Esteban J. Bontempi

Subcellular localization of a cysteine proteinase from Trypanosoma cruzi.

Epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, Tulahuén strain, Tul 2 stock, contain a cysteine proteinase able to degrade azocasein at pH 5. This enzyme activity was extracted from whole cells by digitonin concentrations higher than those required for cytosolic markers, lower than those required for glycosomal and mitochondrial markers, and very similar to those required for solubilization of the acidic alpha-mannosidase. Both, the azocasein-degrading proteinase and the alpha-mannosidase, showed similar latency and distribution in subcellular fractions (the large granule fraction was the most active), and the same behavior in isopycnic sucrose gradient centrifugation; a broad peak centered at an equilibrium density of about 1.15 g cm-3, with a shoulder between 1.07 and 1.10 g cm-3, was obtained for both enzymes. The results suggest that the cysteine proteinase activity is placed in the lysosomes.

Proteomics in Trypanosoma cruzi--localization of novel proteins to various organelles.

The completion of the genome sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi has been followed by several studies of protein expression, with the long‐term aim to obtain a complete picture of the parasite proteome. We report a proteomic analysis of an organellar cell fraction from T. cruzi CL Brener epimastigotes. A total of 396 proteins were identified by LC‐MS/MS. Of these, 138 were annotated as hypothetical in the genome databases and the rest could be assigned to several metabolic and biosynthetic pathways, transport, and structural functions. Comparative analysis with a whole cell proteome study resulted in the validation of the expression of 173 additional proteins. Of these, 38 proteins previously reported in other stages were not found in the only large‐scale study of the total epimastigote stage proteome. A selected set of identified proteins was analyzed further to investigate gene copy number, sequence variation, transmembrane domains, and targeting signals. The genes were cloned and the proteins expressed with a c‐myc epitope tag in T. cruzi epimastigotes. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed the localization of these proteins in different cellular compartments such as ER, acidocalcisome, mitochondrion, and putative cytoplasmic transport or delivery vesicles. The results demonstrate that the use of enriched subcellular fractions allows the detection of T. cruzi proteins that are undetected by whole cell proteomic methods.

Molecular cloning, sequencing and expression of a serine proteinase inhibitor gene from Toxoplasma gondii

A cDNA clone from a Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite cDNA library encoding a serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) was isolated. The 1376 bp cDNA sequence encodes a 294 amino acid protein with a putative signal peptide of 23 amino acids resulting in a mature protein with a predicted mass of 30,190 Da and a pI of 4.86. This protein has internal sequence similarity of residues 30-66, 114-150, 181-217 and 247-283 indicating a four-domain structure. The four domains exhibit high identity to serine proteinase inhibitors belonging to the non-classical Kazal-type family. The gene is single copy in the tachyzoite haploid genome of RH strain and was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Several introns were identified. The sequence encoding the mature protein was amplified by PCR, cloned into the pQE30 vector and expressed in Escherichia coli. Specific antiserum generated against the recombinant protein was used in immunoblot assay and two bands of 38 and 42 kDa were detected in a whole parasite homogenate. The recombinant protein showed trypsin-inhibitory activity, one of the two potential specificities. We discuss the possible roles that T. gondii serpin(s) may play in the survival of the tachyzoites in the host.

Subcellular localization and post-secretory targeting of TgPI, a serine proteinase inhibitor from Toxoplasma gondii.

Viviana Pszenny , Bibiana E. Ledesma , Mariana Matrajt , Vilma G. Duschak , Esteban J. Bontempi , Jean-Francois Dubremetz , Sergio O. Angel * a Departamento de Parasitologia, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbran, Av. Velez Sarsfield 563, 1281, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina b Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA c Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas, UNSAM, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina d UMR5539 CNRS, Universite de Montpellier II, Montpellier, France

A Solanesyl-diphosphate Synthase Localizes in Glycosomes of Trypanosoma cruzi

We report the cloning of a Trypanosoma cruzi gene encoding a solanesyl-diphosphate synthase, TcSPPS. The amino acid sequence (molecular mass ∼ 39 kDa) is homologous to polyprenyl-diphosphate synthases from different organisms, showing the seven conserved motifs and the typical hydrophobic profile. TcSPPS preferred geranylgeranyl diphosphate as the allylic substrate. The final product, as determined by TLC, had nine isoprene units. This suggests that the parasite synthesizes mainly ubiquinone-9 (UQ-9), as described for Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major. In fact, that was the length of the ubiquinone extracted from epimastigotes, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Expression of TcSPPS was able to complement an Escherichia coli ispB mutant. A punctuated pattern in the cytoplasm of the parasite was detected by immunofluorescence analysis with a specific polyclonal antibody against TcSPPS. An overlapping fluorescence pattern was observed using an antibody directed against the glycosomal marker pyruvate phosphate dikinase, suggesting that this step of the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway is located in the glycosomes. Co-localization in glycosomes was confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy and subcellular fractionation. Because UQ has a central role in energy production and in reoxidation of reduction equivalents, TcSPPS is promising as a new chemotherapeutic target.

Isolation and characterization of a gene from Trypanosoma cruzi encoding a 46-kilodalton protein with homology to human and rat tyrosine aminotransferase

The complete sequence of a gene encoding a 46-kDa protein of Trypanosoma cruzi is presented. The first ATG complies with the consensus sequence for initiation of translation. A single band of 2 kb was highlighted by hybridizing a probe from the 46-kDa protein gene to a Northern filter containing total T. cruzi RNA. The gene is present in 50-80 copies per cell and most of them are contained in 2 tandem arrays on large T. cruzi chromosomes (> 2000 kb). A strong homology with rat and human tyrosine aminotransferase was detected. Homology with a Trypanosoma brucei retrotransposon was found in the nonsense strand of the intergenic region.

Trypanosoma cruzi exoantigen is a member of a 160 kDa gene family

During the chronic stage of Chagas disease a 160 kDa antigen appears in the blood of patients and remains detectable many years after the onset of the disease. This antigen is secreted by the trypomastigote form of the parasite while it is undetectable in the epimastigote form. We report here that the chronic 160 kDa exoantigen is encoded by a gene family (CEA 160 family). We describe the cloning and partial nucleotide sequence of a gene (CEA 160-1) belonging to the CEA160 family. Comparison of the gene sequence with other sequences present in the databases revealed homologies with several Trypanosoma cruzi surface antigens. Highest amino acid identity (59%) was with members of a family containing epitopes that mimic nervous tissues (Van Voorhis et al. 1993). Another related group (18-22% amino acid identity) comprises proteins of 85 or 160 kDa sharing an amino acid motif that is conserved among bacterial neuraminidases (Fouts et al. 1991; Pollevick et al. 1991; Kahn et al. 1991; Takle & Cross, 1991; Franco et al. 1993). The amino acid identities with the different antigens were not homogeneously distributed. Regions of higher identity (40-60%) were grouped in the central region of each protein.

Purification and some properties of an acidic protease from epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract 1. 1. An acidic protease was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity (34-fold purification, 7% yield) from epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, Tulahuen strain, Tul 2 stock. The enzyme is monomeric, with a molecular weight of about 60,000. 2. 2. The purified enzyme was able to use as substrate azocasein, casein, bovine serum albumin and hemoglobin; the highest activity was found with bovine serum albumin at pH 4.0. Soluble T. cruzi proteins were also used as substrates, with an optimum pH of about 3.0. 3. 3. The purified enzyme was rather thermostable; 50% of the enzyme activity was lost upon preincubation at 62°C for 10 min at pH 5.0. Accordingly, the “optimal” temperature for the reaction with azocasein as substrate was 60°C. 4. 4. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by the thiol reagents p-chloromercuribenzoate, phenolphthalein mercuric acetate and p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate (I50 values of 1.0, 1.2 and 3.0 × 10−6M, respectively); thiol-containing compounds, such as 2-mercaptoethanol and reduced glutathione, activated the enzyme; the former was also able to reactivate the enzyme inhibited by the mercurials. N-α-p- Tosyl- l -lysine chloromethyl ketone and N-α-p- tosyl- l -phenylalanine chloromethylketone were also strong inhibitors (I50 of 1.2 × 10−6 and 1.7 × 10−5 M, respectively); 2-mercaptoethanol did not revert these inhibitions. 5. 5. The properties of the purified protease suggest that it may be the main factor responsible for the proteolysis of endogenous substrates that we have described in cell-free extracts of T. cruzi (Cazzulo, J. J. and Franke de Cazzulo, B. M. (1982) Experientia (Basel) 38, 1135–1137).

Solanesyl Diphosphate Synthase, an Enzyme of the Ubiquinone Synthetic Pathway, Is Required throughout the Life Cycle of Trypanosoma brucei

ABSTRACT Ubiquinone 9 (UQ9), the expected product of the long-chain solanesyl diphosphate synthase of Trypanosoma brucei (TbSPPS), has a central role in reoxidation of reducing equivalents in the mitochondrion of T. brucei. The ablation of TbSPPS gene expression by RNA interference increased the generation of reactive oxygen species and reduced cell growth and oxygen consumption. The addition of glycerol to the culture medium exacerbated the phenotype by blocking its endogenous generation and excretion. The participation of TbSPPS in UQ synthesis was further confirmed by growth rescue using UQ with 10 isoprenyl subunits (UQ10). Furthermore, the survival of infected mice was prolonged upon the downregulation of TbSPPS and/or the addition of glycerol to drinking water. TbSPPS is inhibited by 1-[(n-oct-1-ylamino)ethyl] 1,1-bisphosphonic acid, and treatment with this compound was lethal for the cells. The findings that both UQ9 and ATP pools were severely depleted by the drug and that exogenous UQ10 was able to fully rescue growth of the inhibited parasites strongly suggest that TbSPPS and UQ synthesis are the main targets of the drug. These two strategies highlight the importance of TbSPPS for T. brucei, justifying further efforts to validate it as a new drug target.

Trypanosoma cruzi: Cellular and antibody response against the parasite in mice immunized with a 19-amino acid synthetic peptide

Several monoclonal antibodies were prepared against the flagellar fraction of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes (Tulahuén strain, stock Tul 2). One of them, FCH-F8-4, has previously shown biologic activity against the parasite (complement-mediated lysis and neutralization of the trypomastigote infectivity). Immunopurified antigens using this monoclonal antibody elicited a protective immune response in mice. Two recombinant cDNA clones were detected with this anti-flagellar fraction monoclonal antibody on a lambda gt11 expression library prepared from T. cruzi epimastigote mRNA. The insert of one of these cDNA clones, lambda(FCH-F8-4)1 (150 bp) coded for a 19-amino acid peptide (PAFLGCSSRFSGSFSGVEP). This insert hybridized with a 5.0-kb mRNA from epimastigotes. The beta-galactosidase fusion protein was produced in lysogenic bacteria. The monoclonal antibody recognized the epitope present in the fusion protein after western blotting of the crude lysate. A synthetic peptide (SP4) containing the complete sequence of lambda(FCH-F8-4)1 was constructed on solid phase. This peptide was able to inhibit the ELISA reactivity (in a range from 13 to 52%) of flagellar fraction immunized mouse sera and when administered (coupled to KLH or alone) to BALB/c mice with Bordetella pertussis as adjuvant, it induced a humoral and cellular immune response which was detected by ELISA, immunofluorescence, blotting, and DTH reactions against T. cruzi antigens. The immune response obtained indicates that this synthetic peptide resembles the parasite antigen conformation and could be useful for diagnosis purposes or be able to elicit immunoprotection against T. cruzi infection.