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Ito T, Tojo Y, Fujii M, Nishino K, Kosako H, Shinohara Y. Insights into the Mechanism of Catalytic Activity of Plasmodium Parasite Malate-Quinone Oxidoreductase. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:21647-21657. [PMID: 38764661 PMCID: PMC11097338 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium malate-quinone oxidoreductase (MQO) is a membrane flavoprotein catalyzing the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate and the reduction of quinone to quinol. Recently, using a yeast expression system, we demonstrated that MQO, expressed in place of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDH), contributes to the TCA cycle and the electron transport chain in mitochondria, making MQO attractive as a promising drug target in Plasmodium malaria parasites, which lack mitochondrial MDH. However, there is little information on the structure of MQO and its catalytic mechanism, information that will be required to develop novel drugs. Here, we investigated the catalytic site of P. falciparum MQO (PfMQO) using our yeast expression system. We generated a model structure for PfMQO with the AI tool AlphaFold and used protein footprinting by acetylation with acetic anhydride to analyze the surface topology of the model, confirming the computational prediction to be reasonably accurate. Moreover, a putative catalytic site, which includes a possible flavin-binding site, was identified by this combination of protein footprinting and structural prediction model. This active site was analyzed by site-directed mutagenesis. By measuring enzyme activity and protein expression levels in the PfMQO mutants, we showed that several residues at the active site are essential for enzyme function. In addition, a single substitution mutation near the catalytic site resulted in enhanced sensitivity to ferulenol, an inhibitor of PfMQO that competes with malate for binding to the enzyme. This strongly supports the notion that the substrate binds to the proposed catalytic site. Then, the location of the catalytic site was demonstrated by structural comparison with a homologous enzyme. Finally, we used our results to propose a mechanism for the catalytic activity of MQO by reference to the mechanism of action of structurally or functionally homologous enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Ito
- Institute
of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima
University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima
University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yuma Tojo
- Institute
of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima
University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Minori Fujii
- Institute
of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima
University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Faculty
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Kohei Nishino
- Institute
of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima
University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Kosako
- Institute
of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima
University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Yasuo Shinohara
- Institute
of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima
University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima
University, 3-18 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
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2
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Ma X, Liu B, Gong Z, Wang J, Qu Z, Cai J. Comparative proteomic analysis across the developmental stages of the Eimeria tenella. Genomics 2024; 116:110792. [PMID: 38215860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Eimeria tenella is the main pathogen responsible for coccidiosis in chickens. The life cycle of E. tenella is, arguably, the least complex of all Coccidia, with only one host. However, it presents different developmental stages, either in the environment or in the host and either intracellular or extracellular. Its signaling and metabolic pathways change with its different developmental stages. Until now, little is known about the developmental regulation and transformation mechanisms of its life cycle. In this study, protein profiles from the five developmental stages, including unsporulated oocysts (USO), partially sporulated (7 h) oocysts (SO7h), sporulated oocysts (SO), sporozoites (S) and second-generation merozoites (M2), were harvested using the label-free quantitative proteomics approach. Then the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) for these stages were identified. A total of 314, 432, 689, and 665 DEPs were identified from the comparison of SO7h vs USO, SO vs SO7h, S vs SO, and M2 vs S, respectively. By conducting weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), six modules were dissected. Proteins in blue and brown modules were calculated to be significantly positively correlated with the E. tenella developmental stages of sporozoites (S) and second-generation merozoites (M2), respectively. In addition, hub proteins with high intra-module degree were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses revealed that hub proteins in blue modules were involved in electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Hub proteins in the brown module were involved in RNA splicing. These findings provide new clues and ideas to enhance our fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying parasite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Gansu Province Research Center for Basic Disciplines of Pathogen Biology, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Baohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Gansu Province Research Center for Basic Disciplines of Pathogen Biology, Lanzhou 730046, China.
| | - Zhenxing Gong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Province 750021, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Gansu Province Research Center for Basic Disciplines of Pathogen Biology, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Zigang Qu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Gansu Province Research Center for Basic Disciplines of Pathogen Biology, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jianping Cai
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Gansu Province Research Center for Basic Disciplines of Pathogen Biology, Lanzhou 730046, China.
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Ito T, Kajita S, Fujii M, Shinohara Y. Plasmodium Parasite Malate-Quinone Oxidoreductase Functionally Complements a Yeast Deletion Mutant of Mitochondrial Malate Dehydrogenase. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0016823. [PMID: 37036365 PMCID: PMC10269487 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00168-23] [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: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of drug-resistant variants of malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites is a life-threatening problem worldwide. Investigation of the physiological function of individual parasite proteins is a prerequisite for a deeper understanding of the metabolic pathways required for parasite survival and therefore a requirement for the development of novel antimalarials. A Plasmodium membrane protein, malate-quinone oxidoreductase (MQO), is thought to contribute to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and the electron transport chain (ETC) and is an antimalarial drug target. However, there is little information on its expression and function. Here, we investigated the function of Plasmodium falciparum MQO (PfMQO) in mitochondria using a yeast heterologous expression system. Using a yeast deletion mutant of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDH1), which is expected to be functionally similar to MQO, as a background strain, we successfully constructed PfMQO-expressing yeast. We confirmed that expression of PfMQO complemented the growth defect of the MDH1 deletion, indicating that PfMQO can adopt the metabolic role of MDH1 in energy transduction for growth in the recombinant yeast. Analysis of cell fractions confirmed that PfMQO was expressed and enriched in yeast mitochondria. By measuring MQO activity, we also confirmed that PfMQO expressed in yeast mitochondria was active. Measurement of oxygen consumption rates showed that mitochondrial respiration was driven by the TCA cycle through PfMQO. In addition, we found that MQO activity was enhanced when intact mitochondria were sonicated, indicating that the malate binding site of PfMQO is located facing the mitochondrial matrix. IMPORTANCE We constructed a model organism to study the physiological role and function of P. falciparum malate-quinone oxidoreductase (PfMQO) in a yeast expression system. PfMQO is actively expressed in yeast mitochondria and functions in place of yeast mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate in the TCA cycle. The catalytic site for the oxidation of malate in PfMQO, which is a membrane-bound protein, faces into the mitochondrial matrix, not the mitochondrial inner membrane space. Our findings clearly show that PfMQO is a TCA cycle enzyme and is coupled with the ETC via ubiquinone reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Ito
- Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Sayaka Kajita
- Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Minori Fujii
- Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yasuo Shinohara
- Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
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Effect of the pseudomonas metabolites HQNO on the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain in vitro and in vivo. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023; 21:74-80. [PMID: 36758272 PMCID: PMC9929485 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.02.001] [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: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a widespread disease in humans and animals. Currently, toxoplasmosis chemotherapy options are limited due to severe side effects. There is an urgent need to develop new drugs with better efficacy and few side effects. HQNO, a cytochrome bc1 and type II NADH inhibitor in eukaryotes and bacteria, possesses extensive bioactivity. In this study, the cytotoxicity of HQNO was evaluated in Vero cells. The in vitro effects of HQNO were determined by plaque assay and qPCR assay. To determine the in vivo effect of HQNO, pharmacokinetic experiments and in vivo infection assays were performed in mice. The changes in tachyzoites after HQNO exposure were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), MitoTracker Red CMXRos staining, ROS detection and ATP detection. HQNO inhibited T. gondii invasion and proliferation with an EC50 of 0.995 μM. Pharmacokinetic experiments showed that the Cmax of HQNO (20 mg/kg·bw) was 3560 ± 1601 ng/mL (13.73 μM) in healthy BALB/c mouse plasma with no toxicity in vivo. Moreover, HQNO induced a significant decrease in the parasite burden load of T. gondii in mouse peritoneum. TEM revealed alterations in the mitochondria of T. gondii. Further assays verified that HQNO also decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and ATP levels and enhanced the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in T. gondii. Hence, HQNO exerted anti-T. gondii activity, which may be related to the damage to the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC).
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Kabongo AT, Acharjee R, Sakura T, Bundutidi GM, Hartuti ED, Davies C, Gundogdu O, Kita K, Shiba T, Inaoka DK. Biochemical characterization and identification of ferulenol and embelin as potent inhibitors of malate:quinone oxidoreductase from Campylobacter jejuni. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1095026. [PMID: 36776743 PMCID: PMC9908594 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1095026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni infection poses a serious global threat to public health. The increasing incidence and antibiotic resistance of this bacterial infection have necessitated the adoption of various strategies to curb this trend, primarily through developing new drugs with new mechanisms of action. The enzyme malate:quinone oxidoreductase (MQO) has been shown to be essential for the survival of several bacteria and parasites. MQO is a peripheral membrane protein that catalyses the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate, a crucial step in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In addition, MQO is involved in the reduction of the quinone pool in the electron transport chain and thus contributes to cellular bioenergetics. The enzyme is an attractive drug target as it is not conserved in mammals. As a preliminary step in assessing the potential application of MQO from C. jejuni (CjMQO) as a new drug target, we purified active recombinant CjMQO and conducted, for the first time, biochemical analyses of MQO from a pathogenic bacterium. Our study showed that ferulenol, a submicromolar mitochondrial MQO inhibitor, and embelin are nanomolar inhibitors of CjMQO. We showed that both inhibitors are mixed-type inhibitors versus malate and noncompetitive versus quinone, suggesting the existence of a third binding site to accommodate these inhibitors; indeed, such a trait appears to be conserved between mitochondrial and bacterial MQOs. Interestingly, ferulenol and embelin also inhibit the in vitro growth of C. jejuni, supporting the hypothesis that MQO is essential for C. jejuni survival and is therefore an important drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustin Tshibaka Kabongo
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Public Health, University of Mbujimayi, Kinshasa, Congo
| | - Rajib Acharjee
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Disease, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Takaya Sakura
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Gloria Mavinga Bundutidi
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Disease, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Pediatrics, Kinshasa University Hospital, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Congo
| | - Endah Dwi Hartuti
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Program for Nurturing Global Leaders in Tropical and Emerging Communicable Disease, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Research Center for Genetic Engineering, National Research and Innovation Agency, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Cadi Davies
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ozan Gundogdu
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kiyoshi Kita
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Host-Defense Biochemistry, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoo Shiba
- Department of Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan,*Correspondence: Tomoo Shiba, ; Daniel Ken Inaoka,
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,*Correspondence: Tomoo Shiba, ; Daniel Ken Inaoka,
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Usey MM, Huet D. Parasite powerhouse: A review of the Toxoplasma gondii mitochondrion. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2022; 69:e12906. [PMID: 35315174 PMCID: PMC9490983 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a member of the apicomplexan phylum, a group of single-celled eukaryotic parasites that cause significant human morbidity and mortality around the world. T. gondii harbors two organelles of endosymbiotic origin: a non-photosynthetic plastid, known as the apicoplast, and a single mitochondrion derived from the ancient engulfment of an α-proteobacterium. Due to excitement surrounding the novelty of the apicoplast, the T. gondii mitochondrion was, to a certain extent, overlooked for about two decades. However, recent work has illustrated that the mitochondrion is an essential hub of apicomplexan-specific biology. Development of novel techniques, such as cryo-electron microscopy, complexome profiling, and next-generation sequencing have led to a renaissance in mitochondrial studies. This review will cover what is currently known about key features of the T. gondii mitochondrion, ranging from its genome to protein import machinery and biochemical pathways. Particular focus will be given to mitochondrial features that diverge significantly from the mammalian host, along with discussion of this important organelle as a drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelaine M. Usey
- Department of Cellular BiologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global DiseasesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Diego Huet
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global DiseasesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA,Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical SciencesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
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