scholarly journals A grow-and-lock model for the control of flagellum length in trypanosomes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloïse Bertiaux ◽  
Benjamin Morga ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Brice Rotureau ◽  
Philippe Bastin
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Daughter Cell ◽  
Linear Growth ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Elongation Rate ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Subsequent Increase ◽  
Normal Length ◽  
Cilia And Flagella

SUMMARYSeveral models have been proposed to explain how eukaryotic cells control the length of their cilia and flagella. Here, we investigated this process in the protistTrypanosoma brucei, an excellent system for cells with stable cilia like photoreceptors or spermatozoa. We show that the total amount of intraflagellar transport material (IFT, the machinery responsible for flagellum construction) increases during flagellum elongation, consistent with constant delivery of precursors and the previously reported linear growth. Reducing the IFT frequency by RNAi knockdown of the IFT kinesin motors slows down the elongation rate and results in the assembly of shorter flagella. These keep on elongating after cell division but fail to reach the normal length. This failure is neither due to an absence of precursors nor to a morphogenetic control by the cell body. We propose that the flagellum is locked after cell division, preventing further elongation or shortening. This is supported by the fact that subsequent increase in the IFT rate does not lead to further elongation. The distal tip FLAM8 protein was identified as a marker for the locking event. It is initiated prior cell division, leading to an arrest of elongation in the daughter cell. Here, we propose a new model termed grow-and-lock where the flagellum elongates until a locking event takes place in a timely defined manner hence fixing length. Alteration in the growth rate and/or in the timing of the locking event would lead to the formation of flagella of different lengths.

scholarly journals Intraflagellar transport during the assembly of flagella of different length in Trypanosoma brucei isolated from tsetse flies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloïse Bertiaux ◽  
Adeline Mallet ◽  
Brice Rotureau ◽  
Philippe Bastin
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Live Cell Imaging ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Summary Statement ◽  
Cilia And Flagella ◽  
Multicellular Organisms

AbstractMulticellular organisms assemble cilia and flagella of precise lengths differing from one cell to another, yet little is known about the mechanisms governing these differences. Similarly, protists assemble flagella of different lengths according to the stage of their life cycle. This is the case of Trypanosoma brucei that assembles flagella of 3 to 30 µm during its development in the tsetse fly. It provides an opportunity to examine how cells naturally modulate organelle length. Flagella are constructed by addition of new blocks at their distal end via intraflagellar transport (IFT). Immunofluorescence assays, 3-D electron microscopy and live cell imaging revealed that IFT was present in all life cycle stages. IFT proteins are concentrated at the base, IFT trains are located along doublets 3-4 & 7-8 and travel bidirectionally in the flagellum. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the total amount of IFT proteins correlates with the length of the flagellum. Surprisingly, the shortest flagellum exhibited a supplementary large amount of dynamic IFT material at its distal end. The contribution of IFT and other factors to the regulation of flagellum length is discussed.Summary statementThis work investigated the assembly of flagella of different length during the development of Trypanosoma brucei in the tsetse fly, revealing a direct correlation between the amount of intraflagellar transport proteins and flagellum length.

scholarly journals The GTPase IFT27 is involved in both anterograde and retrograde intraflagellar transport

eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Huet ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Sylvie Perrot ◽  
Philippe Bastin
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Anterograde Transport ◽  
Cargo Transport ◽  
Cilia And Flagella ◽  
Bidirectional Movement

The construction of cilia and flagella depends on intraflagellar transport (IFT), the bidirectional movement of two protein complexes (IFT-A and IFT-B) driven by specific kinesin and dynein motors. IFT-B and kinesin are associated to anterograde transport whereas IFT-A and dynein participate to retrograde transport. Surprisingly, the small GTPase IFT27, a member of the IFT-B complex, turns out to be essential for retrograde cargo transport in Trypanosoma brucei. We reveal that this is due to failure to import both the IFT-A complex and the IFT dynein into the flagellar compartment. To get further molecular insight about the role of IFT27, GDP- or GTP-locked versions were expressed in presence or absence of endogenous IFT27. The GDP-locked version is unable to enter the flagellum and to interact with other IFT-B proteins and its sole expression prevents flagellum formation. These findings demonstrate that a GTPase-competent IFT27 is required for association to the IFT complex and that IFT27 plays a role in the cargo loading of the retrograde transport machinery.

Protein transport and flagellum assembly dynamics revealed by analysis of the paralysed trypanosome mutant snl-1

1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (21) ◽  
pp. 3769-3777 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Bastin ◽  
T.J. Pullen ◽  
T. Sherwin ◽  
K. Gull
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Division ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Daughter Cell ◽  
Protein Transport ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Detergent Extraction

The paraflagellar rod (PFR) of Trypanosoma brucei is a large, complex, intraflagellar structure that represents an excellent system in which to study flagellum assembly. Molecular ablation of one of its major constituents, the PFRA protein, in the snl-1 mutant causes considerable alteration of the PFR structure, leading to cell paralysis. Mutant trypanosomes sedimented to the bottom of the flask rather than staying in suspension but divided at a rate close to that of wild-type cells. This phenotype was complemented by transformation of snl-1 with a plasmid overexpressing an epitope-tagged copy of the PFRA gene. In the snl-1 mutant, other PFR proteins such as the second major constituent, PFRC, accumulated at the distal tip of the growing flagellum, forming a large dilation or ‘blob’. This was not assembled as filaments and was removed by detergent-extraction. Axonemal growth and structure was unmodified in the snl-1 mutant and the blob was present only at the tip of the new flagellum. Strikingly, the blob of unassembled material was shifted towards the base of the flagellum after cell division and was not detectable when the daughter cell started to produce a new flagellum in the next cell cycle. The dynamics of blob formation and regression are likely indicators of anterograde and retrograde transport systems operating in the flagellum. In this respect, the accumulation of unassembled PFR precursors in the flagellum shows interesting similarities with axonemal mutants in other systems, illustrating transport of components of a flagellar structure during both flagellum assembly and maintenance. Observation of PFR components indicate that these are likely to be regulated and modulated throughout the cell cycle.

scholarly journals Intraflagellar Transport and Functional Analysis of Genes Required for Flagellum Formation in Trypanosomes

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 929-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Absalon ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Linda Kohl ◽  
Géraldine Toutirais ◽  
Gwénola Doré ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
Anterograde Transport ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Cilia And Flagella ◽  
Bidirectional Movement ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is the bidirectional movement of protein complexes required for cilia and flagella formation. We investigated IFT by analyzing nine conventional IFT genes and five novel putative IFT genes (PIFT) in Trypanosoma brucei that maintain its existing flagellum while assembling a new flagellum. Immunostaining against IFT172 or expression of tagged IFT20 or green fluorescent protein GFP::IFT52 revealed the presence of IFT proteins along the axoneme and at the basal body and probasal body regions of both old and new flagella. IFT particles were detected by electron microscopy and exhibited a strict localization to axonemal microtubules 3–4 and 7–8, suggesting the existence of specific IFT tracks. Rapid (>3 μm/s) bidirectional intraflagellar movement of GFP::IFT52 was observed in old and new flagella. RNA interference silencing demonstrated that all individual IFT and PIFT genes are essential for new flagellum construction but the old flagellum remained present. Inhibition of IFTB proteins completely blocked axoneme construction. Absence of IFTA proteins (IFT122 and IFT140) led to formation of short flagella filled with IFT172, indicative of defects in retrograde transport. Two PIFT proteins turned out to be required for retrograde transport and three for anterograde transport. Finally, flagellum membrane elongation continues despite the absence of axonemal microtubules in all IFT/PIFT mutant.

scholarly journals Intraflagellar transport during assembly of flagella of different length in Trypanosoma brucei isolated from tsetse flies

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (18) ◽  
pp. jcs248989
Author(s):  
Eloïse Bertiaux ◽  
Adeline Mallet ◽  
Brice Rotureau ◽  
Philippe Bastin
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Live Cell Imaging ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
3D Electron Microscopy ◽  
Cilia And Flagella ◽  
Multicellular Organisms

ABSTRACTMulticellular organisms assemble cilia and flagella of precise lengths differing from one cell to another, yet little is known about the mechanisms governing these differences. Similarly, protists assemble flagella of different lengths according to the stage of their life cycle. Trypanosoma brucei assembles flagella of 3 to 30 µm during its development in the tsetse fly. This provides an opportunity to examine how cells naturally modulate organelle length. Flagella are constructed by addition of new blocks at their distal end via intraflagellar transport (IFT). Immunofluorescence assays, 3D electron microscopy and live-cell imaging revealed that IFT was present in all T. brucei life cycle stages. IFT proteins are concentrated at the base, and IFT trains are located along doublets 3–4 and 7–8 and travel bidirectionally in the flagellum. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the total amount of flagellar IFT proteins correlates with the length of the flagellum. Surprisingly, the shortest flagellum exhibited a supplementary large amount of dynamic IFT material at its distal end. The contribution of IFT and other factors to the regulation of flagellum length is discussed.

scholarly journals IFT25 is required for the construction of the trypanosome flagellum

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Huet ◽  
Thierry Blisnick ◽  
Sylvie Perrot ◽  
Philippe Bastin
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Transport Process ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Binding Partner ◽  
Eukaryotic Species ◽  
Cilia And Flagella ◽  
The One

AbstractIntraflagellar transport (IFT), the movement of protein complexes responsible for the assembly of cilia and flagella, is remarkably well conserved from protists to humans. However, two IFT components (IFT25 and IFT27) are missing from multiple unrelated eukaryotic species. In mouse, IFT25 and IFT27 are not required for assembly of several cilia with the noticeable exception of the flagellum of spermatozoa. Here we show that the Trypanosoma brucei IFT25 protein is a proper component of the IFT-B complex and displays typical IFT trafficking. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, we reveal that IFT25 and IFT27 interact within the flagellum in live cells during the IFT transport process. IFT25-depleted cells construct tiny disorganised flagella that accumulate IFT-B proteins (with the exception of IFT27, the binding partner of IFT25) but not IFT-A proteins. This phenotype is comparable to the one following depletion of IFT27 and shows that IFT25/IFT27 constitute a specific module requested for proper IFT and flagellum construction in trypanosomes. We discuss the possible reasons why IFT25/IFT27 would be required for only some types of cilia.

scholarly journals Concentration of intraflagellar transport proteins at the ciliary base is required for proper train injection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamin Jung ◽  
Julien Santi-Rocca ◽  
Cecile Fort ◽  
Jean-Yves Tinevez ◽  
Cataldo Schietroma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Live Cell Imaging ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Cell Imaging ◽  
Super Resolution ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Transport Proteins ◽  
Cell Transport ◽  
Cilia And Flagella ◽  
Super Resolution Microscopy

Construction of cilia and flagella relies on Intraflagellar Transport (IFT). Although IFT proteins can be found in multiple locations in the cell, transport has only been reported along the axoneme. Here, we reveal that IFT concentration at the base of the flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei is required for proper assembly of IFT trains. Using live cell imaging at high resolution and direct optical nanoscopy with axially localized detection (DONALD) of fixed trypanosomes, we demonstrate that IFT proteins are localised around the 9 doublet microtubules of the proximal portion of the transition zone, just on top of the transition fibres. Super-resolution microscopy and photobleaching studies reveal that knockdown of the RP2 transition fibre protein results in reduced IFT protein concentration and turnover at the base of the flagellum. This in turn is accompanied by a 4- to 8-fold drop in the frequency of IFT train injection. We propose that the flagellum base provides a unique environment to assemble IFT trains.

scholarly journals Trypanosomes have divergent kinesin-2 proteins that function differentially in IFT, cell division, and motility

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Douglas ◽  
Brett M. Haltiwanger ◽  
Haiming Wu ◽  
Robert L. Jeng ◽  
Joel Mancuso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Cell Division ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Cell Body ◽  
Basal Body ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Tail Domain ◽  
Specialized Structure ◽  
Attachment Zone

SummaryTrypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness, has a flagellum that is crucial for motility, pathogenicity, and viability. In most eukaryotes, the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery drives flagellum biogenesis, and anterograde IFT requires kinesin-2 motor proteins. In this study, we investigated the function of the two T. brucei kinesin-2 proteins, TbKin2a and TbKin2b, in bloodstream form trypanosomes. We found that compared to other kinesin-2 proteins, TbKin2a and TbKin2b show greater variation in neck, stalk, and tail domain sequences. Both kinesins contributed additively to flagellar lengthening. Surprisingly, silencing TbKin2a inhibited cell proliferation, cytokinesis and motility, whereas silencing TbKin2b did not. TbKin2a was localized on the flagellum and colocalized with IFT components near the basal body, consistent with it performing a role in IFT. TbKin2a was also detected on the flagellar attachment zone, a specialized structure in trypanosome cells that connects the flagellum to the cell body. Our results indicate that kinesin-2 proteins in trypanosomes play conserved roles in IFT and exhibit a specialized localization, emphasizing the evolutionary flexibility of motor protein function in an organism with a large complement of kinesins.

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

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Saldivia ◽  
Adam J. M. Wollman ◽  
Juliana B. T. Carnielli ◽  
Nathaniel G. Jones ◽  
Mark C. Leake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Genomic Stability ◽  
Aurora Kinase ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Large Protein ◽  
Aurora Kinase B ◽  
Kinetochore Assembly ◽  
Dynamic Microtubule

In eukaryotic cells, kinetochores are large protein complexes that link chromosomes to dynamic microtubule tips, ensuring proper segregation and genomic stability during cell division. Several proteins tightly coordinate kinetochore functions, including the protein kinase aurora kinase B.

scholarly journals Tracking the Biogenesis and Inheritance of Subpellicular Microtubule inTrypanosoma bruceiwith Inducible YFP-α-Tubulin

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Sheriff ◽  
Li-Fern Lim ◽  
Cynthia Y. He
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Division ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Daughter Cell ◽  
Structural System ◽  
Microtubule Cytoskeleton ◽  
Asymmetric Pattern ◽  
Microtubule Formation ◽  
Attachment Zone ◽  
Mode Of Inheritance

The microtubule cytoskeleton forms the most prominent structural system inTrypanosoma brucei, undergoing extensive modifications during the cell cycle. Visualization of tyrosinated microtubules leads to a semiconservative mode of inheritance, whereas recent studies employing microtubule plus end tracking proteins have hinted at an asymmetric pattern of cytoskeletal inheritance. To further the knowledge of microtubule synthesis and inheritance duringT. bruceicell cycle, the dynamics of the microtubule cytoskeleton was visualized by inducible YFP-α-tubulin expression. During new flagellum/flagellum attachment zone (FAZ) biogenesis and cell growth, YFP-α-tubulin was incorporated mainly between the old and new flagellum/FAZ complexes. Cytoskeletal modifications at the posterior end of the cells were observed with EB1, a microtubule plus end binding protein, particularly during mitosis. Additionally, the newly formed microtubules segregated asymmetrically, with the daughter cell inheriting the new flagellum/FAZ complex retaining most of the new microtubules. Together, our results suggest an intimate connection between new microtubule formation and new FAZ assembly, consequently leading to asymmetric microtubule inheritance and cell division.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document