A monoclonal antibody marker for the exclusion-zone filaments of Trypanosoma brucei

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Trypanosoma brucei </it>is a haemoflagellate pathogen of man, wild animals and domesticated livestock in central and southern Africa. In all life cycle stages this parasite has a single mitochondrion that contains a uniquely organised genome that is condensed into a flat disk-like structure called the kinetoplast. The kinetoplast is essential for insect form procyclic cells and therefore is a potential drug target. The kinetoplast is unique in nature because it consists of novel structural proteins and thousands of circular, interlocking, DNA molecules (kDNA). Secondly, kDNA replication is critically timed to coincide with nuclear S phase and new flagellum biogenesis. Thirdly, the kinetoplast is physically attached to the flagellum basal bodies <it>via </it>a structure called the tripartite attachment complex (TAC). The TAC consists of unilateral filaments (within the mitochondrion matrix), differentiated mitochondrial membranes and exclusion-zone filaments that extend from the distal end of the basal bodies. To date only one protein, p166, has been identified to be a component of the TAC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the work presented here we provide data based on a novel EM technique developed to label and characterise cytoskeleton structures in permeabilised cells without extraction of mitochondrion membranes. We use this protocol to provide data on a new monoclonal antibody reagent (Mab 22) and illustrate the precise localisation of basal body-mitochondrial linker proteins. Mab 22 binds to these linker proteins (exclusion-zone filaments) and provides a new tool for the characterisation of cytoskeleton mediated kinetoplast segregation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The antigen(s) recognised by Mab 22 are cytoskeletal, insensitive to extraction by high concentrations of non-ionic detergent, extend from the proximal region of basal bodies and bind to the outer mitochondrial membrane. This protein(s) is the first component of the TAC exclusion-zone fibres to be identified. Mab 22 will therefore be important in characterising TAC biogenesis.</p

Ultra Expansion microscopy protocol with improved setup for upright and inverted microscopes. v1

UltraPourquoi et comment les trypanosomes construisent un Collier de la Poche FlagellaireAlliance française contre les maladies parasitaire

Yeast two-hybrid interaction assay v1

Protein-protein interaction can be tested using yeast two-hybrid assays. The bait protein is fused to the Gal4 DNA-binding domain (BD) and the prey is fused to the Gal4 transcriptional activation domain (AD) are both expressed in the same yeast cell. Activation of the reporter genes occurs only if bait and prey interact

Crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of the trypanosome flagellar protein BILBO1 reveals a ubiquitin fold with a long structured loop for protein binding

Trypanosoma brucei is a protist parasite causing sleeping sickness and nagana in sub-Saharan Africa. T. brucei has a single flagellum whose base contains a bulblike invagination of the plasma membrane called the flagellar pocket (FP). Around the neck of the FP on its cytoplasmic face is a structure called the flagellar pocket collar (FPC), which is essential for FP biogenesis. BILBO1 was the first characterized component of the FPC in trypanosomes. BILBO1's N-terminal domain (NTD) plays an essential role in T. brucei FPC biogenesis and is thus vital for the parasite's survival. Here, we report a 1.6-Å resolution crystal structure of TbBILBO1-NTD, which revealed a conserved horseshoe-like hydrophobic pocket formed by an unusually long loop. Results from mutagenesis experiments suggested that another FPC protein, FPC4, interacts with TbBILBO1 by mainly contacting its three conserved aromatic residues Trp-71, Tyr-87, and Phe-89 at the center of this pocket. Our findings disclose the binding site of TbFPC4 on TbBILBO1-NTD, which may provide a basis for rational drug design targeting BILBO1 to combat T. brucei infections.Alliance française contre les maladies parasitaire

TFK1, a basal body transition fibre protein that is essential for cytokinesis in Trypanosoma brucei

In Trypanosoma brucei, transition fibres (TFs) form a nine-bladed pattern-like structure connecting the base of the flagellum to the flagellar pocket membrane. Despite the characterization of two TF proteins, CEP164C and T. brucei (Tb)RP2, little is known about the organization of these fibres. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the first kinetoplastid-specific TF protein, named TFK1 (Tb927.6.1180). Bioinformatics and functional domain analysis identified three distinct domains in TFK1 – an N-terminal domain of an unpredicted function, a coiled-coil domain involved in TFK1–TFK1 interaction and a C-terminal intrinsically disordered region potentially involved in protein interaction. Cellular immunolocalization showed that TFK1 is a newly identified basal body maturation marker. Furthermore, using ultrastructure expansion and immuno-electron microscopies we localized CEP164C and TbRP2 at the TF, and TFK1 on the distal appendage matrix of the TF. Importantly, RNAi-mediated knockdown of TFK1 in bloodstream form cells induced misplacement of basal bodies, a defect in the furrow or fold generation, and eventually cell death. We hypothesize that TFK1 is a basal body positioning-specific actor and a key regulator of cytokinesis in the bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei

Structural and functional studies of the first tripartite protein complex at the Trypanosoma brucei flagellar pocket collar

The flagellar pocket (FP) is the only endo-and exocytic organelle in most trypanosomes and, as such, is essential throughout the life cycle of the parasite. The neck of the FP is maintained enclosed around the flagellum via the flagellar pocket collar (FPC). The FPC is a macromolecular cytoskeletal structure and is essential for the formation of the FP and cytokinesis. FPC biogenesis and structure are poorly understood, mainly due to the lack of information on FPC composition. To date, only two FPC proteins, BILBO1 and FPC4, have been characterized. BILBO1 forms a molecular skeleton upon which other FPC proteins can, theoretically, dock onto. We previously identified FPC4 as the first BILBO1 interacting partner and demonstrated that its C-terminal domain interacts with the BILBO1 N-terminal domain (NTD). Here, we report by yeast two-hybrid, bioinformatics, functional and structural studies the characterization of a new FPC component and BILBO1 partner protein, BILBO2 (Tb927.6.3240). Further, we demonstrate that BILBO1 and BILBO2 share a homologous NTD and that both domains interact with FPC4. We have determined a 1.9 resolution crystal structure of the BILBO2 NTD in complex with the FPC4 BILBO1-binding domain. Together with mutational analyses, our studies reveal key residues for the function of the BILBO2 NTD and its interaction with FPC4 and evidenced a tripartite interaction between BILBO1, BILBO2, and FPC4. Our work sheds light on the first atomic structure of an FPC protein complex and represents a significant step in deciphering the FPC function in Trypanosoma brucei and other pathogenic kinetoplastids.Pourquoi et comment les trypanosomes construisent un Collier de la Poche FlagellaireAlliance française contre les maladies parasitaire

Structural studies of the shortest extended synaptotagmin with only two C2 domains from Trypanosoma brucei

Alliance française contre les maladies parasitaire

A MAP6-Related Protein Is Present in Protozoa and Is Involved in Flagellum Motility

In vertebrates the microtubule-associated proteins MAP6 and MAP6d1 stabilize cold-resistant microtubules. Cilia and flagella have cold-stable microtubules but MAP6 proteins have not been identified in these organelles. Here, we describe TbSAXO as the first MAP6-related protein to be identified in a protozoan, Trypanosoma brucei. Using a heterologous expression system, we show that TbSAXO is a microtubule stabilizing protein. Furthermore we identify the domains of the protein responsible for microtubule binding and stabilizing and show that they share homologies with the microtubule-stabilizing Mn domains of the MAP6 proteins. We demonstrate, in the flagellated parasite, that TbSAXO is an axonemal protein that plays a role in flagellum motility. Lastly we provide evidence that TbSAXO belongs to a group of MAP6-related proteins (SAXO proteins) present only in ciliated or flagellated organisms ranging from protozoa to mammals. We discuss the potential roles of the SAXO proteins in cilia and flagella function

Le burn-out des soignants travaillant en soins palliatifs

International audienc

Biogenesis of the Trypanosome Endo-Exocytotic Organelle Is Cytoskeleton Mediated

International audienc