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Kloetzel JA, Aubusson-Fleury A, Butler MD, Banerjee D, Mozzicafreddo M. Sequence and Properties of Cagein, a Coiled-Coil Scaffold Protein Linking Basal Bodies in the Polykinetids of the Ciliate Euplotes aediculatus. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2021; 68:e12850. [PMID: 33738894 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the hypotrich ciliate Euplotes, many individual basal bodies are grouped together in tightly packed clusters, forming ventral polykinetids. These groups of basal bodies (which produce compound ciliary organelles such as cirri and oral membranelles) are cross-linked into ordered arrays by scaffold structures known as "basal-body cages." The major protein comprising Euplotes cages has been previously identified and termed "cagein." Screening a E. aediculatus cDNA expression library with anti-cagein antisera identified a DNA insert containing most of a putative cagein gene; standard PCR techniques were used to complete the sequence. Probes designed from this gene identified a macronuclear "nanochromosome" of ca. 1.5 kb in Southern blots against whole-cell DNA. The protein derived from this sequence (463 residues) is predicted to be hydrophilic and highly charged; however, the native cage structures are highly resistant to salt/detergent extraction. This insolubility could be explained by the coiled-coil regions predicted to extend over much of the length of the derived cagein polypeptide. One frameshift sequence is found within the gene, as well as a short intron. BLAST searches find many ciliates with evident homologues to cagein within their derived genomic sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Kloetzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250, USA
| | - Anne Aubusson-Fleury
- Biogenese et Fonction des Structures Centriolaires, I2BC, Université Paris Saclay, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
| | - Maurice D Butler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, 21250, USA
| | | | - Matteo Mozzicafreddo
- Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Macerata, 62032, Italy
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2
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Candelori A, Yamamoto TG, Iwamoto M, Montani M, Amici A, Vallesi A. Subcellular Targeting of the Euplotes raikovi Kinase Er-MAPK1, as Revealed by Expression in Different Cell Systems. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:244. [PMID: 31681773 PMCID: PMC6811501 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00244] [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: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the ciliate Euplotes raikovi, a 631-amino acid Er-MAPK1 protein kinase was found to localize in nucleoli of the transcriptionally active nucleus (macronucleus) and act as a key component of an autocrine, cell-growth promoting self-signaling mechanism. While its 283-amino acid N-terminal domain includes all the structural specificities of the mitogen-activated protein kinases required for a catalytic function, the 348-amino acid C-terminal domain is structurally unique with undetermined functions. By expressing the two Er-MAPK1 domains tagged with the green fluorescent protein in mammalian fibroblasts, the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, evidence was obtained that the C-terminal domain contains all the sequence information responsible for the Er-MAPK1 subcellular localization. However, in fibroblasts and S. pombe this information determined a nucleolar localization of the GFP-tagged C-terminal domain, and a ciliary localization in T. thermophila. In the light of these findings, the Er-MAPK1 localization in E. raikovi was re-examined via immunoreactions and shown to be ciliary besides that nuclear, as is the case for the mammalian intestinal cell kinase with which the Er-MAPK1 N-terminal domain shares a strong sequence identity and a catalytic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Candelori
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Takaharu G Yamamoto
- Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
| | - Masaaki Iwamoto
- Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kobe, Japan
| | - Maura Montani
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Augusto Amici
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Adriana Vallesi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Chen X, Zhao X, Liu X, Warren A, Zhao F, Miao M. Phylogenomics of non-model ciliates based on transcriptomic analyses. Protein Cell 2015; 6:373-385. [PMID: 25833385 PMCID: PMC4417680 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-015-0147-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ciliates are one of the oldest living eukaryotic unicellular organisms, widely distributed in the waters around the world. As a typical marine oligotrich ciliate, Strombidium sulcatum plays an important role in marine food webs and energy flow. Here we report the first deep sequencing and analyses of RNA-Seq data from Strombidium sulcatum. We generated 42,640 unigenes with an N50 of 1,451 bp after de novo assembly and removing rRNA, mitochondrial and bacteria contaminants. We employed SPOCS to detect orthologs from S. sulcatum and 17 other ciliates, and then carried out the phylogenomic reconstruction using 127 single copy orthologs. In phylogenomic analyses, concatenated trees have similar topological structures with concordance tree on the class level. Together with phylogenetic networks analysis, it aroused more doubts about the placement of Protocruzia, Mesodinium and Myrionecta. While epiplasmic proteins are known to be related to morphological characteristics, we found the potential relationship between gene expression of epiplasmic proteins and morphological characteristics. This work supports the use of high throughput approaches for phylogenomic analysis as well as correlation analysis between expression level of target genes and morphological characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chen
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Xiaolu Zhao
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Xiaohui Liu
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | - Fangqing Zhao
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Miao Miao
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
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Al-Khattaf FS, Tremp AZ, Dessens JT. Plasmodium alveolins possess distinct but structurally and functionally related multi-repeat domains. Parasitol Res 2014; 114:631-9. [PMID: 25475193 PMCID: PMC4303705 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4226-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The invasive and motile life stages of malaria parasites (merozoite, ookinete and sporozoite) possess a distinctive cortical structure termed the pellicle. The pellicle is characterised by a double-layered ‘inner membrane complex’ (IMC) located underneath the plasma membrane, which is supported by a cytoskeletal structure termed the subpellicular network (SPN). The SPN consists of intermediate filaments, whose major constituents include a family of proteins called alveolins. Here, we re-appraise the alveolins in the genus Plasmodium with respect to their repertoire, structure and interrelatedness. Amongst 13 family members identified, we distinguish two domain types that, albeit distinct at the primary structure level, are structurally related and contain tandem repeats with a consensus 12-amino acid periodicity. Analysis in Plasmodium berghei of the most divergent alveolin, PbIMC1d, reveals a zoite-specific expression in ookinetes and a subcellular localisation in the pellicle, consistent with its predicted role as a SPN component. Knockout of PbIMC1d gives rise to a wild-type phenotype with respect to ookinete morphogenesis, tensile strength, gliding motility and infectivity, presenting the first example of apparent functional redundancy amongst alveolin family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatimah S. Al-Khattaf
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
- Department of Infection Control, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Annie Z. Tremp
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Johannes T. Dessens
- Pathogen Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
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Shyu DJH, Chyan CL, Tzen JTC, Chou WM. Molecular Cloning, Expression, and Functional Characterization of a Cystatin from Pineapple Stem. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2014; 68:1681-9. [PMID: 15322351 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.68.1681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A cDNA fragment encoding the cysteine protease inhibitor, cystatin, was cloned from pineapple (Ananas comosus) stem. This clone was constructed in a fusion vector and was easily over-expressed in Escherichia coli; satisfactory over-expression of non-fusion cystatin was achieved after an additional start codon was inserted prior to its coding sequence. Both recombinant cystatins were predominately found in the soluble fraction of the cell extract, and were demonstrated to be functionally active in a reverse zymographic assay. The fusion and non-fusion cystatins were separately purified to homogeneity via a His-tag or papain-coupling affinity column. Effective inhibitory activity against papain was detected with both the fusion and non-fusion cystatins with comparable K(i) values of 1.18 x 10(-10) M and 9.53 x 10(-11) M, respectively. The recombinant cystatins were found to be thermally stable up to 60 degrees C. Inhibition of the endogenous protease activity in minced fish muscle revealed that the recombinant pineapple cystatins might be an adequate stabilizer to prevent protein degradation during industrial food processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J H Shyu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
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Kloetzel JA, Brann TW. Structure and protein composition of a basal-body scaffold ("cage") in the hypotrich ciliate Euplotes. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2012; 59:587-600. [PMID: 23134115 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2012.00639.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Cilia on the ventral surface of the hypotrich ciliate Euplotes are clustered into polykinetids or compound ciliary organelles, such as cirri or oral membranelles, used in locomotion and prey capture. A single polykinetid may contain more than 150 individual cilia; these emerge from basal bodies held in a closely spaced array within a scaffold or framework structure that has been referred to as a basal-body "cage". Cage structures were isolated free of cilia and basal bodies; the predominant component of such cages was found on polyacrylamide gels to be a 45-kDa polypeptide. Antisera were raised against this protein band and used for immunolocalizations at the light and electron microscope levels. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed the 45-kDa polypeptide to be localized exclusively to the bases of the ventral polykinetids. Immunogold staining of thin sections of intact cells further localized this reactivity to filaments of a double-layered dense lattice that appears to link adjoining basal bodies into ordered arrays within each polykinetid. Scanning electron microscopy of isolated cages reveals the lower or "basal" cage layer to be a fine lacey meshwork supporting the basal bodies at their proximal ends; adjoining basal bodies are held at their characteristic spacing by filaments of an upper or "medial" cage layer. The isolated cage thus resembles a miniature test-tube rack, able to accommodate varying arrangements of basal-body rows, depending on the particular type of polykinetid. Because of its clear and specific localization to the basal-body cages in Euplotes, we have termed this novel 45-kDa protein "cagein".
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Kloetzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, USA.
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Lemgruber L, Kloetzel JA, Souza WD, Vommaro RC. Toxoplasma gondii: further studies on the subpellicular network. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2009; 104:706-9. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000500007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2008] [Accepted: 07/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wanderley de Souza
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalização e Qualidade Industrial, Brasil
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Pomel S, Diogon M, Bouchard P, Pradel L, Ravet V, Coffe G, Viguès B. The Membrane Skeleton in Paramecium: Molecular Characterization of a Novel Epiplasmin Family and Preliminary GFP Expression Results. Protist 2006; 157:61-75. [PMID: 16427359 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2005.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2005] [Revised: 10/23/2005] [Accepted: 10/23/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous attempts to identify the membrane skeleton of Paramecium cells have revealed a protein pattern that is both complex and specific. The most prominent structural elements, epiplasmic scales, are centered around ciliary units and are closely apposed to the cytoplasmic side of the inner alveolar membrane. We sought to characterize epiplasmic scale proteins (epiplasmins) at the molecular level. PCR approaches enabled the cloning and sequencing of two closely related genes by amplifications of sequences from a macronuclear genomic library. Using these two genes (EPI-1 and EPI-2), we have contributed to the annotation of the Paramecium tetraurelia macronuclear genome and identified 39 additional (paralogous) sequences. Two orthologous sequences were found in the Tetrahymena thermophila genome. Structural analysis of the 43 sequences indicates that the hallmark of this new multigenic family is a 79 aa domain flanked by two Q-, P- and V-rich stretches of sequence that are much more variable in amino-acid composition. Such features clearly distinguish members of the multigenic family from epiplasmic proteins previously sequenced in other ciliates. The expression of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-tagged epiplasmin showed significant labeling of epiplasmic scales as well as oral structures. We expect that the GFP construct described herein will prove to be a useful tool for comparative subcellular localization of different putative epiplasmins in Paramecium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Pomel
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Protistes, UMR CNRS 6023, Université Blaise Pascal, 63177 Aubière cedex, France
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Paschka AG, Jönsson F, Maier V, Möllenbeck M, Paeschke K, Postberg J, Rupprecht S, Lipps HJ. The use of RNAi to analyze gene function in spirotrichous ciliates. Eur J Protistol 2003. [DOI: 10.1078/0932-4739-00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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