1
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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2
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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3
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Vahokoski J, Calder LJ, Lopez AJ, Molloy JE, Kursula I, Rosenthal PB. High-resolution structures of malaria parasite actomyosin and actin filaments. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010408. [PMID: 35377914 PMCID: PMC9037914 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is responsible for half a million deaths annually and poses a huge economic burden on the developing world. The mosquito-borne parasites (Plasmodium spp.) that cause the disease depend upon an unconventional actomyosin motor for both gliding motility and host cell invasion. The motor system, often referred to as the glideosome complex, remains to be understood in molecular terms and is an attractive target for new drugs that might block the infection pathway. Here, we present the high-resolution structure of the actomyosin motor complex from Plasmodium falciparum. The complex includes the malaria parasite actin filament (PfAct1) complexed with the class XIV myosin motor (PfMyoA) and its two associated light-chains. The high-resolution core structure reveals the PfAct1:PfMyoA interface in atomic detail, while at lower-resolution, we visualize the PfMyoA light-chain binding region, including the essential light chain (PfELC) and the myosin tail interacting protein (PfMTIP). Finally, we report a bare PfAct1 filament structure at improved resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lesley J. Calder
- Structural Biology of Cells and Viruses Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea J. Lopez
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Justin E. Molloy
- Structural Biology of Cells and Viruses Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Biocenter Oulu and 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
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Bustad HJ, Kallio JP, Laitaoja M, Toska K, Kursula I, Martinez A, Jänis J. Characterization of porphobilinogen deaminase mutants reveals that arginine-173 is crucial for polypyrrole elongation mechanism. iScience 2021; 24:102152. [PMID: 33665570 PMCID: PMC7907807 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD), the third enzyme in the heme biosynthesis, catalyzes the sequential coupling of four porphobilinogen (PBG) molecules into a heme precursor. Mutations in PBGD are associated with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), a rare metabolic disorder. We used Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to demonstrate that wild-type PBGD and AIP-associated mutant R167W both existed as holoenzymes (Eholo) covalently attached to the dipyrromethane cofactor, and three intermediate complexes, ES, ES2, and ES3, where S represents PBG. In contrast, only ES2 was detected in AIP-associated mutant R173W, indicating that the formation of ES3 is inhibited. The R173W crystal structure in the ES2-state revealed major rearrangements of the loops around the active site, compared to wild-type PBGD in the Eholo-state. These results contribute to elucidating the structural pathogenesis of two common AIP-associated mutations and reveal the important structural role of Arg173 in the polypyrrole elongation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene J Bustad
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Juha P Kallio
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Mikko Laitaoja
- Department of Chemistry, University of Eastern Finland, 80130 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Karen Toska
- Norwegian Porphyria Centre (NAPOS), Department for Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway.,Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
| | - Aurora Martinez
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Janne Jänis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Eastern Finland, 80130 Joensuu, Finland
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Han H, Round E, Schubert R, Gül Y, Makroczyová J, Meza D, Heuser P, Aepfelbacher M, Barák I, Betzel C, Fromme P, Kursula I, Nissen P, Tereschenko E, Schulz J, Uetrecht C, Ulicný J, Wilmanns M, Hajdu J, Lamzin VS, Lorenzen K. The XBI BioLab for life science experiments at the European XFEL. J Appl Crystallogr 2021; 54:7-21. [PMID: 33833637 PMCID: PMC7941304 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720013989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The science of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) critically depends on the performance of the X-ray laser and on the quality of the samples placed into the X-ray beam. The stability of biological samples is limited and key biomolecular transformations occur on short timescales. Experiments in biology require a support laboratory in the immediate vicinity of the beamlines. The XBI BioLab of the European XFEL (XBI denotes XFEL Biology Infrastructure) is an integrated user facility connected to the beamlines for supporting a wide range of biological experiments. The laboratory was financed and built by a collaboration between the European XFEL and the XBI User Consortium, whose members come from Finland, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Sweden and the USA, with observers from Denmark and the Russian Federation. Arranged around a central wet laboratory, the XBI BioLab provides facilities for sample preparation and scoring, laboratories for growing prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, a Bio Safety Level 2 laboratory, sample purification and characterization facilities, a crystallization laboratory, an anaerobic laboratory, an aerosol laboratory, a vacuum laboratory for injector tests, and laboratories for optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy. Here, an overview of the XBI facility is given and some of the results of the first user experiments are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijong Han
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Ekaterina Round
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robin Schubert
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yasmin Gül
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jana Makroczyová
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 21, 845 51 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Domingo Meza
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery and School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Philipp Heuser
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Aepfelbacher
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Imrich Barák
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 21, 845 51 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Christian Betzel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Fromme
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery and School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - 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
| | - Poul Nissen
- DANDRITE, Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, DK – 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Elena Tereschenko
- Institute of Crystallography, Russian Academy of Sciences, 59 Leninsky prospekt, Moscow, 117333, Russian Federation
| | - Joachim Schulz
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Charlotte Uetrecht
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Martinistrasse 52, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jozef Ulicný
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University, Jesenná 5, 04154 Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Matthias Wilmanns
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Janos Hajdu
- The European Extreme Light Infrastructure, Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Victor S. Lamzin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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Lopez Moreno A, Kursula I. Optimization of crystallization conditions for PfActII in complex with fragmin F1 domain. Acta Crystallogr A Found Adv 2020. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767320098207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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7
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Makumire S, Zininga T, Vahokoski J, Kursula I, Shonhai A. Biophysical analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (PfHop) reveals a monomer that is characterised by folded segments connected by flexible linkers. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226657. [PMID: 32343703 PMCID: PMC7188212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum causes the most lethal form of malaria. The cooperation of heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 and 90 is thought to facilitate folding of select group of cellular proteins that are crucial for cyto-protection and development of the parasites. Hsp70 and Hsp90 are brought into a functional complex that allows substrate exchange by stress inducible protein 1 (STI1), also known as Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (Hop). P. falciparum Hop (PfHop) co-localises and occurs in complex with the parasite cytosolic chaperones, PfHsp70-1 and PfHsp90. Here, we characterised the structure of recombinant PfHop using synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) and small-angle X-ray scattering. Structurally, PfHop is a monomeric, elongated but folded protein, in agreement with its predicted TPR domain structure. Using SRCD, we established that PfHop is unstable at temperatures higher than 40°C. This suggests that PfHop is less stable at elevated temperatures compared to its functional partner, PfHsp70-1, that is reportedly stable at temperatures as high as 80°C. These findings contribute towards our understanding of the role of the Hop-mediated functional partnership between Hsp70 and Hsp90.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Makumire
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Tawanda Zininga
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Biocenter Oulu & Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Addmore Shonhai
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
- * E-mail:
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8
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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10
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Kumpula EP, Lopez AJ, Tajedin L, Han H, Kursula I. Atomic view into Plasmodium actin polymerization, ATP hydrolysis, and fragmentation. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000315. [PMID: 31199804 PMCID: PMC6599135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium actins form very short filaments and have a noncanonical link between ATP hydrolysis and polymerization. Long filaments are detrimental to the parasites, but the structural factors constraining Plasmodium microfilament lengths have remained unknown. Using high-resolution crystallography, we show that magnesium binding causes a slight flattening of the Plasmodium actin I monomer, and subsequent phosphate release results in a more twisted conformation. Thus, the Mg-bound monomer is closer in conformation to filamentous (F) actin than the Ca form, and this likely facilitates polymerization. A coordinated potassium ion resides in the active site during hydrolysis and leaves together with the phosphate, a process governed by the position of the Arg178/Asp180-containing A loop. Asp180 interacts with either Lys270 or His74, depending on the protonation state of the histidine, while Arg178 links the inner and outer domains (ID and OD) of the actin protomer. Hence, the A loop acts as a switch between stable and unstable filament conformations, the latter leading to fragmentation. Our data provide a comprehensive model for polymerization, ATP hydrolysis and phosphate release, and fragmentation of parasite microfilaments. Similar mechanisms may well exist in canonical actins, although fragmentation is much less favorable due to several subtle sequence differences as well as the methylation of His73, which is absent on the corresponding His74 in Plasmodium actin I. A detailed mechanistic study of malaria parasite actins reveals at the atomic level how they polymerize, hydrolyze ATP, and are fragmented to keep actin filament lengths short enough for parasite survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esa-Pekka Kumpula
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Andrea J. Lopez
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Leila Tajedin
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Huijong Han
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- European XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, 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
- European XFEL GmbH, Schenefeld, Germany
- * E-mail:
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11
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Saghaug CS, Klotz C, Kallio JP, Brattbakk HR, Stokowy T, Aebischer T, Kursula I, Langeland N, Hanevik K. Genetic variation in metronidazole metabolism and oxidative stress pathways in clinical Giardia lamblia assemblage A and B isolates. Infect Drug Resist 2019; 12:1221-1235. [PMID: 31190910 PMCID: PMC6519707 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s177997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Treatment-refractory Giardia cases have increased rapidly within the last decade. No markers of resistance nor a standardized susceptibility test have been established yet, but several enzymes and their pathways have been associated with metronidazole (MTZ) resistant Giardia. Very limited data are available regarding genetic variation in these pathways. We aimed to investigate genetic variation in metabolic pathway genes proposed to be involved in MTZ resistance in recently acquired, cultured clinical isolates. Methods: Whole genome sequencing of 12 assemblage A2 and 8 assemblage B isolates was done, to decipher genomic variation in Giardia. Twenty-nine genes were identified in a literature search and investigated for their single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the coding/non-coding regions of the genes, either as amino acid changing (non-synonymous SNVs) or non-changing SNVs (synonymous). Results: In Giardia assemblage B, several genes involved in MTZ activation or oxidative stress management were found to have higher numbers of non-synonymous SNVs (thioredoxin peroxidase, nitroreductase 1, ferredoxin 2, NADH oxidase, nitroreductase 2, alcohol dehydrogenase, ferredoxin 4 and ferredoxin 1) than the average variation. For Giardia assemblage A2, the highest genetic variability was found in the ferredoxin 2, ferredoxin 6 and in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidoreductase putative genes. SNVs found in the ferredoxins and nitroreductases were analyzed further by alignment and homology modeling. SNVs close to the iron-sulfur cluster binding sites in nitroreductase-1 and 2 and ferredoxin 2 and 4 could potentially affect protein function. Flavohemoprotein seems to be a variable-copy gene, due to higher, but variable coverage compared to other genes investigated. Conclusion: In clinical Giardia isolates, genetic variability is common in important genes in the MTZ metabolizing pathway and in the management of oxidative and nitrosative stress and includes high numbers of non-synonymous SNVs. Some of the identified amino acid changes could potentially affect the respective proteins important in the MTZ metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina S Saghaug
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway.,Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
| | - Christian Klotz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juha P Kallio
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
| | - Hans-Richard Brattbakk
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway.,Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
| | - Tomasz Stokowy
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway.,Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
| | - Toni Aebischer
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway.,Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Nina Langeland
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway.,Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway.,Department of Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
| | - Kurt Hanevik
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway.,Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
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12
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Szigetvari PD, Muruganandam G, Kallio JP, Hallin EI, Fossbakk A, Loris R, Kursula I, Møller LB, Knappskog PM, Kursula P, Haavik J. The quaternary structure of human tyrosine hydroxylase: effects of dystonia-associated missense variants on oligomeric state and enzyme activity. J Neurochem 2018; 148:291-306. [PMID: 30411798 PMCID: PMC6587854 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Abstract Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a multi‐domain, homo‐oligomeric enzyme that catalyses the rate‐limiting step of catecholamine neurotransmitter biosynthesis. Missense variants of human TH are associated with a recessive neurometabolic disease with low levels of brain dopamine and noradrenaline, resulting in a variable clinical picture, from progressive brain encephalopathy to adolescent onset DOPA‐responsive dystonia (DRD). We expressed isoform 1 of human TH (hTH1) and its dystonia‐associated missense variants in E. coli, analysed their quaternary structure and thermal stability using size‐exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism, multi‐angle light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, small‐angle X‐ray scattering and assayed hydroxylase activity. Wild‐type (WT) hTH1 was a mixture of enzymatically stable tetramers (85.6%) and octamers (14.4%), with little interconversion between these species. We also observed small amounts of higher order assemblies of long chains of enzyme by transmission electron microscopy. To investigate the role of molecular assemblies in the pathogenesis of DRD, we compared the structure of WT hTH1 with the DRD‐associated variants R410P and D467G that are found in vicinity of the predicted subunit interfaces. In contrast to WT hTH1, R410P and D467G were mixtures of tetrameric and dimeric species. Inspection of the available structures revealed that Arg‐410 and Asp‐467 are important for maintaining the stability and oligomeric structure of TH. Disruption of the normal quaternary enzyme structure by missense variants is a new molecular mechanism that may explain the loss of TH enzymatic activity in DRD. Unstable missense variants could be targets for pharmacological intervention in DRD, aimed to re‐establish the normal oligomeric state of TH. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Szigetvari
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,K.G. Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Gopinath Muruganandam
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Juha P Kallio
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Erik I Hallin
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Agnete Fossbakk
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Remy Loris
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Lisbeth B Møller
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Per M Knappskog
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Petri Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jan Haavik
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,K.G. Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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13
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Pino P, Caldelari R, Mukherjee B, Vahokoski J, Klages N, Maco B, Collins CR, Blackman MJ, Kursula I, Heussler V, Brochet M, Soldati-Favre D. A multistage antimalarial targets the plasmepsins IX and X essential for invasion and egress. Science 2018; 358:522-528. [PMID: 29074775 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf8675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Regulated exocytosis by secretory organelles is important for malaria parasite invasion and egress. Many parasite effector proteins, including perforins, adhesins, and proteases, are extensively proteolytically processed both pre- and postexocytosis. Here we report the multistage antiplasmodial activity of the aspartic protease inhibitor hydroxyl-ethyl-amine-based scaffold compound 49c. This scaffold inhibits the preexocytosis processing of several secreted rhoptry and microneme proteins by targeting the corresponding maturases plasmepsins IX (PMIX) and X (PMX), respectively. Conditional excision of PMIX revealed its crucial role in invasion, and recombinantly active PMIX and PMX cleave egress and invasion factors in a 49c-sensitive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paco Pino
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Reto Caldelari
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Budhaditya Mukherjee
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Natacha Klages
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christine R Collins
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill, London NW1 1AT, UK.,Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway.,Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Volker Heussler
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva, Centre Médical Universitaire (CMU), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
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14
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Mukherjee B, Tessaro F, Vahokoski J, Kursula I, Marq JB, Scapozza L, Soldati-Favre D. Modeling and resistant alleles explain the selectivity of antimalarial compound 49c towards apicomplexan aspartyl proteases. EMBO J 2018. [PMID: 29519896 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201798047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii aspartyl protease 3 (TgASP3) phylogenetically clusters with Plasmodium falciparum Plasmepsins IX and X (PfPMIX, PfPMX). These proteases are essential for parasite survival, acting as key maturases for secreted proteins implicated in invasion and egress. A potent antimalarial peptidomimetic inhibitor (49c) originally developed against Plasmepsin II selectively targets TgASP3, PfPMIX, and PfPMX To unravel the molecular basis for the selectivity of 49c, we constructed homology models of PfPMIX, PfPMX, and TgASP3 that were first validated by identifying the determinants of microneme and rhoptry substrate recognition. The flap and flap-like structures of several reported Plasmepsins are highly flexible and critically modulate the access to the binding cavity. Molecular docking of 49c to TgASP3, PfPMIX, and PfPMX models predicted that the conserved phenylalanine residues in the flap, F344, F291, and F305, respectively, account for the sensitivity toward 49c. Concordantly, phenylalanine mutations in the flap of the three proteases increase twofold to 15-fold the IC50 values of 49c. Compellingly the selection of mutagenized T. gondii resistant strains to 49c reproducibly converted F344 to a cysteine residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Budhaditya Mukherjee
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva CMU, Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Tessaro
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Lausanne University of Geneva CMU, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jean-Baptiste Marq
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva CMU, Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Scapozza
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Lausanne University of Geneva CMU, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva CMU, Geneva 4, Switzerland
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15
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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16
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Green JL, Wall RJ, Vahokoski J, Yusuf NA, Ridzuan MAM, Stanway RR, Stock J, Knuepfer E, Brady D, Martin SR, Howell SA, Pires IP, Moon RW, Molloy JE, Kursula I, Tewari R, Holder AA. Compositional and expression analyses of the glideosome during the Plasmodium life cycle reveal an additional myosin light chain required for maximum motility. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:17857-17875. [PMID: 28893907 PMCID: PMC5663884 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.802769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Myosin A (MyoA) is a Class XIV myosin implicated in gliding motility and host cell and tissue invasion by malaria parasites. MyoA is part of a membrane-associated protein complex called the glideosome, which is essential for parasite motility and includes the MyoA light chain myosin tail domain-interacting protein (MTIP) and several glideosome-associated proteins (GAPs). However, most studies of MyoA have focused on single stages of the parasite life cycle. We examined MyoA expression throughout the Plasmodium berghei life cycle in both mammalian and insect hosts. In extracellular ookinetes, sporozoites, and merozoites, MyoA was located at the parasite periphery. In the sexual stages, zygote formation and initial ookinete differentiation precede MyoA synthesis and deposition, which occurred only in the developing protuberance. In developing intracellular asexual blood stages, MyoA was synthesized in mature schizonts and was located at the periphery of segmenting merozoites, where it remained throughout maturation, merozoite egress, and host cell invasion. Besides the known GAPs in the malaria parasite, the complex included GAP40, an additional myosin light chain designated essential light chain (ELC), and several other candidate components. This ELC bound the MyoA neck region adjacent to the MTIP-binding site, and both myosin light chains co-located to the glideosome. Co-expression of MyoA with its two light chains revealed that the presence of both light chains enhances MyoA-dependent actin motility. In conclusion, we have established a system to study the interplay and function of the three glideosome components, enabling the assessment of inhibitors that target this motor complex to block host cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard J Wall
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Juha Vahokoski
- the Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Rebecca R Stanway
- the Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, and
| | - Jessica Stock
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | | | - Declan Brady
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Isa P Pires
- the Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Justin E Molloy
- Single Molecule Enzymology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Inari Kursula
- the Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway.,the Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Rita Tewari
- the School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
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17
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Panneerselvam S, Kumpula EP, Kursula I, Burkhardt A, Meents A. Rapid cadmium SAD phasing at the standard wavelength (1 Å). Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2017; 73:581-590. [PMID: 28695858 PMCID: PMC5505155 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798317006970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cadmium ions can be effectively used to promote crystal growth and for experimental phasing. Here, the use of cadmium ions as a suitable anomalous scatterer at the standard wavelength of 1 Å is demonstrated. The structures of three different proteins were determined using cadmium single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) phasing. Owing to the strong anomalous signal, the structure of lysozyme could be automatically phased and built using a very low anomalous multiplicity (1.1) and low-completeness (77%) data set. Additionally, it is shown that cadmium ions can easily substitute divalent ions in ATP-divalent cation complexes. This property could be generally applied for phasing experiments of a wide range of nucleotide-binding proteins. Improvements in crystal growth and quality, good anomalous signal at standard wavelengths (i.e. no need to change photon energy) and rapid phasing and refinement using a single data set are benefits that should allow cadmium ions to be widely used for experimental phasing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Esa-Pekka Kumpula
- Biocenter Oulu & Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Inari Kursula
- Biocenter Oulu & 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
| | - Anja Burkhardt
- Photon Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alke Meents
- Photon Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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18
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Muruganandam G, Raasakka A, Myllykoski M, Kursula I, Kursula P. Structural similarities and functional differences clarify evolutionary relationships between tRNA healing enzymes and the myelin enzyme CNPase. BMC Biochem 2017; 18:7. [PMID: 28511668 PMCID: PMC5434554 DOI: 10.1186/s12858-017-0084-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eukaryotic tRNA splicing is an essential process in the transformation of a primary tRNA transcript into a mature functional tRNA molecule. 5'-phosphate ligation involves two steps: a healing reaction catalyzed by polynucleotide kinase (PNK) in association with cyclic phosphodiesterase (CPDase), and a sealing reaction catalyzed by an RNA ligase. The enzymes that catalyze tRNA healing in yeast and higher eukaryotes are homologous to the members of the 2H phosphoesterase superfamily, in particular to the vertebrate myelin enzyme 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase). RESULTS We employed different biophysical and biochemical methods to elucidate the overall structural and functional features of the tRNA healing enzymes yeast Trl1 PNK/CPDase and lancelet PNK/CPDase and compared them with vertebrate CNPase. The yeast and the lancelet enzymes have cyclic phosphodiesterase and polynucleotide kinase activity, while vertebrate CNPase lacks PNK activity. In addition, we also show that the healing enzymes are structurally similar to the vertebrate CNPase by applying synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. CONCLUSIONS We provide a structural analysis of the tRNA healing enzyme PNK and CPDase domains together. Our results support evolution of vertebrate CNPase from tRNA healing enzymes with a loss of function at its N-terminal PNK-like domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopinath Muruganandam
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne Raasakka
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Matti Myllykoski
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Inari Kursula
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Petri Kursula
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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20
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Jacot D, Tosetti N, Pires I, Stock J, Graindorge A, Hung YF, Han H, Tewari R, Kursula I, Soldati-Favre D. An Apicomplexan Actin-Binding Protein Serves as a Connector and Lipid Sensor to Coordinate Motility and Invasion. Cell Host Microbe 2016; 20:731-743. [PMID: 27978434 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexa exhibit a unique form of substrate-dependent gliding motility central for host cell invasion and parasite dissemination. Gliding is powered by rearward translocation of apically secreted transmembrane adhesins via their interaction with the parasite actomyosin system. We report a conserved armadillo and pleckstrin homology (PH) domain-containing protein, termed glideosome-associated connector (GAC), that mediates apicomplexan gliding motility, invasion, and egress by connecting the micronemal adhesins with the actomyosin system. TgGAC binds to and stabilizes filamentous actin and specifically associates with the transmembrane adhesin TgMIC2. GAC localizes to the apical pole in invasive stages of Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium berghei, and apical positioning of TgGAC depends on an apical lysine methyltransferase, TgAKMT. GAC PH domain also binds to phosphatidic acid, a lipid mediator associated with microneme exocytosis. Collectively, these findings indicate a central role for GAC in spatially and temporally coordinating gliding motility and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Jacot
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolò Tosetti
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isa Pires
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Jessica Stock
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG2 7UH, UK
| | - Arnault Graindorge
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yu-Fu Hung
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Huijong Han
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG2 7UH, UK
| | - 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.
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
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21
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Mueller C, Samoo A, Hammoudi PM, Klages N, Kallio JP, Kursula I, Soldati-Favre D. Structural and functional dissection of Toxoplasma gondii armadillo repeats only protein (TgARO). J Cell Sci 2016; 129:1031-45. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.177386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhoptries are club-shaped, regulated secretory organelles that cluster at the apical pole of apicomplexan parasites. Their discharge is essential for invasion and the establishment of an intracellular lifestyle. Little is known about rhoptry biogenesis and recycling during parasite division. In Toxoplasma gondii, positioning of rhoptries involves the armadillo repeats only protein (TgARO) and myosin F (TgMyoF). Here, we show that two TgARO partners, ARO interacting protein (TgAIP) and adenylate cyclase β (TgACβ) localize to a rhoptry subcompartment. In absence of TgAIP, TgACβ disappears from the rhoptries. By assessing the contribution of each TgARO armadillo (ARM) repeat, we provide evidence that TgARO is multifunctional, participating not only in positioning but also in clustering of rhoptries. Structural analyses show that TgARO resembles the myosin-binding domain of the myosin chaperone UNC-45. A conserved patch of aromatic and acidic residues denotes the putative TgMyoF-binding site, and the overall arrangement of the ARM repeats explains the dramatic consequences of deleting each of them. Lastly, Plasmodium falciparum ARO functionally complements TgARO depletion and interacts with the same partners, highlighting the conservation of rhoptry biogenesis in Apicomplexa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Mueller
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Atta Samoo
- 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
| | - Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Klages
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Juha Pekka Kallio
- 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
| | - 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
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
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22
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Raasakka A, Myllykoski M, Laulumaa S, Lehtimäki M, Härtlein M, Moulin M, Kursula I, Kursula P. Determinants of ligand binding and catalytic activity in the myelin enzyme 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16520. [PMID: 26563764 PMCID: PMC4643303 DOI: 10.1038/srep16520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) is an enzyme highly abundant in the central nervous system myelin of terrestrial vertebrates. The catalytic domain of CNPase belongs to the 2H phosphoesterase superfamily and catalyzes the hydrolysis of nucleoside 2',3'-cyclic monophosphates to nucleoside 2'-monophosphates. The detailed reaction mechanism and the essential catalytic amino acids involved have been described earlier, but the roles of many amino acids in the vicinity of the active site have remained unknown. Here, several CNPase catalytic domain mutants were studied using enzyme kinetics assays, thermal stability experiments, and X-ray crystallography. Additionally, the crystal structure of a perdeuterated CNPase catalytic domain was refined at atomic resolution to obtain a detailed view of the active site and the catalytic mechanism. The results specify determinants of ligand binding and novel essential residues required for CNPase catalysis. For example, the aromatic side chains of Phe235 and Tyr168 are crucial for substrate binding, and Arg307 may affect active site electrostatics and regulate loop dynamics. The β5-α7 loop, unique for CNPase in the 2H phosphoesterase family, appears to have various functions in the CNPase reaction mechanism, from coordinating the nucleophilic water molecule to providing a binding pocket for the product and being involved in product release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Raasakka
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research at German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matti Myllykoski
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Saara Laulumaa
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research at German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
- European Spallation Source (ESS), Lund, Sweden
| | - Mari Lehtimäki
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | | | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research at German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petri Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research at German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
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23
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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. [DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1932-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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24
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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25
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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26
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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27
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Kallio JP, Kursula I. Recombinant production, purification and crystallization of the Toxoplasma gondii coronin WD40 domain. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2014; 70:517-21. [PMID: 24699753 PMCID: PMC3976077 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x14005196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widely spread parasitic organisms in the world. Together with other apicomplexan parasites, it utilizes a special actin-myosin motor for its cellular movement, called gliding motility. This actin-based process is regulated by a small set of actin-binding proteins, which in Apicomplexa comprises only 10-15 proteins, compared with >150 in higher eukaryotes. Coronin is a highly conserved regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, but its functions, especially in parasites, have remained enigmatic. Coronins consist of an N-terminal actin-binding β-propeller WD40 domain, followed by a conserved region, and a C-terminal coiled-coil domain implicated in oligomerization. Here, the WD40 domain and the conserved region of coronin from T. gondii were produced recombinantly and crystallized. A single-wavelength diffraction data set was collected to a resolution of 1.65 Å. The crystal belonged to the orthorhombic space group C2221, with unit-cell parameters a = 55.13, b = 82.51, c = 156.98 Å.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Pekka Kallio
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Building 25b, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Building 25b, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
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28
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Ruskamo S, Yadav RP, Sharma S, Lehtimäki M, Laulumaa S, Aggarwal S, Simons M, Bürck J, Ulrich AS, Juffer AH, Kursula I, Kursula P. Atomic resolution view into the structure-function relationships of the human myelin peripheral membrane protein P2. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 2014; 70:165-76. [PMID: 24419389 PMCID: PMC3919267 DOI: 10.1107/s1399004713027910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
P2 is a fatty acid-binding protein expressed in vertebrate peripheral nerve myelin, where it may function in bilayer stacking and lipid transport. P2 binds to phospholipid membranes through its positively charged surface and a hydrophobic tip, and accommodates fatty acids inside its barrel structure. The structure of human P2 refined at the ultrahigh resolution of 0.93 Å allows detailed structural analyses, including the full organization of an internal hydrogen-bonding network. The orientation of the bound fatty-acid carboxyl group is linked to the protonation states of two coordinating arginine residues. An anion-binding site in the portal region is suggested to be relevant for membrane interactions and conformational changes. When bound to membrane multilayers, P2 has a preferred orientation and is stabilized, and the repeat distance indicates a single layer of P2 between membranes. Simulations show the formation of a double bilayer in the presence of P2, and in cultured cells wild-type P2 induces membrane-domain formation. Here, the most accurate structural and functional view to date on P2, a major component of peripheral nerve myelin, is presented, showing how it can interact with two membranes simultaneously while going through conformational changes at its portal region enabling ligand transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salla Ruskamo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ravi P. Yadav
- Molecular Biology Unit, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (CSSB-HZI), German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Satyan Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mari Lehtimäki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Saara Laulumaa
- 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), German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Shweta Aggarwal
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mikael Simons
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jochen Bürck
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Anne S. Ulrich
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - André H. Juffer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (CSSB-HZI), 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), German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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29
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Muruganandam G, Bürck J, Ulrich AS, Kursula I, Kursula P. Lipid membrane association of myelin proteins and peptide segments studied by oriented and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117:14983-93. [PMID: 24236572 DOI: 10.1021/jp4098588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Myelin-specific proteins are either integral or peripheral membrane proteins that, in complex with lipids, constitute a multilayered proteolipid membrane system, the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath surrounds the axons of nerves and enables rapid conduction of axonal impulses. Myelin proteins interact intimately with the lipid bilayer and play crucial roles in the assembly, function, and stability of the myelin sheath. Although myelin proteins have been investigated for decades, their structural properties upon membrane surface binding are still largely unknown. In this study, we have used simplified model systems consisting of synthetic peptides and membrane mimics, such as detergent micelles and/or lipid vesicles, to probe the conformation of peptides using synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy (SRCD). Additionally, oriented circular dichroism spectroscopy (OCD) was employed to examine the orientation of myelin peptides in macroscopically aligned lipid bilayers. Various representative peptides from the myelin basic protein (MBP), P0, myelin/oligodencrocyte glycoprotein, and connexin32 (cx32) were studied. A helical peptide from the central immunodominant epitope of MBP showed a highly tilted orientation with respect to the membrane surface, whereas the N-terminal cytoplasmic segment of cx32 folded into a helical structure that was only slightly tilted. The folding of full-length myelin basic protein was, furthermore, studied in a bicelle environment. Our results provide information on the conformation and membrane alignment of important membrane-binding peptides in a membrane-mimicking environment, giving novel insights into the mechanisms of membrane binding and stacking by myelin proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopinath Muruganandam
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (CSSB-HZI) , German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg 22607, Germany
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30
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Vervaet N, Kallio JP, Meier S, Salmivaara E, Eberhardt M, Zhang S, Sun X, Wu Z, Kursula P, Kursula I. Recombinant production, crystallization and preliminary structural characterization of Schistosoma japonicum profilin. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:1264-7. [PMID: 24192365 PMCID: PMC3818049 DOI: 10.1107/s174430911302647x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Helminthic parasites of the genus Schistosoma contain a tegumental membrane, which is of crucial importance for modulation of the host immune response and parasite survival. The actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in the function of the tegument. Profilins are among the most important proteins regulating actin dynamics. Schistosoma japonicum possesses one profilin-like protein, which has been characterized as a potential vaccine candidate. Notably, profilins are highly immunogenic molecules in many organisms. Here, the profilin from S. japonicum was expressed, purified and crystallized. A native data set to 1.91 Å resolution and a single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD) data set to a resolution of 2.2 Å were collected. The crystals belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 31.82, b = 52.17, c = 59.79 Å and a = 35.29, b = 52.15, c = 59.82 Å, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Vervaet
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Bldg. 25b, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Juha Pekka Kallio
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Bldg. 25b, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Meier
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Bldg. 25b, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Emilia Salmivaara
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Bldg. 25b, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Maike Eberhardt
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Shuangmin Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, People’s Republic of China
| | - Petri Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hamburg, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, Bldg. 25b, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, Bldg. 25b, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
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31
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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32
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Myllykoski M, Raasakka A, Lehtimäki M, Han H, Kursula I, Kursula P. Crystallographic analysis of the reaction cycle of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase, a unique member of the 2H phosphoesterase family. J Mol Biol 2013; 425:4307-22. [PMID: 23831225 PMCID: PMC7094350 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Revised: 06/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
2H phosphoesterases catalyze reactions on nucleotide substrates and contain two conserved histidine residues in the active site. Very limited information is currently available on the details of the active site and substrate/product binding during the catalytic cycle of these enzymes. We performed a comprehensive X-ray crystallographic study of mouse 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), a membrane-associated enzyme present at high levels in the tetrapod myelin sheath. We determined crystal structures of the CNPase phosphodiesterase domain complexed with substrate, product, and phosphorothioate analogues. The data provide detailed information on the CNPase reaction mechanism, including substrate binding mode and coordination of the nucleophilic water molecule. Linked to the reaction, an open/close motion of the β5–α7 loop is observed. The role of the N terminus of helix α7—unique for CNPase in the 2H family—during the reaction indicates that 2H phosphoesterases differ in their respective reaction mechanisms despite the conserved catalytic residues. Furthermore, based on small-angle X-ray scattering, we present a model for the full-length enzyme, indicating that the two domains of CNPase form an elongated molecule. Finally, based on our structural data and a comprehensive bioinformatics study, we discuss the conservation of CNPase in various organisms. A detailed structural analysis of the CNPase catalytic cycle was carried out. Complexes with substrates, products, and analogues highlight roles for a nearby helix and loop in the reaction mechanism. The full-length CNPase adopts an elongated conformation in solution. CNPase is a unique member of the 2H family, and the results will help understand its physiological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Myllykoski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland
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33
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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34
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Myllykoski M, Itoh K, Kangas SM, Heape AM, Kang SU, Lubec G, Kursula I, Kursula P. The N-terminal domain of the myelin enzyme 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase: direct molecular interaction with the calcium sensor calmodulin. J Neurochem 2012; 123:515-24. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Revised: 08/16/2012] [Accepted: 08/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matti Myllykoski
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
- Biocenter Oulu; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
| | - Kouichi Itoh
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences; Kagawa School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Tokushima Bunri University; Sanuki-city Kagawa Japan
| | | | | | - Sung-Ung Kang
- Department of Pediatrics; Medical University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | - Gert Lubec
- Department of Pediatrics; Medical University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
- Department of Chemistry; University of Hamburg and CSSB-HZI; DESY; Hamburg Germany
| | - Petri Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
- Biocenter Oulu; University of Oulu; Oulu Finland
- Department of Chemistry; University of Hamburg and CSSB-HZI; DESY; Hamburg Germany
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35
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Singh BK, Sattler JM, Chatterjee M, Huttu J, Schüler H, Kursula I. Crystal structures explain functional differences in the two actin depolymerization factors of the malaria parasite. J Biol Chem 2012; 286:28256-64. [PMID: 21832095 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.211730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as the malaria-causing Plasmodium, utilize an actin-based motor for motility and host cell invasion. The actin filaments of these parasites are unusually short, and actin polymerization is under strict control of a small set of regulatory proteins, which are poorly conserved with their mammalian orthologs. Actin depolymerization factors (ADFs) are among the most important actin regulators, affecting the rates of filament turnover in a multifaceted manner. Plasmodium has two ADFs that display low sequence homology with each other and with the higher eukaryotic family members. Here, we show that ADF2, like canonical ADF proteins but unlike ADF1, binds to both globular and filamentous actin, severing filaments and inducing nucleotide exchange on the actin monomer. The crystal structure of Plasmodium ADF1 shows major differences from the ADF consensus, explaining the lack of F-actin binding. Plasmodium ADF2 structurally resembles the canonical members of the ADF/cofilin family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishal K Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
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36
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Ignatev A, Bhargav SP, Vahokoski J, Kursula P, Kursula I. The lasso segment is required for functional dimerization of the Plasmodium formin 1 FH2 domain. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33586. [PMID: 22428073 PMCID: PMC3302767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as the malaria-causing Plasmodium species, utilize a unique way of locomotion and host cell invasion. This substrate-dependent gliding motility requires rapid cycling of actin between the monomeric state and very short, unbranched filaments. Despite the crucial role of actin polymerization for the survival of the malaria parasite, the majority of Plasmodium cellular actin is present in the monomeric form. Plasmodium lacks most of the canonical actin nucleators, and formins are essentially the only candidates for this function in all Apicomplexa. The malaria parasite has two formins, containing conserved formin homology (FH) 2 and rudimentary FH1 domains. Here, we show that Plasmodium falciparum formin 1 associates with and nucleates both mammalian and Plasmodium actin filaments. Although Plasmodium profilin alone sequesters actin monomers, thus inhibiting polymerization, its monomer-sequestering activity does not compete with the nucleating activity of formin 1 at an equimolar profilin-actin ratio. We have determined solution structures of P. falciparum formin 1 FH2 domain both in the presence and absence of the lasso segment and the FH1 domain, and show that the lasso is required for the assembly of functional dimers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juha Vahokoski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Petri Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, University of Hamburg, and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, University of Hamburg, and German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
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37
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Nilsson S, Moll K, Angeletti D, Albrecht L, Kursula I, Jiang N, Sun X, Berzins K, Wahlgren M, Chen Q. Characterization of the Duffy-Binding-Like Domain of Plasmodium falciparum Blood-Stage Antigen 332. Malar Res Treat 2011; 2011:671439. [PMID: 22312570 PMCID: PMC3269649 DOI: 10.4061/2011/671439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on Pf332, a major Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage antigen, have largely been hampered by the cross-reactive nature of antibodies generated against the molecule due to its high content of repeats, which are present in other malaria antigens. We previously reported the identification of a conserved domain in Pf332 with a high degree of similarity to the Duffy-binding-like (DBL) domains of the erythrocyte-binding-like (EBL) family. We here describe that antibodies towards Pf332-DBL are induced after repeated exposure to P. falciparum and that they are acquired early in life in areas of intense malaria transmission. Furthermore, a homology model of Pf332-DBL was found to be similar to the structure of the EBL-DBLs. Despite their similarities, antibodies towards Pf332-DBL did not display any cross-reactivity with EBL-proteins as demonstrated by immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blotting, and peptide microarray. Thus the DBL domain is an attractive region to use in further studies on the giant Pf332 molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Nilsson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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38
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Singh BK, Sattler JM, Chatterjee M, Huttu J, Schüler H, Kursula I. Crystal Structures Explain Functional Differences in the Two Actin Depolymerization Factors of the Malaria Parasite. J Biol Chem 2011. [DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.211730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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39
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Patel AK, Yadav RP, Majava V, Kursula I, Kursula P. Structure of the dimeric autoinhibited conformation of DAPK2, a pro-apoptotic protein kinase. J Mol Biol 2011; 409:369-83. [PMID: 21497605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.03.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2011] [Revised: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 03/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) family has been characterized as a group of pro-apoptotic serine/threonine kinases that share specific structural features in their catalytic kinase domain. Two of the DAPK family members, DAPK1 and DAPK2, are calmodulin-dependent protein kinases that are regulated by oligomerization, calmodulin binding, and autophosphorylation. In this study, we have determined the crystal and solution structures of murine DAPK2 in the presence of the autoinhibitory domain, with and without bound nucleotides in the active site. The crystal structure shows dimers of DAPK2 in a conformation that is not permissible for protein substrate binding. Two different conformations were seen in the active site upon the introduction of nucleotide ligands. The monomeric and dimeric forms of DAPK2 were further analyzed for solution structure, and the results indicate that the dimers of DAPK2 are indeed formed through the association of two apposed catalytic domains, as seen in the crystal structure. The structures can be further used to build a model for DAPK2 autophosphorylation and to compare with closely related kinases, of which especially DAPK1 is an actively studied drug target. Our structures also provide a model for both homodimerization and heterodimerization of the catalytic domain between members of the DAPK family. The fingerprint of the DAPK family, the basic loop, plays a central role in the dimerization of the kinase domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok K Patel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Finland
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40
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Wigren E, Bourhis JM, Kursula I, Guy JE, Lindqvist Y. The crystal structure of the ERGIC-53/MCFD2 transport receptor complex. Acta Crystallogr A 2010. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767310099411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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41
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Huttu J, Singh BK, Bhargav SP, Sattler JM, Schüler H, Kursula I. Crystallization and preliminary structural characterization of the two actin-depolymerization factors of the malaria parasite. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2010; 66:583-587. [PMID: 20445265 PMCID: PMC2864698 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309110011589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2010] [Accepted: 03/26/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium depends on its actin-based motor system for motility and host-cell invasion. Actin-depolymerization factors are important regulatory proteins that affect the rate of actin turnover. Plasmodium has two actin-depolymerization factors which seem to have different functions and display low sequence homology to the higher eukaryotic family members. Plasmodium actin-depolymerization factors 1 and 2 have been crystallized. The crystals diffracted X-rays to maximum resolutions of 2.0 and 2.1 A and belonged to space groups P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 68.8, c = 76.0 A, and P2(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 111.6, b = 57.9, c = 40.5 A, respectively, indicating the presence of one or two molecules per asymmetric unit in both cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jani Huttu
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and University of Hamburg, DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
| | | | | | - Julia M. Sattler
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Herwig Schüler
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inari Kursula
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and University of Hamburg, DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
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42
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Majava V, Polverini E, Mazzini A, Nanekar R, Knoll W, Peters J, Natali F, Baumgärtel P, Kursula I, Kursula P. Structural and functional characterization of human peripheral nervous system myelin protein P2. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10300. [PMID: 20421974 PMCID: PMC2858655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2010] [Accepted: 03/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The myelin sheath is a tightly packed multilayered membrane structure insulating selected axons in the central and the peripheral nervous systems. Myelin is a biochemically unique membrane, containing a specific set of proteins. In this study, we expressed and purified recombinant human myelin P2 protein and determined its crystal structure to a resolution of 1.85 A. A fatty acid molecule, modeled as palmitate based on the electron density, was bound inside the barrel-shaped protein. Solution studies using synchrotron radiation indicate that the crystal structure is similar to the structure of the protein in solution. Docking experiments using the high-resolution crystal structure identified cholesterol, one of the most abundant lipids in myelin, as a possible ligand for P2, a hypothesis that was proven by fluorescence spectroscopy. In addition, electrostatic potential surface calculations supported a structural role for P2 inside the myelin membrane. The potential membrane-binding properties of P2 and a peptide derived from its N terminus were studied. Our results provide an enhanced view into the structure and function of the P2 protein from human myelin, which is able to bind both monomeric lipids inside its cavity and membrane surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viivi Majava
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | | | | | - Rahul Nanekar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Wiebke Knoll
- Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France
- University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France
| | - Judith Peters
- Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France
- University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France
- Institut de Biologie Structurale, Grenoble, France
| | - Francesca Natali
- Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche – Operative Group in Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Inari Kursula
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Electron Synchrotron, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petri Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Electron Synchrotron, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Wigren E, Bourhis JM, Kursula I, Guy JE, Lindqvist Y. Crystal structure of the LMAN1-CRD/MCFD2 transport receptor complex provides insight into combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII. FEBS Lett 2010; 584:878-82. [PMID: 20138881 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2010] [Revised: 01/29/2010] [Accepted: 02/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
LMAN1 is a glycoprotein receptor, mediating transfer from the ER to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment. Together with the co-receptor MCFD2, it transports coagulation factors V and VIII. Mutations in LMAN1 and MCFD2 can cause combined deficiency of factors V and VIII (F5F8D). We present the crystal structure of the LMAN1/MCFD2 complex and relate it to patient mutations. Circular dichroism data show that the majority of the substitution mutations give rise to a disordered or severely destabilized MCFD2 protein. The few stable mutation variants are found in the binding surface of the complex leading to impaired LMAN1 binding and F5F8D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edvard Wigren
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
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Kursula I, Kursula P, Ganter M, Panjikar S, Matuschewski K, Schüler H. Structural basis for parasite-specific functions of the divergent profilin of Plasmodium falciparum. Structure 2009; 16:1638-48. [PMID: 19000816 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2008.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2008] [Revised: 09/05/2008] [Accepted: 09/05/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Profilins are key regulators of actin dynamics. They sequester actin monomers, forming a pool for rapid polymer formation stimulated by proteins such as formins. Apicomplexan parasites utilize a highly specialized microfilament system for motility and host cell invasion. Their genomes encode only a small number of divergent actin regulators. We present the first crystal structure of an apicomplexan profilin, that of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, alone and in complex with a polyproline ligand peptide. The most striking feature of Plasmodium profilin is a unique minidomain consisting of a large beta-hairpin extension common to all apicomplexan parasites, and an acidic loop specific for Plasmodium species. Reverse genetics in the rodent malaria model, Plasmodium berghei, suggests that profilin is essential for the invasive blood stages of the parasite. Together, our data establish the structural basis for understanding the functions of profilin in the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inari Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland.
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Kursula P, Kursula I, Massimi M, Song YH, Downer J, Stanley WA, Witke W, Wilmanns M. High-resolution Structural Analysis of Mammalian Profilin 2a Complex Formation with Two Physiological Ligands: The Formin Homology 1 Domain of mDia1 and the Proline-rich Domain of VASP. J Mol Biol 2008; 375:270-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2007.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2007] [Revised: 10/15/2007] [Accepted: 10/17/2007] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Sultana A, Alexeev I, Kursula I, Mäntsälä P, Niemi J, Schneider G. Structure determination by multiwavelength anomalous diffraction of aclacinomycin oxidoreductase: indications of multidomain pseudomerohedral twinning. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 2007; 63:149-59. [PMID: 17242508 DOI: 10.1107/s0907444906044271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2006] [Accepted: 10/23/2006] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The crystal structure of aclacinomycin oxidoreductase (AknOx), a tailoring enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the polyketide antibiotic aclacinomycin, was determined to 1.65 A resolution by multiwavelength anomalous diffraction using data from selenomethionine-substituted crystals. The crystals belong to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 68.2, b = 264.5, c = 68.2 A, beta = 119 degrees . Analysis of the intensity statistics clearly showed the presence of pseudomerohedral twinning. The data set could also be indexed and scaled with an R(sym) of 0.072 in the orthorhombic space group C222(1) (unit-cell parameters a = 69.7, b = 117.5, c = 264.4 A), indicating the possibility of pseudomerohedral twinning along the diagonal between the monoclinic a and c directions. Refinement using this twin operator resulted in an R(free) of 24.2%. A monoclinic lattice with a = c and beta close to 120 degrees can emulate a hexagonal metric, with the possibility of a threefold twin operator along the b axis and three twin domains. Refinement assuming three-domain twinning gave a final R(free) of 26.5%. The structure of AknOx can be thus refined with comparable R(free) values using either of the twin operators separately, suggesting the possibility that crystals of AknOx contain six twin domains generated by the twofold and threefold twin operators perpendicular to each other. Both twin operators coincide with noncrystallographic symmetry axes that may promote twinning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azmiri Sultana
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Kursula I, Heape AM, Kursula P. Crystal structure of non-fused glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma japonicum in complex with glutathione. Protein Pept Lett 2006; 12:709-12. [PMID: 16522189 DOI: 10.2174/0929866054696154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase (SjGST) is a common fusion tag in recombinant protein production, and its 3-dimensional structure has been studied in the context of drug design. We have determined the crystal structure of non-fused SjGST complexed with glutathione, and compare it to complexes between glutathione and SjGST fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Kursula
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter Oulu, Oulu University, Oulu, Finland
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Abstract
The scaffold protein NBR1 is involved in signal transmission downstream of the serine/protein kinase from the giant muscle protein titin. Its N-terminal Phox and Bem1p (PB1) domain plays a critical role in mediating protein-protein interactions with both titin kinase and with another scaffold protein, p62. We have determined the crystal structure of the PB1 domain of NBR1 at 1.55A resolution. It reveals a type-A PB1 domain with two negatively charged residue clusters. We provide a structural perspective on the involvement of NBR1 in the titin kinase signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Müller
- EMBL-Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, D-22603 Hamburg, Germany
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Müller S, Kursula I, Wilmanns M. Structural studies on titin and titin kinase's downstream signaling pathway. Acta Crystallogr A 2005. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767305090732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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