of Kinetoplastid Nuclear Genomes

Introduction:

Understanding how the nuclear genome of kinetoplastid parasites is replicated received experimental stimulus from sequencing of the Leishmania major, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi genomes around 10 years ago. Gene annotations suggested key players in DNA replication initiation could not be found in these organisms, despite considerable conservation amongst characterised eukaryotes. Initial studies that indicated trypanosomatids might possess an archaeal-like Origin Recognition Complex (ORC), composed of only a single factor termed ORC1/CDC6, have been supplanted by the more recent identification of an ORC in T. brucei. However, the constituent subunits of T. brucei ORC are highly diverged relative to other eukaryotic ORCs and the activity of the complex appears subject to novel, positive regulation. The availability of whole genome sequences has also allowed the deployment of genome-wide strategies to map DNA replication dynamics, to date in T. brucei and Leishmania. ORC1/CDC6 binding and function in T. brucei displays pronounced overlap with the unconventional organisation of gene expression in the genome. Moreover, mapping of sites of replication initiation suggests pronounced differences in replication dynamics in Leishmania relative to T. brucei.

Conclusion:

Here we discuss what implications these emerging data may have for parasite and eukaryotic biology of DNA replication.

Identification of the centromeres of Leishmania major: revealing the hidden pieces

Leishmania affects millions of people worldwide. Its genome undergoes constitutive mosaic aneuploidy, a type of genomic plasticity that may serve as an adaptive strategy to survive distinct host environments. We previously found high rates of asymmetric chromosome allotments during mitosis that lead to the generation of such ploidy. However, the underlying molecular events remain elusive. Centromeres and kinetochores most likely play a key role in this process, yet their identification has failed using classical methods. Our analysis of the unconventional kinetochore complex recently discovered in Trypanosoma brucei (KKTs) leads to the identification of a Leishmania KKT gene candidate (LmKKT1). The GFP-tagged LmKKT1 displays "kinetochore-like" dynamics of intranuclear localization throughout the cell cycle. By ChIP-Seq assay, one major peak per chromosome is revealed, covering a region of 4 ±2 kb. We find two largely conserved motifs mapping to 14 of 36 chromosomes while a higher density of retroposons are observed in 27 of 36 centromeres. The identification of centromeres and of a kinetochore component of Leishmania chromosomes opens avenues to explore their role in mosaic aneuploidy.

The unconventional kinetoplastid kinetochore: from discovery toward functional understanding

The kinetochore is the macromolecular protein complex that drives chromosome segregation in eukaryotes. Its most fundamental function is to connect centromeric DNA to dynamic spindle microtubules. Studies in popular model eukaryotes have shown that centromere protein (CENP)-A is critical for DNA-binding, whereas the Ndc80 complex is essential for microtubule-binding. Given their conservation in diverse eukaryotes, it was widely believed that all eukaryotes would utilize these components to make up a core of the kinetochore. However, a recent study identified an unconventional type of kinetochore in evolutionarily distant kinetoplastid species, showing that chromosome segregation can be achieved using a distinct set of proteins. Here, I review the discovery of the two kinetochore systems and discuss how their studies contribute to a better understanding of the eukaryotic chromosome segregation machinery.

Trypanosome outer kinetochore proteins suggest conservation of chromosome segregation machinery across eukaryotes

The kinetochore complex is conserved across many eukaryotes, but the protozoan lineage Kinetoplastida builds kinetochores from components without apparent homology to models. D’Archivio and Wickstead describe a new family of proteins with homology to outer kinetochore proteins Ndc80 and Nuf2 that defines the outer kinetochore of trypanosomes, suggesting that all eukaryotes have divergent versions of a universal kinetochore machine.

Kinetochores are multiprotein complexes that couple eukaryotic chromosomes to the mitotic spindle to ensure proper segregation. The model for kinetochore assembly is conserved between humans and yeast, and homologues of several components are widely distributed in eukaryotes, but key components are absent in some lineages. The recent discovery in a lineage of protozoa called kinetoplastids of unconventional kinetochores with no apparent homology to model organisms suggests that more than one system for eukaryotic chromosome segregation may exist. In this study, we report a new family of proteins distantly related to outer kinetochore proteins Ndc80 and Nuf2. The family member in kinetoplastids, KKT-interacting protein 1 (KKIP1), associates with the kinetochore, and its depletion causes severe defects in karyokinesis, loss of individual chromosomes, and gross defects in spindle assembly or stability. Immunopurification of KKIP1 from stabilized kinetochores identifies six further components, which form part of a trypanosome outer kinetochore complex. These findings suggest that kinetochores in organisms such as kinetoplastids are built from a divergent, but not ancestrally distinct, set of components and that Ndc80/Nuf2-like proteins are universal in eukaryotic division.