scholarly journals Import of Entamoeba histolytica Mitosomal ATP Sulfurylase Relies on Internal Targeting Sequences

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1229
Author(s):  
Herbert J. Santos ◽  
Yoko Chiba ◽  
Takashi Makiuchi ◽  
Saki Arakawa ◽  
Yoshitaka Murakami ◽  
...  

Mitochondrial matrix proteins synthesized in the cytosol often contain amino (N)-terminal targeting sequences (NTSs), or alternately internal targeting sequences (ITSs), which enable them to be properly translocated to the organelle. Such sequences are also required for proteins targeted to mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs) that are present in a few species of anaerobic eukaryotes. Similar to other MROs, the mitosomes of the human intestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica are highly degenerate, because a majority of the components involved in various processes occurring in the canonical mitochondria are either missing or modified. As of yet, sulfate activation continues to be the only identified role of the relic mitochondria of Entamoeba. Mitosomes influence the parasitic nature of E. histolytica, as the downstream cytosolic products of sulfate activation have been reported to be essential in proliferation and encystation. Here, we investigated the position of the targeting sequence of one of the mitosomal matrix enzymes involved in the sulfate activation pathway, ATP sulfurylase (AS). We confirmed by immunofluorescence assay and subcellular fractionation that hemagluttinin (HA)-tagged EhAS was targeted to mitosomes. However, its ortholog in the δ-proteobacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris, expressed as DvAS-HA in amoebic trophozoites, indicated cytosolic localization, suggesting a lack of recognizable mitosome targeting sequence in this protein. By expressing chimeric proteins containing swapped sequences between EhAS and DvAS in amoebic cells, we identified the ITSs responsible for mitosome targeting of EhAS. This observation is similar to other parasitic protozoans that harbor MROs, suggesting a convergent feature among various MROs in favoring ITS for the recognition and translocation of targeted proteins.

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 936-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaas Nico Faber ◽  
John A. Heyman ◽  
Suresh Subramani

ABSTRACT Two peroxins of the AAA family, PpPex1p and PpPex6p, are required for peroxisome biogenesis in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Cells from the corresponding deletion strains (PpΔpex1and PpΔpex6) contain only small vesicular remnants of peroxisomes, the bulk of peroxisomal matrix proteins is mislocalized to the cytosol, and these cells cannot grow in peroxisome-requiring media (J. A. Heyman, E. Monosov, and S. Subramani, J. Cell Biol. 127:1259–1273, 1994; A. P. Spong and S. Subramani, J. Cell Biol. 123:535–548, 1993). We demonstrate that PpPex1p and PpPex6p interact in an ATP-dependent manner. Genetically, the interaction was observed in a suppressor screen with a strain harboring a temperature-sensitive allele of PpPEX1 and in the yeast two-hybrid system. Biochemially, these proteins were coimmunoprecipitated with antibodies raised against either of the proteins, but only in the presence of ATP. The protein complex formed under these conditions was 320 to 400 kDa in size, consistent with the formation of a heterodimeric PpPex1p-PpPex6p complex. Subcellular fractionation revealed PpPex1p and PpPex6p to be predominantly associated with membranous subcellular structures distinct from peroxisomes. Based on their behavior in subcellular fractionation experiments including flotation gradients and on the fact that these structures are also present in a PpΔpex3strain in which no morphologically detectable peroxisomal remnants have been observed, we propose that these structures are small vesicles. The identification of vesicle-associated peroxins is novel and implies a role for these vesicles in peroxisome biogenesis. We discuss the possible role of the ATP-dependent interaction between PpPex1p and PpPex6p in regulating peroxisome biogenesis events.


1988 ◽  
Vol 27 (04) ◽  
pp. 151-153
Author(s):  
P. Thouvenot ◽  
F. Brunotte ◽  
J. Robert ◽  
L. J. Anghileri

In vitro uptake of 67Ga-citrate and 59Fe-citrate by DS sarcoma cells in the presence of tumor-bearing animal blood plasma showed a dramatic inhibition of both 67Ga and 59Fe uptakes: about ii/io of 67Ga and 1/5o of the 59Fe are taken up by the cells. Subcellular fractionation appears to indicate no specific binding to cell structures, and the difference of binding seems to be related to the transferrin chelation and transmembrane transport differences


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7872
Author(s):  
Malin Tordis Meyer ◽  
Christoph Watermann ◽  
Thomas Dreyer ◽  
Steffen Wagner ◽  
Claus Wittekindt ◽  
...  

Salivary gland cancers are rare but aggressive tumors that have poor prognosis and lack effective cure. Of those, parotid tumors constitute the majority. Functioning as metabolic machinery contributing to cellular redox balance, peroxisomes have emerged as crucial players in tumorigenesis. Studies on murine and human cells have examined the role of peroxisomes in carcinogenesis with conflicting results. These studies either examined the consequences of altered peroxisomal proliferators or compared their expression in healthy and neoplastic tissues. None, however, examined such differences exclusively in human parotid tissue or extended comparison to peroxisomal proteins and their associated gene expressions. Therefore, we examined differences in peroxisomal dynamics in parotid tumors of different morphologies. Using immunofluorescence and quantitative PCR, we compared the expression levels of key peroxisomal enzymes and proliferators in healthy and neoplastic parotid tissue samples. Three parotid tumor subtypes were examined: pleomorphic adenoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma. We observed higher expression of peroxisomal matrix proteins in neoplastic samples with exceptional down regulation of certain enzymes; however, the degree of expression varied between tumor subtypes. Our findings confirm previous experimental results on other organ tissues and suggest peroxisomes as possible therapeutic targets or markers in all or certain subtypes of parotid neoplasms.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 940-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie A. Davis ◽  
Michael P. S. Brown ◽  
Upinder Singh

ABSTRACT Pre-mRNA splicing is essential to ensure accurate expression of many genes in eukaryotic organisms. In Entamoeba histolytica, a deep-branching eukaryote, approximately 30% of the annotated genes are predicted to contain introns; however, the accuracy of these predictions has not been tested. In this study, we mined an expressed sequence tag (EST) library representing 7% of amoebic genes and found evidence supporting splicing of 60% of the testable intron predictions, the majority of which contain a GUUUGU 5′ splice site and a UAG 3′ splice site. Additionally, we identified several splice site misannotations, evidence for the existence of 30 novel introns in previously annotated genes, and identified novel genes through uncovering their spliced ESTs. Finally, we provided molecular evidence for the E. histolytica U2, U4, and U5 snRNAs. These data lay the foundation for further dissection of the role of RNA processing in E. histolytica gene expression.


Microbiology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 150 (6) ◽  
pp. 1681-1686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Pinto ◽  
Quing Xui Tang ◽  
Warwick J. Britton ◽  
Thomas S. Leyh ◽  
James A. Triccas

Sulfur metabolism has been implicated in the virulence, antibiotic resistance and anti-oxidant defence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite its human disease relevance, sulfur metabolism in mycobacteria has not yet been fully characterized. ATP sulfurylase catalyses the synthesis of activated sulfate (adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate, APS), the first step in the reductive assimilation of sulfate. Expression of the M. tuberculosis cysD gene, predicted to encode the adenylyl-transferase subunit of ATP sulfurylase, is upregulated by the bacilli inside its preferred host, the macrophage. This study demonstrates that cysD and cysNC orthologues exist in M. tuberculosis and constitute an operon whose expression is induced by sulfur limitation and repressed by the presence of cysteine, a major end-product of sulfur assimilation. The cysDNC genes are also induced upon exposure to oxidative stress, suggesting regulation of sulfur assimilation by M. tuberculosis in response to toxic oxidants. To ensure that the cysDNC operon encoded the activities predicted by its primary sequence, and to begin to characterize the products of the operon, they were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, and tested for their catalytic activities. The CysD and CysNC proteins were shown to form a multifunctional enzyme complex that exhibits the three linked catalytic activities that constitute the sulfate activation pathway.


Author(s):  
Saima Limi ◽  
George Ojakian ◽  
Robert Raffaniello

AbstractRab3D is a low molecular weight GTP-binding protein that associates with secretory granules in exocrine cells. AR42J cells are derived from rat pancreatic exocrine tumor cells and develop an acinar cell-like phenotype when treated with dexamethasone (Dex). In the present study, we examined the role of Rab3D in Dex-treated AR42J cells. Rab3D expression and localization were analyzed by subcellular fractionation and immunoblotting. The role of Rab3D was examined by overexpressing myc-labeled wild-type-Rab3D and a constitutively active form of Rab3D (Rab3D-Q81L) in AR42J cells. We found that Rab3D is predominantly membrane-associated in AR42J cells and co-localizes with zymogen granules (ZG). Following CCK-8-induced exocytosis, amylase-positive ZGs appeared to move towards the periphery of the cell and co-localization between Rab3D and amylase was less complete when compared to basal conditions. Overexpression of WT, but not mutant Rab3D, resulted in an increase in cellular amylase levels. Overexpression of mutant and WT Rab3D did not affect granule morphology, CCK-8-induced secretion, long-term (48 hr) basal amylase release or granule density. We conclude that Rab3D is not involved in agonist-induced exocytosis in AR42J cells. Instead, Rab3D may regulate amylase content in these cells.


2003 ◽  
Vol 163 (4) ◽  
pp. 889-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zu-Lin Chen ◽  
Sidney Strickland

Laminins are heterotrimeric extracellular matrix proteins that regulate cell viability and function. Laminin-2, composed of α2, β1, and γ1 chains, is a major matrix component of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). To investigate the role of laminin in the PNS, we used the Cre–loxP system to disrupt the laminin γ1 gene in Schwann cells. These mice have dramatically reduced expression of laminin γ1 in Schwann cells, which results in a similar reduction in laminin α2 and β1 chains. These mice exhibit motor defects which lead to hind leg paralysis and tremor. During development, Schwann cells that lack laminin γ1 were present in peripheral nerves, and proliferated and underwent apoptosis similar to control mice. However, they were unable to differentiate and synthesize myelin proteins, and therefore unable to sort and myelinate axons. In mutant mice, after sciatic nerve crush, the axons showed impaired regeneration. These experiments demonstrate that laminin is an essential component for axon myelination and regeneration in the PNS.


Hypertension ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Ramil C Montaniel ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Matthew R Bersi ◽  
Liang Xiao ◽  
Hana A Itani ◽  
...  

We and others have shown that hypertension (HTN) is associated with a striking deposition of collagen in the vascular adventitia. This causes vascular stiffening, which increases pulse wave velocity and contributes to end-organ damage. Through a screen of vascular microRNAs (miRNAs), we found that miR-762 is the most upregulated miRNA in mice with angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced HTN. qRT-PCR confirmed that miR-762 is upregulated 6.35±1.22 (p=0.03) fold in aortas of Ang II-infused mice compared with controls. This was a direct effect of Ang II, as miR-762 upregulation was not eliminated by lowering blood pressure with hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide and was increased only 2-fold in DOCA salt HTN. To study the role of miR-762 in HTN, we administered a locked nucleic acid inhibitor of miR-762 (antagomiR-762). AntagomiR-762 administration did not alter the hypertensive response to Ang II, yet it normalized stress-strain relationships and aortic energy storage that occurs in systole (Table). Further studies showed that antagomiR-762 dramatically affected vascular matrix proteins, reducing mRNA for several collagens and fibronectin and dramatically upregulating collagenases MMP1a, 8 and 13 (Table). Thus, miR-762 has a major role in modulating vascular stiffening and its inhibition dramatically inhibits pathological fibrosis, enhances matrix degradation and normalizes aortic stiffness. AntagomiR-762 might represent a new approach to prevent aortic stiffening and its consequent end-organ damage.


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