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Vizcaíno-Castillo A, Kotila T, Kogan K, Yanase R, Como J, Antenucci L, Michelot A, Sunter JD, Lappalainen P. Leishmania profilin interacts with actin through an unusual structural mechanism to control cytoskeletal dynamics in parasites. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105740. [PMID: 38340794 PMCID: PMC10907219 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105740] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Diseases caused by Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites are a major health problem in tropical countries. Because of their complex life cycle involving both vertebrate and insect hosts, and >1 billion years of evolutionarily distance, the cell biology of trypanosomatid parasites exhibits pronounced differences to animal cells. For example, the actin cytoskeleton of trypanosomatids is divergent when compared with other eukaryotes. To understand how actin dynamics are regulated in trypanosomatid parasites, we focused on a central actin-binding protein profilin. Co-crystal structure of Leishmania major actin in complex with L. major profilin revealed that, although the overall folds of actin and profilin are conserved in eukaryotes, Leishmania profilin contains a unique α-helical insertion, which interacts with the target binding cleft of actin monomer. This insertion is conserved across the Trypanosomatidae family and is similar to the structure of WASP homology-2 (WH2) domain, a small actin-binding motif found in many other cytoskeletal regulators. The WH2-like motif contributes to actin monomer binding and enhances the actin nucleotide exchange activity of Leishmania profilin. Moreover, Leishmania profilin inhibited formin-catalyzed actin filament assembly in a mechanism that is dependent on the presence of the WH2-like motif. By generating profilin knockout and knockin Leishmania mexicana strains, we show that profilin is important for efficient endocytic sorting in parasites, and that the ability to bind actin monomers and proline-rich proteins, and the presence of a functional WH2-like motif, are important for the in vivo function of Leishmania profilin. Collectively, this study uncovers molecular principles by which profilin regulates actin dynamics in trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tommi Kotila
- HiLIFE Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Konstantin Kogan
- HiLIFE Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ryuji Yanase
- Oxford Brookes University, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford, UK
| | - Juna Como
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Lina Antenucci
- HiLIFE Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alphee Michelot
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Jack D Sunter
- Oxford Brookes University, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford, UK.
| | - Pekka Lappalainen
- HiLIFE Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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2
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Collier S, Pietsch E, Dans M, Ling D, Tavella TA, Lopaticki S, Marapana DS, Shibu MA, Andrew D, Tiash S, McMillan PJ, Gilson P, Tilley L, Dixon MWA. Plasmodium falciparum formins are essential for invasion and sexual stage development. Commun Biol 2023; 6:861. [PMID: 37596377 PMCID: PMC10439200 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05233-y] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite uses actin-based mechanisms throughout its lifecycle to control a range of biological processes including intracellular trafficking, gene regulation, parasite motility and invasion. In this work we assign functions to the Plasmodium falciparum formins 1 and 2 (FRM1 and FRM2) proteins in asexual and sexual blood stage development. We show that FRM1 is essential for merozoite invasion and FRM2 is required for efficient cell division. We also observed divergent functions for FRM1 and FRM2 in gametocyte development. Conditional deletion of FRM1 leads to a delay in gametocyte stage progression. We show that FRM2 controls the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons in developing gametocytes, with premature removal of the protein resulting in a loss of transmissible stage V gametocytes. Lastly, we show that targeting formin proteins with the small molecule inhibitor of formin homology domain 2 (SMIFH2) leads to a multistage block in asexual and sexual stage parasite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Collier
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Emma Pietsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Madeline Dans
- The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Dawson Ling
- The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Tatyana A Tavella
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Sash Lopaticki
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Danushka S Marapana
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Mohini A Shibu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Dean Andrew
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Snigdha Tiash
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul J McMillan
- Biological Optical Microscopy Platform, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul Gilson
- The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Leann Tilley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Matthew W A Dixon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
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3
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Dans MG, Piirainen H, Nguyen W, Khurana S, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Dawson AT, Das S, Parkyn Schneider M, Jonsdottir TK, Gabriela M, Gancheva MR, Tonkin CJ, Mollard V, Goodman CD, McFadden GI, Wilson DW, Rogers KL, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Sleebs BE, Kursula I, Gilson PR. Sulfonylpiperazine compounds prevent Plasmodium falciparum invasion of red blood cells through interference with actin-1/profilin dynamics. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002066. [PMID: 37053271 PMCID: PMC10128974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
With emerging resistance to frontline treatments, it is vital that new antimalarial drugs are identified to target Plasmodium falciparum. We have recently described a compound, MMV020291, as a specific inhibitor of red blood cell (RBC) invasion, and have generated analogues with improved potency. Here, we generated resistance to MMV020291 and performed whole genome sequencing of 3 MMV020291-resistant populations. This revealed 3 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in 2 genes; 2 in profilin (N154Y, K124N) and a third one in actin-1 (M356L). Using CRISPR-Cas9, we engineered these mutations into wild-type parasites, which rendered them resistant to MMV020291. We demonstrate that MMV020291 reduces actin polymerisation that is required by the merozoite stage parasites to invade RBCs. Additionally, the series inhibits the actin-1-dependent process of apicoplast segregation, leading to a delayed death phenotype. In vitro cosedimentation experiments using recombinant P. falciparum proteins indicate that potent MMV020291 analogues disrupt the formation of filamentous actin in the presence of profilin. Altogether, this study identifies the first compound series interfering with the actin-1/profilin interaction in P. falciparum and paves the way for future antimalarial development against the highly dynamic process of actin polymerisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Dans
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Henni Piirainen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - William Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sachin Khurana
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Somya Mehra
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Sujaan Das
- Ludwig Maximilian University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria R Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Mollard
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alyssa E Barry
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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4
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Lopez AJ, Andreadaki M, Vahokoski J, Deligianni E, Calder LJ, Camerini S, Freitag A, Bergmann U, Rosenthal PB, Sidén-Kiamos I, Kursula I. Structure and function of Plasmodium actin II in the parasite mosquito stages. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011174. [PMID: 36877739 PMCID: PMC10019781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Actins are filament-forming, highly-conserved proteins in eukaryotes. They are involved in essential processes in the cytoplasm and also have nuclear functions. Malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) have two actin isoforms that differ from each other and from canonical actins in structure and filament-forming properties. Actin I has an essential role in motility and is fairly well characterized. The structure and function of actin II are not as well understood, but mutational analyses have revealed two essential functions in male gametogenesis and in the oocyst. Here, we present expression analysis, high-resolution filament structures, and biochemical characterization of Plasmodium actin II. We confirm expression in male gametocytes and zygotes and show that actin II is associated with the nucleus in both stages in filament-like structures. Unlike actin I, actin II readily forms long filaments in vitro, and near-atomic structures in the presence or absence of jasplakinolide reveal very similar structures. Small but significant differences compared to other actins in the openness and twist, the active site, the D-loop, and the plug region contribute to filament stability. The function of actin II was investigated through mutational analysis, suggesting that long and stable filaments are necessary for male gametogenesis, while a second function in the oocyst stage also requires fine-tuned regulation by methylation of histidine 73. Actin II polymerizes via the classical nucleation-elongation mechanism and has a critical concentration of ~0.1 μM at the steady-state, like actin I and canonical actins. Similarly to actin I, dimers are a stable form of actin II at equilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J. Lopez
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Maria Andreadaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Elena Deligianni
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Lesley J. Calder
- Structural Biology of Cells and Viruses Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anika Freitag
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ulrich Bergmann
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Peter B. Rosenthal
- Structural Biology of Cells and Viruses Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Inga Sidén-Kiamos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
- * E-mail: (ISK); (IK)
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- * E-mail: (ISK); (IK)
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5
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Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum myosin B ATPase activity and structure in complex with the calmodulin-like domain of its light chain MLC-B. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102634. [PMID: 36273584 PMCID: PMC9692044 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102634] [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: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Myosin B (MyoB) is a class 14 myosin expressed in all invasive stages of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. It is not associated with the glideosome complex that drives motility and invasion of host cells. During red blood cell invasion, MyoB remains at the apical tip of the merozoite but is no longer observed once invasion is completed. MyoB is not essential for parasite survival, but when it is knocked out, merozoites are delayed in the initial stages of red blood cell invasion, giving rise to a growth defect that correlates with reduced invasion success. Therefore, further characterization is needed to understand how MyoB contributes to parasite invasion. Here, we have expressed and purified functional MyoB with the help of parasite-specific chaperones Hsp90 and Unc45, characterized its binding to actin and its known light chain MLC-B using biochemical and biophysical methods and determined its low-resolution structure in solution using small angle X-ray scattering. In addition to MLC-B, we found that four other putative regulatory light chains bind to the MyoB IQ2 motif in vitro. The purified recombinant MyoB adopted the overall shape of a myosin, exhibited actin-activated ATPase activity, and moved actin filaments in vitro. Additionally, we determined that the ADP release rate was faster than the ATP turnover number, and thus, does not appear to be rate limiting. This, together with the observed high affinity to actin and the specific localization of MyoB, may point toward a role in tethering and/or force sensing during early stages of invasion.
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6
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Structure and function of an atypical homodimeric actin capping protein from the malaria parasite. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:125. [PMID: 35132495 PMCID: PMC8821504 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04032-0] [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: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as Plasmodium spp., rely on an unusual actomyosin motor, termed glideosome, for motility and host cell invasion. The actin filaments are maintained by a small set of essential regulators, which provide control over actin dynamics in the different stages of the parasite life cycle. Actin filament capping proteins (CPs) are indispensable heterodimeric regulators of actin dynamics. CPs have been extensively characterized in higher eukaryotes, but their role and functional mechanism in Apicomplexa remain enigmatic. Here, we present the first crystal structure of a homodimeric CP from the malaria parasite and compare the homo- and heterodimeric CP structures in detail. Despite retaining several characteristics of a canonical CP, the homodimeric Plasmodium berghei (Pb)CP exhibits crucial differences to the canonical heterodimers. Both homo- and heterodimeric PbCPs regulate actin dynamics in an atypical manner, facilitating rapid turnover of parasite actin, without affecting its critical concentration. Homo- and heterodimeric PbCPs show partially redundant activities, possibly to rescue actin filament capping in life cycle stages where the β-subunit is downregulated. Our data suggest that the homodimeric PbCP also influences actin kinetics by recruiting lateral actin dimers. This unusual function could arise from the absence of a β-subunit, as the asymmetric PbCP homodimer lacks structural elements essential for canonical barbed end interactions suggesting a novel CP binding mode. These findings will facilitate further studies aimed at elucidating the precise actin filament capping mechanism in Plasmodium.
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7
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Moreau CA, Quadt KA, Piirainen H, Kumar H, Bhargav SP, Strauss L, Tolia NH, Wade RC, Spatz JP, Kursula I, Frischknecht F. A function of profilin in force generation during malaria parasite motility that is independent of actin binding. J Cell Sci 2020; 134:jcs233775. [PMID: 32034083 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.233775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
During transmission of malaria-causing parasites from mosquito to mammal, Plasmodium sporozoites migrate at high speed within the skin to access the bloodstream and infect the liver. This unusual gliding motility is based on retrograde flow of membrane proteins and highly dynamic actin filaments that provide short tracks for a myosin motor. Using laser tweezers and parasite mutants, we previously suggested that actin filaments form macromolecular complexes with plasma membrane-spanning adhesins to generate force during migration. Mutations in the actin-binding region of profilin, a near ubiquitous actin-binding protein, revealed that loss of actin binding also correlates with loss of force production and motility. Here, we show that different mutations in profilin, that do not affect actin binding in vitro, still generate lower force during Plasmodium sporozoite migration. Lower force generation inversely correlates with increased retrograde flow suggesting that, like in mammalian cells, the slow down of flow to generate force is the key underlying principle governing Plasmodium gliding motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Moreau
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina A Quadt
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research and Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Henni Piirainen
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Hirdesh Kumar
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance and Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Saligram P Bhargav
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Léanne Strauss
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Rebecca C Wade
- Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance and Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim P Spatz
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research and Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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8
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Bendes ÁÁ, Chatterjee M, Götte B, Kursula P, Kursula I. Functional homo- and heterodimeric actin capping proteins from the malaria parasite. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 525:681-686. [PMID: 32139121 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.02.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Actin capping proteins belong to the core set of proteins minimally required for actin-based motility and are present in virtually all eukaryotic cells. They bind to the fast-growing barbed end of an actin filament, preventing addition and loss of monomers, thus restricting growth to the slow-growing pointed end. Actin capping proteins are usually heterodimers of two subunits. The Plasmodium orthologs are an exception, as their α subunits are able to form homodimers. We show here that, while the β subunit alone is unstable, the α subunit of the Plasmodium actin capping protein forms functional homo- and heterodimers. This implies independent functions for the αα homo- and αβ heterodimers in certain stages of the parasite life cycle. Structurally, the homodimers resemble canonical αβ heterodimers, although certain rearrangements at the interface must be required. Both homo- and heterodimers bind to actin filaments in a roughly equimolar ratio, indicating they may also bind other sites than barbed ends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ábris Ádám Bendes
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5400, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Moon Chatterjee
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Götte
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Petri Kursula
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5400, 90014, Oulu, Finland; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, Bergen, 5009, Norway.
| | - Inari Kursula
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5400, 90014, Oulu, Finland; Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, Bergen, 5009, Norway.
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9
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Kumpula EP, Pires I, Lasiwa D, Piirainen H, Bergmann U, Vahokoski J, Kursula I. Apicomplexan actin polymerization depends on nucleation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12137. [PMID: 28939886 PMCID: PMC5610305 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11330-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Filamentous actin is critical for apicomplexan motility and host cell invasion. Yet, parasite actin filaments are short and unstable. Their kinetic characterization has been hampered by the lack of robust quantitative methods. Using a modified labeling method, we carried out thorough biochemical characterization of malaria parasite actin. In contrast to the isodesmic polymerization mechanism suggested for Toxoplasma gondii actin, Plasmodium falciparum actin I polymerizes via the classical nucleation-elongation pathway, with kinetics similar to canonical actins. A high fragmentation rate, governed by weak lateral contacts within the filament, is likely the main reason for the short filament length. At steady state, Plasmodium actin is present in equal amounts of short filaments and dimers, with a small proportion of monomers, representing the apparent critical concentration of ~0.1 µM. The dimers polymerize but do not serve as nuclei. Our work enhances understanding of actin evolution and the mechanistic details of parasite motility, serving as a basis for exploring parasite actin and actin nucleators as drug targets against malaria and other apicomplexan parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esa-Pekka Kumpula
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220, Oulu, Finland
| | - Isa Pires
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220, Oulu, Finland
| | - Devaki Lasiwa
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220, Oulu, Finland
| | - Henni Piirainen
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ulrich Bergmann
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Inari Kursula
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220, Oulu, Finland. .,Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway.
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10
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Moreau CA, Bhargav SP, Kumar H, Quadt KA, Piirainen H, Strauss L, Kehrer J, Streichfuss M, Spatz JP, Wade RC, Kursula I, Frischknecht F. A unique profilin-actin interface is important for malaria parasite motility. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006412. [PMID: 28552953 PMCID: PMC5464670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Profilin is an actin monomer binding protein that provides ATP-actin for incorporation into actin filaments. In contrast to higher eukaryotic cells with their large filamentous actin structures, apicomplexan parasites typically contain only short and highly dynamic microfilaments. In apicomplexans, profilin appears to be the main monomer-sequestering protein. Compared to classical profilins, apicomplexan profilins contain an additional arm-like β-hairpin motif, which we show here to be critically involved in actin binding. Through comparative analysis using two profilin mutants, we reveal this motif to be implicated in gliding motility of Plasmodium berghei sporozoites, the rapidly migrating forms of a rodent malaria parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Force measurements on migrating sporozoites and molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the interaction between actin and profilin fine-tunes gliding motility. Our data suggest that evolutionary pressure to achieve efficient high-speed gliding has resulted in a unique profilin-actin interface in these parasites. The malaria parasite Plasmodium has two invasive forms that migrate across different tissue barriers, the ookinete and the very rapidly migrating sporozoite. Previous work has shown that the motility of these and related parasites (e.g. Toxoplasma gondii) depends on a highly dynamic actin cytoskeleton and retrograde flow of surface adhesins. These unusual actin dynamics are due to the divergent structure of protozoan actins and the actions of actin-binding proteins, which can have non-canonical functions in these parasites. Profilin is one of the most important and most investigated actin-binding proteins, which binds ADP-actin and catalyzes ADP-ATP exchange to then promote actin polymerization. Parasite profilins bind monomeric actin and contain an additional domain compared to canonical profilins. Here we show that this additional domain of profilin is critical for actin binding and rapid sporozoite motility but has little impact on the slower ookinete. Sporozoites of a parasite line carrying mutations in this domain cannot translate force production and retrograde flow into optimal parasite motility. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we find that differences between mutant parasites in their capacity to migrate can be traced back to a single hydrogen bond at the actin-profilin interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Moreau
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Saligram P. Bhargav
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Hirdesh Kumar
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina A. Quadt
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Henni Piirainen
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Léanne Strauss
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jessica Kehrer
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Streichfuss
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim P. Spatz
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca C. Wade
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance and Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- * E-mail: (IK); (FF)
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail: (IK); (FF)
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11
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Bhargav SP, Vahokoski J, Kallio JP, Torda AE, Kursula P, Kursula I. Two independently folding units of Plasmodium profilin suggest evolution via gene fusion. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:4193-203. [PMID: 26012696 PMCID: PMC11113795 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1932-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Gene fusion is a common mechanism of protein evolution that has mainly been discussed in the context of multidomain or symmetric proteins. Less is known about fusion of ancestral genes to produce small single-domain proteins. Here, we show with a domain-swapped mutant Plasmodium profilin that this small, globular, apparently single-domain protein consists of two foldons. The separation of binding sites for different protein ligands in the two halves suggests evolution via an ancient gene fusion event, analogous to the formation of multidomain proteins. Finally, the two fragments can be assembled together after expression as two separate gene products. The possibility to engineer both domain-swapped dimers and half-profilins that can be assembled back to a full profilin provides perspectives for engineering of novel protein folds, e.g., with different scaffolding functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5400, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha Pekka Kallio
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrew E Torda
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Hamburg, Bundesstrasse 43, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petri Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5400, 90014, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5400, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
- German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009, Bergen, Norway.
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12
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Unconventional actins and actin-binding proteins in human protozoan parasites. Int J Parasitol 2015; 45:435-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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13
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Kumpula EP, Kursula I. Towards a molecular understanding of the apicomplexan actin motor: on a road to novel targets for malaria remedies? Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2015; 71:500-13. [PMID: 25945702 PMCID: PMC4427158 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x1500391x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites are the causative agents of notorious human and animal diseases that give rise to considerable human suffering and economic losses worldwide. The most prominent parasites of this phylum are the malaria-causing Plasmodium species, which are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, and Toxoplasma gondii, which infects one third of the world's population. These parasites share a common form of gliding motility which relies on an actin-myosin motor. The components of this motor and the actin-regulatory proteins in Apicomplexa have unique features compared with all other eukaryotes. This, together with the crucial roles of these proteins, makes them attractive targets for structure-based drug design. In recent years, several structures of glideosome components, in particular of actins and actin regulators from apicomplexan parasites, have been determined, which will hopefully soon allow the creation of a complete molecular picture of the parasite actin-myosin motor and its regulatory machinery. Here, current knowledge of the function of this motor is reviewed from a structural perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esa-Pekka Kumpula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- German Electron Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- German Electron Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
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14
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Hliscs M, Millet C, Dixon MW, Siden-Kiamos I, McMillan P, Tilley L. Organization and function of an actin cytoskeleton inPlasmodium falciparumgametocytes. Cell Microbiol 2014; 17:207-25. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 08/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Hliscs
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science; The University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
- School of Botany; The University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
| | - Coralie Millet
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science; The University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
| | - Matthew W. Dixon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science; The University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
| | - Inga Siden-Kiamos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Foundation for Research and Technology; Hellas, 700 13 Heraklion Crete Greece
| | - Paul McMillan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
- The Biological Optical Microscopy Platform; The University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
| | - Leann Tilley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science; The University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
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15
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Salamun J, Kallio JP, Daher W, Soldati-Favre D, Kursula I. Structure of Toxoplasma gondii coronin, an actin-binding protein that relocalizes to the posterior pole of invasive parasites and contributes to invasion and egress. FASEB J 2014; 28:4729-47. [PMID: 25114175 DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-252569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Coronins are involved in the regulation of actin dynamics in a multifaceted way, participating in cell migration and vesicular trafficking. Apicomplexan parasites, which exhibit an actin-dependent gliding motility that is essential for traversal through tissues, as well as invasion of and egress from host cells, express only a single coronin, whereas higher eukaryotes possess several isoforms. We set out to characterize the 3-D structure, biochemical function, subcellular localization, and genetic ablation of Toxoplasma gondii coronin (TgCOR), to shed light on its biological role. A combination of X-ray crystallography, small-angle scattering of X-rays, and light scattering revealed the atomic structure of the conserved WD40 domain and the dimeric arrangement of the full-length protein. TgCOR binds to F-actin and increases the rate and extent of actin polymerization. In vivo, TgCOR relocalizes transiently to the posterior pole of motile and invading parasites, independent of actin dynamics, but concomitant to microneme secretory organelle discharge. TgCOR contributes to, but is not essential for, invasion and egress. Taken together, our data point toward a role for TgCOR in stabilizing newly formed, short filaments and F-actin cross-linking, as well as functions linked to endocytosis and recycling of membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Salamun
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Juha P Kallio
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany; and
| | - Wassim Daher
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - Inari Kursula
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany; and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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16
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Vahokoski J, Bhargav SP, Desfosses A, Andreadaki M, Kumpula EP, Martinez SM, Ignatev A, Lepper S, Frischknecht F, Sidén-Kiamos I, Sachse C, Kursula I. Structural differences explain diverse functions of Plasmodium actins. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004091. [PMID: 24743229 PMCID: PMC3990709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Actins are highly conserved proteins and key players in central processes in all eukaryotic cells. The two actins of the malaria parasite are among the most divergent eukaryotic actins and also differ from each other more than isoforms in any other species. Microfilaments have not been directly observed in Plasmodium and are presumed to be short and highly dynamic. We show that actin I cannot complement actin II in male gametogenesis, suggesting critical structural differences. Cryo-EM reveals that Plasmodium actin I has a unique filament structure, whereas actin II filaments resemble canonical F-actin. Both Plasmodium actins hydrolyze ATP more efficiently than α-actin, and unlike any other actin, both parasite actins rapidly form short oligomers induced by ADP. Crystal structures of both isoforms pinpoint several structural changes in the monomers causing the unique polymerization properties. Inserting the canonical D-loop to Plasmodium actin I leads to the formation of long filaments in vitro. In vivo, this chimera restores gametogenesis in parasites lacking actin II, suggesting that stable filaments are required for exflagellation. Together, these data underline the divergence of eukaryotic actins and demonstrate how structural differences in the monomers translate into filaments with different properties, implying that even eukaryotic actins have faced different evolutionary pressures and followed different paths for developing their polymerization properties. Malaria parasites have two actin isoforms, which are among the most divergent within the actin family that comprises highly conserved proteins, essential in all eukaryotic cells. In Plasmodium, actin is indispensable for motility and, thus, the infectivity of the deadly parasite. Yet, actin filaments have not been observed in vivo in these pathogens. Here, we show that the two Plasmodium actins differ from each other in both monomeric and filamentous form and that actin I cannot replace actin II during male gametogenesis. Whereas the major isoform actin I cannot form stable filaments alone, the mosquito-stage-specific actin II readily forms long filaments that have dimensions similar to canonical actins. A chimeric actin I mutant that forms long filaments in vitro also rescues gametogenesis in parasites lacking actin II. Both Plasmodium actins rapidly hydrolyze ATP and form short oligomers in the presence of ADP, which is a fundamental difference to all other actins characterized to date. Structural and functional differences in the two Plasmodium actin isoforms compared both to each other and to canonical actins reveal how the polymerization properties of eukaryotic actins have evolved along different avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Vahokoski
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Ambroise Desfosses
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Andreadaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Esa-Pekka Kumpula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Ignatev
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Simone Lepper
- Parasitology – Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Parasitology – Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inga Sidén-Kiamos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Carsten Sachse
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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17
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Bhargav SP, Vahokoski J, Kumpula EP, Kursula I. Crystallization and preliminary structural characterization of the two actin isoforms of the malaria parasite. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:1171-6. [PMID: 24100575 PMCID: PMC3792683 DOI: 10.1107/s174430911302441x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium that use a divergent actin-powered molecular motor for motility and invasion. Plasmodium actin differs from canonical actins in sequence, structure and function. Here, the purification, crystallization and secondary-structure analysis of the two Plasmodium actin isoforms are presented. The recombinant parasite actins were folded and could be purified to homogeneity. Plasmodium actins I and II were crystallized in complex with the gelsolin G1 domain; the crystals diffracted to resolutions of 1.19 and 2.2 Å and belonged to space groups P2₁2₁2₁ and P2₁, respectively, each with one complex in the asymmetric unit.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Esa-Pekka Kumpula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Building 25b, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Building 25b, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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18
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Ruskamo S, Chukhlieb M, Vahokoski J, Bhargav SP, Liang F, Kursula I, Kursula P. Juxtanodin is an intrinsically disordered F-actin-binding protein. Sci Rep 2012; 2:899. [PMID: 23198089 PMCID: PMC3509349 DOI: 10.1038/srep00899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Juxtanodin, also called ermin, is an F-actin-binding protein expressed by oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system. While juxtanodin carries a short conserved F-actin-binding segment at its C terminus, it otherwise shares no similarity with known protein sequences. We carried out a structural characterization of recombinant juxtanodin in solution. Juxtanodin turned out to be intrinsically disordered, as evidenced by conventional and synchrotron radiation CD spectroscopy. Small-angle X-ray scattering indicated that juxtanodin is a monomeric, highly elongated, unfolded molecule. Ensemble optimization analysis of the data suggested also the presence of more compact forms of juxtanodin. The C terminus was a strict requirement for co-sedimentation of juxtanodin with microfilaments, but juxtanodin had only mild effects on actin polymerization. The disordered nature of juxtanodin may predict functions as a protein interaction hub, although F-actin is its only currently known binding partner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salla Ruskamo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Maryna Chukhlieb
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Fengyi Liang
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (CSSB-HZI); Department of Chemistry, University of Hamburg; and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petri Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (CSSB-HZI); Department of Chemistry, University of Hamburg; and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
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