Leishmania majorformins are cytosolic actin bundler play an important role in cell physiology
ABSTRACTFormin proteins regulate actin dynamics, are conserved throughout the eukaryotes cells. They play an important role in cell adhesion, motility, vesicular trafficking, and cytokinesis. Formins from class Kinetoplastida which includes infective organisms such asLeishmaniaandTrypanosomanot characterized to date, even though they are shown to be important in other protozoan parasites. The protozoan parasiteLeishmania major (Lm)has two homologous formin proteins; LmForminA and LmForminB. Our study showed that LmForminA and LmForminB are expressed at RNA and protein levels inL. majorcells. LmForminA and LmForminB are localized in the cytosol in patchy distribution patterns. LmForminA and LmForminB puncta also colocalize with the actin patches. The biochemical properties ofL. majorformins divulge that both formins are potent actin nucleator. LmForminA and LmForminB bind with the actin filament and have actin-bundling activity. We have also observed that formin inhibitor SMIFH2 influences the growth and physiology ofL. majorcells indicating formins are important for the Leishmania parasite.