scholarly journals A doublecortin-domain protein of Toxoplasma and its orthologues bind to and modify the structure and organization of tubulin polymers

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline M. Leung ◽  
Eiji Nagayasu ◽  
Yu-Chen Hwang ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
Phillip G. Pierce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Invasion ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Host Cell Invasion ◽  
Microtubule Organization ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Parasite Invasion ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Tubulin Binding ◽  
Domain Protein ◽  
Species Specific

ABSTRACTTgDCX is a doublecortin-domain protein associated with the conoid fibers, a set of strongly curved non-tubular tubulin-polymers in Toxoplasma. TgDCX deletion impairs conoid structure and parasite invasion. TgDCX contains two tubulin-binding domains: a partial P25-alpha and the DCX/doublecortin domain. Orthologues are found in apicomplexans and their free-living relatives Chromera and Vitrella. We report that isolated TgDCX-containing conoid fibers retain their pronounced curvature, but loss of TgDCX destabilizes the fibers. We crystallized and determined the 3D-structure of the DCX-domain, which is similar to those of human doublecortin and well-conserved among TgDCX orthologues. However, the orthologues vary widely in targeting to the conoid in Toxoplasma and in modulating microtubule organization in Xenopus cells. Several orthologues bind to microtubules in Xenopus cells, but only TgDCX generates short, strongly curved microtubule arcs. EM analysis shows microtubules decorated with TgDCX bundled into rafts, often bordered on one edge by a “C”-shaped incomplete tube. A Chromera orthologue closely mimics TgDCX targeting in Toxoplasma and binds to microtubules in Xenopus cells, but does not generate arcs or “C”-shaped tubes, and fails to rescue the defects of the TgDCX-knockout parasite. These observations suggest that species-specific features of TgDCX enable it to generate strongly curved tubulin-polymers to support efficient host-cell invasion.

scholarly journals Protein Kinase A Is Essential for Invasion of Plasmodium falciparum into Human Erythrocytes

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary-Louise Wilde ◽  
Tony Triglia ◽  
Danushka Marapana ◽  
Jennifer K. Thompson ◽  
Alexei A. Kouzmitchev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Protein Kinase A ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Host Cell Invasion ◽  
Parasite Invasion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Kinase A

ABSTRACT Understanding the mechanisms behind host cell invasion by Plasmodium falciparum remains a major hurdle to developing antimalarial therapeutics that target the asexual cycle and the symptomatic stage of malaria. Host cell entry is enabled by a multitude of precisely timed and tightly regulated receptor-ligand interactions. Cyclic nucleotide signaling has been implicated in regulating parasite invasion, and an important downstream effector of the cAMP-signaling pathway is protein kinase A (PKA), a cAMP-dependent protein kinase. There is increasing evidence that P. falciparum PKA (PfPKA) is responsible for phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of P. falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (PfAMA1) at Ser610, a cAMP-dependent event that is crucial for successful parasite invasion. In the present study, CRISPR-Cas9 and conditional gene deletion (dimerizable cre) technologies were implemented to generate a P. falciparum parasite line in which expression of the catalytic subunit of PfPKA (PfPKAc) is under conditional control, demonstrating highly efficient dimerizable Cre recombinase (DiCre)-mediated gene excision and complete knockdown of protein expression. Parasites lacking PfPKAc show severely reduced growth after one intraerythrocytic growth cycle and are deficient in host cell invasion, as highlighted by live-imaging experiments. Furthermore, PfPKAc-deficient parasites are unable to phosphorylate PfAMA1 at Ser610. This work not only identifies an essential role for PfPKAc in the P. falciparum asexual life cycle but also confirms that PfPKAc is the kinase responsible for phosphorylating PfAMA1 Ser610. IMPORTANCE Malaria continues to present a major global health burden, particularly in low-resource countries. Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe form of malaria, causes disease through rapid and repeated rounds of invasion and replication within red blood cells. Invasion into red blood cells is essential for P. falciparum survival, and the molecular events mediating this process have gained much attention as potential therapeutic targets. With no effective vaccine available, and with the emergence of resistance to antimalarials, there is an urgent need for the development of new therapeutics. Our research has used genetic techniques to provide evidence of an essential protein kinase involved in P. falciparum invasion. Our work adds to the current understanding of parasite signaling processes required for invasion, highlighting PKA as a potential drug target to inhibit invasion for the treatment of malaria.

scholarly journals Critical Glycosylated Residues in Exon Three of Erythrocyte Glycophorin A Engage Plasmodium falciparum EBA-175 and Define Receptor Specificity

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichole D. Salinas ◽  
May M. Paing ◽  
Niraj H. Tolia
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Glycophorin A ◽  
High Avidity ◽  
Host Cell Invasion ◽  
Specific Receptor ◽  
Parasite Invasion ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Erythrocyte invasion is an essential step in the pathogenesis of malaria. The erythrocyte binding-like (EBL) family of Plasmodium falciparum proteins recognizes glycophorins (Gp) on erythrocytes and plays a critical role in attachment during invasion. However, the molecular basis for specific receptor recognition by each parasite ligand has remained elusive, as is the case with the ligand/receptor pair P. falciparum EBA-175 (PfEBA-175)/GpA. This is due largely to difficulties in producing properly glycosylated and functional receptors. Here, we developed an expression system to produce recombinant glycosylated and functional GpA, as well as mutations and truncations. We identified the essential binding region and determinants for PfEBA-175 engagement, demonstrated that these determinants are required for the inhibition of parasite growth, and identified the glycans important in mediating the PfEBA-175–GpA interaction. The results suggest that PfEBA-175 engages multiple glycans of GpA encoded by exon 3 and that the presentation of glycans is likely required for high-avidity binding. The absence of exon 3 in GpB and GpE due to a splice site mutation confers specific recognition of GpA by PfEBA-175. We speculate that GpB and GpE may have arisen due to selective pressure to lose the PfEBA-175 binding site in GpA. The expression system described here has wider application for examining other EBL members important in parasite invasion, as well as additional pathogens that recognize glycophorins. The ability to define critical binding determinants in receptor-ligand interactions, as well as a system to genetically manipulate glycosylated receptors, opens new avenues for the design of interventions that disrupt parasite invasion. IMPORTANCE Plasmodium falciparum uses distinct ligands that bind host cell receptors for invasion of red blood cells (RBCs) during malaria infection. A key entry pathway involves P. falciparum EBA-175 (PfEBA-175) recognizing glycophorin A (GpA) on RBCs. Despite knowledge of this protein-protein interaction, the complete mechanism for specific receptor engagement is not known. PfEBA-175 recognizes GpA but is unable to engage the related RBC receptor GpB or GpE. Understanding the necessary elements that enable PfEBA-175 to specifically recognize GpA is critical in developing specific and potent inhibitors of PfEBA-175 that disrupt host cell invasion and aid in malaria control. Here, we describe a novel system to produce and manipulate the host receptor GpA. Using this system, we probed the elements in GpA necessary for engagement and thus for host cell invasion. These studies have important implications for understanding how ligands and receptors interact and for the future development of malaria interventions.

Chymotrypsin and neuraminidase treatment inhibits host cell invasion by Babesia divergens (Phylum Apicomplexa)

Parasitology ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. ZINTL ◽  
C. WESTBROOK ◽  
H. E. SKERRETT ◽  
J. S. GRAY ◽  
G. MULCAHY
Keyword(s):  
Host Cell ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Host Cell Invasion ◽  
Trypsin Treatment ◽  
Parasite Invasion ◽  
Neuraminidase Treatment ◽  
Babesia Divergens ◽  
Erythrocyte Surface ◽  
Bovine Erythrocytes

The process of host cell invasion by Babesia divergens is poorly understood and improved knowledge of the mechanism involved could lead to development of measures effective in disease prevention. To investigate parasite ligands on the erythrocyte surface, B. divergens cultures in bovine erythrocytes were transferred into enzyme-treated bovine, human, ovine and equine erythrocytes. Parasite invasion of bovine erythrocytes was not affected by trypsin treatment while treatment with alpha-chymotrypsin led to a reduction in parasite growth of 20–40%. Treatment of bovine and non-bovine erythrocytes with neuraminidase decreased their susceptibility to invasion by up to 97% implicating sialic acid as an important erythrocyte ligand for babesia, but the addition of either bovine or human N-acetylneuraminyl-lactose to B. divergens cultures in bovine erythrocytes had no inhibitory effect.

Collagen-binding domains of gelatinase A and thrombospondin-derived peptides impede endocytic clearance of active gelatinase A and promote HT1080 fibrosarcoma cell invasion

Life Sciences ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 376-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud Robinet ◽  
Hervé Emonard ◽  
Laszlo Banyai ◽  
Jean-Yves Laronze ◽  
Lazlo Patthy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Gelatinase A ◽  
Collagen Binding ◽  
Fibrosarcoma Cell ◽  
Binding Domains

scholarly journals A Genome-Wide siRNA Screen Implicates Spire1/2 in SipA-Driven Salmonella Typhimurium Host Cell Invasion

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e0161965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Andritschke ◽  
Sabrina Dilling ◽  
Mario Emmenlauer ◽  
Tobias Welz ◽  
Fabian Schmich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salmonella Typhimurium ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Host Cell Invasion ◽  
Sirna Screen ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome

Characterisation of NcGRA7 and NcSAG4 proteins: Immunolocalisation and their role in the host cell invasion by Neospora caninum tachyzoites

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Aguado-Martínez ◽  
Gema Álvarez-García ◽  
Gereon Schares ◽  
Verónica Risco-Castillo ◽  
Aurora Fernández-García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Parasitophorous Vacuole ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Host Cell Invasion ◽  
Invasion Mechanisms ◽  
The Matrix

AbstractNeospora caninum negatively impacts bovine reproductive performance around the world. Addressing this problem requires a greater understanding of the parasite’s molecular biology. In this study, monoclonal antibodies against recombinant proteins were successfully developed and employed to characterise two different proteins of N. caninum: the acute phase-associated NcGRA7 and the chronic phase-associated NcSAG4. Immunofluorescence with the anti-rNcGRA7 monoclonal antibody suggested that NcGRA7 trafficks from tachyzoite dense granules to the matrix of the parasitophorous vacuole and parasite’s surroundings. Furthermore, NcGRA7 is also expressed in the bradyzoite stage and localised on the matrix of bradyzoite-positive vacuoles. NcGRA7 appears to be partially involved in the tachyzoite-invasion mechanisms, as an anti-rNcGRA7 monoclonal antibody partially inhibited in vitro tachyzoite-invasion. A monoclonal antibody specific for NcSAG4 confirmed this protein’s bradyzoitespecific expression both by western blot and immunofluorescence. However, some bradyzoite-positive vacuoles only weakly expressed NcSAG4, if it was expressed at all. The specificity of the anti-rNcSAG4 monoclonal antibody was confirmed by the recognition of the NcSAG4 in the membrane surface of Nc-1SAG4c transgenic tachyzoites, which constitutively expresses NcSAG4. Blocking NcSAG4 of Nc-1SAG4c tachyzoites with the monoclonal antibody did not affect host cell invasion. However, its implication on the host cell adhesion or host immune evasion should not be discarded.

scholarly journals 1,3,4-Thiadiazoles Effectively Inhibit Proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1053
Author(s):  
Lidia Węglińska ◽  
Adrian Bekier ◽  
Katarzyna Dzitko ◽  
Barbara Pacholczyk-Sienicka ◽  
Łukasz Albrecht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Human Fibroblasts ◽  
Imidazole Ring ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Host Cell Invasion

Congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis caused by the food- and water-born parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most prevalent zoonotic infection of global importance. T. gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite with limited capacity for extracellular survival, thus a successful, efficient and robust host cell invasion process is crucial for its survival, proliferation and transmission. In this study, we screened a series of novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-halophenylamines functionalized at the C5 position with the imidazole ring (1b–12b) for their effects on T. gondii host cell invasion and proliferation. To achieve this goal, these compounds were initially subjected to in vitro assays to assess their cytotoxicity on human fibroblasts and then antiparasitic efficacy. Results showed that all of them compare favorably to control drugs sulfadiazine and trimethoprim in terms of T. gondii growth inhibition (IC50) and selectivity toward the parasite, expressed as selectivity index (SI). Subsequently, the most potent of them with meta-fluoro 2b, meta-chloro 5b, meta-bromo 8b, meta-iodo 11b and para-iodo 12b substitution were tested for their efficacy in inhibition of tachyzoites invasion and subsequent proliferation by direct action on established intracellular infection. All the compounds significantly inhibited the parasite invasion and intracellular proliferation via direct action on both tachyzoites and parasitophorous vacuoles formation. The most effective was para-iodo derivative 12b that caused reduction in the percentage of infected host cells by 44% and number of tachyzoites per vacuole by 93% compared to non-treated host cells. Collectively, these studies indicate that 1,3,4-thiadiazoles 1b–12b, especially 12b with IC50 of 4.70 µg/mL and SI of 20.89, could be considered as early hit compounds for future design and synthesis of anti-Toxoplasma agents that effectively and selectively block the invasion and subsequent proliferation of T. gondii into host cells.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document