Characterization of two novel proteins involved in mitochondrial DNA anchoring in Trypanosoma brucei.

Trypanosoma brucei is a single celled eukaryotic parasite in the group of the Kinetoplastea. The parasite harbors a single mitochondrion with a singular mitochondrial genome that is known as the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). The kDNA consists of a unique network of thousands of interlocked circular DNA molecules. To ensure proper inheritance of the kDNA to the daughter cells, the genome is physically linked to the basal body, the master organizer of the cell cycle in trypanosomes. The connection that spans, cytoplasm, mitochondrial membranes and the mitochondrial matrix is mediated by the Tripartite Attachment Complex (TAC). Using a combination of proteomics and RNAi we test the current model of hierarchical TAC assembly and identify TbmtHMG44 and TbKAP68 as novel candidates of a complex that connects the TAC to the kDNA. Depletion of TbmtHMG44 or TbKAP68 each leads to a strong kDNA loss but not missegregation phenotype as previously defined for TAC components. We demonstrate that the proteins rely on both the TAC and the kDNA for stable localization to the interface between these two structures. In vitro experiments suggest a direct interaction between TbmtHMG44 and TbKAP68 and that recombinant TbKAP68 is a DNA binding protein. We thus propose that TbmtHMG44 and TbKAP68 are part of a distinct complex connecting the kDNA to the TAC

Metabolic selection of a homologous recombination-mediated gene loss protects Trypanosoma brucei from ROS production by glycosomal fumarate reductase

The genome of trypanosomatids rearranges by using repeated sequences as platforms for amplification or deletion of genomic segments. These stochastic recombination events have a direct impact on gene dosage and foster the selection of adaptive traits in response to environmental pressure. We provide here such an example by showing that the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene knockout (Δpepck) leads to the selection of a deletion event between two tandemly arranged fumarate reductase (FRDg and FRDm2) genes to produce a chimeric FRDg-m2 gene in the Δpepck∗ cell line. FRDg is expressed in peroxisome-related organelles, named glycosomes, expression of FRDm2 has not been detected to date, and FRDg-m2 is nonfunctional and cytosolic. Re-expression of FRDg significantly impaired growth of the Δpepck∗ cells, but FRD enzyme activity was not required for this negative effect. Instead, glycosomal localization as well as the covalent flavinylation motif of FRD is required to confer growth retardation and intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The data suggest that FRDg, similar to Escherichia coli FRD, can generate ROS in a flavin-dependent process by transfer of electrons from NADH to molecular oxygen instead of fumarate when the latter is unavailable, as in the Δpepck background. Hence, growth retardation is interpreted as a consequence of increased production of ROS, and rearrangement of the FRD locus liberates Δpepck∗ cells from this obstacle. Interestingly, intracellular production of ROS has been shown to be required to complete the parasitic cycle in the insect vector, suggesting that FRDg may play a role in this proces

Diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary host inflammatory mediators in the exclusion of ventilator-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Excessive use of empirical antibiotics is common in critically ill patients. Rapid biomarker-based exclusion of infection may improve antibiotic stewardship in ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP). However, successful validation of the usefulness of potential markers in this setting is exceptionally rare. OBJECTIVES: We sought to validate the capacity for specific host inflammatory mediators to exclude pneumonia in patients with suspected VAP. METHODS: A prospective, multicentre, validation study of patients with suspected VAP was conducted in 12 intensive care units. VAP was confirmed following bronchoscopy by culture of a potential pathogen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) at >10(4) colony forming units per millilitre (cfu/mL). Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-8, matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), MMP-9 and human neutrophil elastase (HNE) were quantified in BALF. Diagnostic utility was determined for biomarkers individually and in combination. RESULTS: Paired BALF culture and biomarker results were available for 150 patients. 53 patients (35%) had VAP and 97 (65%) patients formed the non-VAP group. All biomarkers were significantly higher in the VAP group (p<0.001). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for IL-1β was 0.81; IL-8, 0.74; MMP-8, 0.76; MMP-9, 0.79 and HNE, 0.78. A combination of IL-1β and IL-8, at the optimal cut-point, excluded VAP with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 44.3% and a post-test probability of 0% (95% CI 0% to 9.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Low BALF IL-1β in combination with IL-8 confidently excludes VAP and could form a rapid biomarker-based rule-out test, with the potential to improve antibiotic stewardship

Le développement neuronal (rôle de la protéine adaptatrice CD3zeta et mécanismes régulant la fonction du récepteur de chimiokine CXCR4)

Le développement neuronal est assuré par un ensemble de mécanismes complexes permettant à terme la formation d'un réseau fonctionnel. Des données récentes montrent que des molécules bien décrites dans le système immunitaire ont également un rôle non immun dans des étapes fondamentales du développement cérébral. C'est dans ce contexte que nous avons étudié la molécule adaptatrice CD3zeta et le récepteur de chimiokine CXCR4. A des stades précoces de développement de neurones en culture, nous avons montré que CD3zeta est sélectivement associé aux cônes de croissance et aux filopodes. Des approches combinées de perte et de gain de fonction ont montré un rôle inhibiteur de CD3zeta dans la régulation du développement dendritique. Nos résultats suggèrent une nouvelle fonction de CD3zeta dans le contrôle de la morphogénèse dendritique. La chimiokine SDF-1 et son récepteur CXCR4 ont un rôle crucial dans plusieurs aspects du développement neuronal. Au cours de la formation des prolongements neuronaux, il a été montré que SDF-1 régule spécifiquement la formation de l axone sans affecter les autres neurites. Nous avons montré que la stimulation du récepteur CXCR4 par son ligand SDF-1 induit l internalisation du récepteur dans les dendrites mais pas dans l axone. Ce résultat suggère que l absence d internalisation de CXCR4 dans le domaine axonal pourrait être un mécanisme permettant une action sélective de SDF-1 sur la pousse axonale. Nos résultats révèlent un rôle inédit de CD3zeta dans le développement neuronal et un mécanisme de régulation original de CXCR4 pouvant favoriser l action sélective de SDF-1 sur les axones.Neuronal development is achieved by a complex set of mechanisms leading ultimately to the formation of a functional network. Recent data show that well-known molecules of the immune system also have non immune functions in critical stages of cerebral development. In this context, we studied the adaptor molecule CD3zeta and the chemokine receptor CXCR4. At early stages of neuronal development in culture, we have shown that CD3zeta is selectively associated with growth cones and filopodia. A combination of loss- and gain-of-function experiments in cultured neurons showed an inhibitory function of CD3zeta in dendrite development. These findings reveal a novel role of CD3zeta in the control of dendrite morphogenesis. The chemokine SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 have a critical role in many aspects of neuronal development. During the formation of neuronal processes, it has been shown that SDF-1 selectively regulates axonal patterning and does not affect the other neurites. We found that the stimulation of CXCR4 by SDF-1 induces receptor internalization in the somatodendritic domain but not in axons. This result suggests that the lack of CXCR4 internalization in axons might be a mechanism used to allow a selective action of SDF-1 in axonal growth. Our results reveal a novel role of CD3zeta in neuronal development and an original regulatory mechanism for CXCR4 that could promote a selective action of SDF-1 on axons.NANTES-BU Médecine pharmacie (441092101) / SudocSudocFranceF

A comparison of three approaches for the discovery of novel tripartite attachment complex proteins in Trypanosoma brucei.

Trypanosoma brucei is a single celled eukaryotic parasite and the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis and nagana in cattle. Aside from its medical relevance, T. brucei has also been key to the discovery of several general biological principles including GPI-anchoring, RNA-editing and trans-splicing. The parasite contains a single mitochondrion with a singular genome. Recent studies have identified several molecular components of the mitochondrial genome segregation machinery (tripartite attachment complex, TAC), which connects the basal body of the flagellum to the mitochondrial DNA of T. brucei. The TAC component in closest proximity to the mitochondrial DNA is TAC102. Here we apply and compare three different approaches (proximity labelling, immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid) to identify novel interactors of TAC102 and subsequently verify their localisation. Furthermore, we establish the direct interaction of TAC102 and p166 in the unilateral filaments of the TAC

Dendrite-selective redistribution of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 following agonist stimulation

The chemokine SDF-1 is a secreted protein that plays a critical role in several aspects of neuron development through interaction with its unique receptor CXCR4. A key mechanism that controls neuron responsiveness to extracellular signals during neuronal growth is receptor endocytosis. Since we previously reported that SDF-1 regulates axon development without affecting the other neurites, we asked whether this could correlate with a compartment-selective trafficking of CXCR4. We thus studied CXCR4 behavior upon SDF-1 exposure in rat hippocampus slices and in transfected neuron cultures. A massive agonist-induced redistribution of CXCR4 in endosomes was observed in dendrites whereas no modification was evidenced in axons. Our data suggest that CXCR4 trafficking may play a role in mediating selective effects of SDF-1 on distinct neuronal membrane subdomains

Structural and cooperative length scales in polymer gels

Understanding the relationship between the material structural details, the geometrical confining constraints, the local dynamical events and the global rheological response is at the core of present investigations on complex fluid properties. In the present article, this problem is addressed on a model yield stress fluid made of highly entangled polymer gels of Carbopol which follows at the macroscopic scale the well-known Herschel-Bulkley rheological law. First, performing local rheology measurements up to high shear rates ($\dot{\gamma} \geq 10^{2}$ s-1)and under confinement, we evidence unambiguously the breakdown of bulk rheology associated with cooperative processes under flow. Moreover, we show that these behaviors are fully captured with a unique cooperativity length $\xi$ over the whole range of experimental conditions. Second, we introduce an original optical microscopy method to access structural properties of the entangled polymer gel in the direct space. Performing image correlation spectroscopy of fluorophore-loaded gels, the characteristic size D of carbopol gels microstructure is determined as a function of preparation protocol. Combining both dynamical and structural information shows that the measured cooperative length $\xi$ corresponds to 2-5 times the underlying structural size D, thus providing a strong grounding to the “Shear Transformation Zones” modeling approach

Synthesis and characterisation of O-6-alkylthio- and perfluoroalkylpropanethio-α-cyclodextrins and their O-2-, O-3-methylated analogues

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