Reduction of Tubulin Expression in <i>Angomonas deanei</i> by RNAi Modifies the Ultrastructure of the Trypanosomatid Protozoan and Impairs Division of Its Endosymbiotic Bacterium

Catta-Preta, Carolina Moura Costa; Pascoalino, Bruno dos Santos; Souza, Wanderley de; Mottram, Jeremy C.; Motta, María Cristina M.; Schenkman, Sérgio

doi:10.1111/jeu.12326

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(60 reference statements)

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“…If so, the impact of the loss of one of the Dicers might be less dramatic, as the remaining enzyme could at least partially compensate its functions. As was recently reported (Catta-Preta et al 2016), the RNAi system remains functional in A. deanei that, according to our data, also seems to have lost Dicer2. In favor of this suggestion may be the fact that RNAi in the organisms defective in Dicer can be complemented by a Dicer from a distantly related host (MacRae et al 2006).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

The Evolutionary Loss of RNAi Key Determinants in Kinetoplastids as a Multiple Sporadic Phenomenon

et al. 2017

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We screened the genomes of a broad panel of kinetoplastid protists for genes encoding proteins associated with the RNA interference (RNAi) system using probes from the Argonaute (AGO1), Dicer1 (DCL1), and Dicer2 (DCL2) genes of Leishmania brasiliensis and Crithidia fasciculata. We identified homologs for all the three of these genes in the genomes of a subset of these organisms. However, several of these organisms lacked evidence for any of these genes, while others lacked only DCL2. The open reading frames encoding these putative proteins were structurally analyzed in silico. The alignments indicated that the genes are homologous with a high degree of confidence, and three-dimensional structural models strongly supported a functional relationship to previously characterized AGO1, DCL1, and DCL2 proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of these putative proteins showed that these genes, when present, evolved in parallel with other nuclear genes, arguing that the RNAi system genes share a common progenitor, likely across all Kinetoplastea. In addition, the genome segments bearing these genes are highly conserved and syntenic, even among those taxa in which they are absent. However, taxa in which these genes are apparently absent represent several widely divergent branches of kinetoplastids, arguing that these genes were independently lost at least six times in the evolutionary history of these organisms. The mechanisms responsible for the apparent coordinate loss of these RNAi system genes independently in several lineages of kinetoplastids, while being maintained in other related lineages, are currently unknown.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

The Evolutionary Loss of RNAi Key Determinants in Kinetoplastids as a Multiple Sporadic Phenomenon

et al. 2017

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“…The exact nature and function of these novel putative KAPs remain to be unveiled and necessitate new studies that are stimulated by the recent discovery that the RNA interference system is active in A . deanei [ 41 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanded repertoire of kinetoplast associated proteins and unique mitochondrial DNA arrangement of symbiont-bearing trypanosomatids

et al. 2017

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In trypanosomatids, the kinetoplast is the portion of the single mitochondrion that is connected to the basal body and contains the kDNA, a network composed by circular and interlocked DNA. The kDNA packing is conducted by Kinetoplast Associated Proteins (KAPs), which are similar to eukaryotic histone H1. In symbiont-harboring trypanosomatids (SHTs) such as Angomonas deanei and Strigomonas culicis, a ß-proteobacterium co-evolves with the host in a mutualistic relationship. The prokaryote confers nutritional benefits to the host and affects its cell structure. Atomic force microscopy showed that the topology of isolated kDNA networks is quite similar in the two SHT species. Ultrastructural analysis using high-resolution microscopy techniques revealed that the DNA fibrils are more compact in the kinetoplast region that faces the basal body and that the presence of the symbiotic bacterium does not interfere with kDNA topology. However, RT-PCR data revealed differences in the expression of KAPs in wild-type protozoa as compared to aposymbiotic cells. Immunolocalization showed that different KAPs present distinct distributions that are coincident in symbiont-bearing and in symbiont-free cells. Although KAP4 and KAP7 are shared by all trypanosomatid species, the expanded repertoire of KAPs in SHTs can be used as phylogenetic markers to distinguish different genera.

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“…Such results are relevant since they suggest that this phenomenon occurs in different species of strigomonads. More recently, it was shown in A. deanei that gene expression can be modulated by RNA interference and that the CRISPRCas9 gene deletion system is active in this protozoan [74,75]. Thus, the present study is very promising for future investigations, indicating how interfere in glycerophospholipid synthesis pathways and revealing the contribution of these molecules to the symbiotic relationship maintenance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

The Importance of Glycerophospholipid Production to the Mutualist Symbiosis of Trypanosomatids

et al. 2021

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The symbiosis in trypanosomatids is a mutualistic relationship characterized by extensive metabolic exchanges between the bacterium and the protozoan. The symbiotic bacterium can complete host essential metabolic pathways, such as those for heme, amino acid, and vitamin production. Experimental assays indicate that the symbiont acquires phospholipids from the host trypanosomatid, especially phosphatidylcholine, which is often present in bacteria that have a close association with eukaryotic cells. In this work, an in-silico study was performed to find genes involved in the glycerophospholipid (GPL) production of Symbiont Harboring Trypanosomatids (SHTs) and their respective bacteria, also extending the search for trypanosomatids that naturally do not have symbionts. Results showed that most genes for GPL synthesis are only present in the SHT. The bacterium has an exclusive sequence related to phosphatidylglycerol production and contains genes for phosphatidic acid production, which may enhance SHT phosphatidic acid production. Phylogenetic data did not indicate gene transfers from the bacterium to the SHT nucleus, proposing that enzymes participating in GPL route have eukaryotic characteristics. Taken together, our data indicate that, differently from other metabolic pathways described so far, the symbiont contributes little to the production of GPLs and acquires most of these molecules from the SHT.

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Reduction of Tubulin Expression in Angomonas deanei by RNAi Modifies the Ultrastructure of the Trypanosomatid Protozoan and Impairs Division of Its Endosymbiotic Bacterium

Cited by 7 publications

References 32 publications

The Evolutionary Loss of RNAi Key Determinants in Kinetoplastids as a Multiple Sporadic Phenomenon

The Evolutionary Loss of RNAi Key Determinants in Kinetoplastids as a Multiple Sporadic Phenomenon

Expanded repertoire of kinetoplast associated proteins and unique mitochondrial DNA arrangement of symbiont-bearing trypanosomatids

The Importance of Glycerophospholipid Production to the Mutualist Symbiosis of Trypanosomatids

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