Nuclear, Cytosolic, and Surface-Localized Poly(A)-Binding Proteins of <named-content content-type="genus-species">Plasmodium yoelii</named-content>
ABSTRACT Malaria is a devastating illness that causes approximately 500,000 deaths annually. The malaria-causing parasite (Plasmodium genus) uses the process of translational repression to regulate its growth, development, and transmission. As poly(A)-binding proteins (PABP) have been identified as...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2018-02-01
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| Series: | mSphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00435-17 |
| _version_ | 1830408807736410112 |
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| author | Allen M. Minns Kevin J. Hart Suriyasri Subramanian Susan Hafenstein Scott E. Lindner |
| author_facet | Allen M. Minns Kevin J. Hart Suriyasri Subramanian Susan Hafenstein Scott E. Lindner |
| author_sort | Allen M. Minns |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Malaria is a devastating illness that causes approximately 500,000 deaths annually. The malaria-causing parasite (Plasmodium genus) uses the process of translational repression to regulate its growth, development, and transmission. As poly(A)-binding proteins (PABP) have been identified as critical components of RNA metabolism and translational repression in model eukaryotes and in Plasmodium, we have identified and investigated two PABPs in Plasmodium yoelii, PyPABP1 and PyPABP2. In contrast to most single-celled eukaryotes, Plasmodium closely resembles metazoans and encodes both a nuclear PABP and a cytosolic PABP; here, we provide multiple lines of evidence in support of this observation. The conserved domain architectures of PyPABP1 and PyPABP2 resemble those of yeast and metazoans, while multiple independent binding assays demonstrated their ability to bind very strongly and specifically to poly(A) sequences. Interestingly, we also observed that purified PyPABP1 forms homopolymeric chains despite exhaustive RNase treatment in vitro. Finally, we show by indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFAs) that PyPABP1 and PyPABP2 are cytoplasm- and nucleus-associated PABPs during the blood stages of the life cycle. Surprisingly, however, PyPABP1 was instead observed to also be localized on the surface of transmitted salivary gland sporozoites and to be deposited in trails when parasites glide on a substrate. This is the third RNA-binding protein verified to be found on the sporozoite surface, and the data may point to an unappreciated RNA-centered interface between the host and parasite. IMPORTANCE Malaria remains one of the great global health problems. The parasite that causes malaria (Plasmodium genus) relies upon exquisite control of its transmission between vertebrate hosts and mosquitoes. One crucial way that it does so is by proactively producing mRNAs needed to establish the new infection but by silencing and storing them until they are needed. One key protein in this process of translational repression in model eukaryotes is poly(A)-binding protein (PABP). Here we have shown that Plasmodium yoelii utilizes both a nuclear PABP and a cytosolic PABP, both of which bind specifically to polyadenylated RNA sequences. Moreover, we find that the cytosolic PABP forms chains in vitro, consistent with its appreciated role in coating the poly(A) tails of mRNA. Finally, we have also verified that, surprisingly, the cytosolic PABP is found on the surface of Plasmodium sporozoites. Taking the data together, we propose that Plasmodium utilizes a more metazoan-like strategy for RNA metabolism using specialized PABPs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:58:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-07d6645df6f944e78e80f1221d522353 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2379-5042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:58:35Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | mSphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-07d6645df6f944e78e80f1221d5223532022-12-21T19:29:27ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymSphere2379-50422018-02-013110.1128/mSphere.00435-17Nuclear, Cytosolic, and Surface-Localized Poly(A)-Binding Proteins of <named-content content-type="genus-species">Plasmodium yoelii</named-content>Allen M. Minns0Kevin J. Hart1Suriyasri Subramanian2Susan Hafenstein3Scott E. Lindner4Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USADepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USADepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USADepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USADepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USAABSTRACT Malaria is a devastating illness that causes approximately 500,000 deaths annually. The malaria-causing parasite (Plasmodium genus) uses the process of translational repression to regulate its growth, development, and transmission. As poly(A)-binding proteins (PABP) have been identified as critical components of RNA metabolism and translational repression in model eukaryotes and in Plasmodium, we have identified and investigated two PABPs in Plasmodium yoelii, PyPABP1 and PyPABP2. In contrast to most single-celled eukaryotes, Plasmodium closely resembles metazoans and encodes both a nuclear PABP and a cytosolic PABP; here, we provide multiple lines of evidence in support of this observation. The conserved domain architectures of PyPABP1 and PyPABP2 resemble those of yeast and metazoans, while multiple independent binding assays demonstrated their ability to bind very strongly and specifically to poly(A) sequences. Interestingly, we also observed that purified PyPABP1 forms homopolymeric chains despite exhaustive RNase treatment in vitro. Finally, we show by indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFAs) that PyPABP1 and PyPABP2 are cytoplasm- and nucleus-associated PABPs during the blood stages of the life cycle. Surprisingly, however, PyPABP1 was instead observed to also be localized on the surface of transmitted salivary gland sporozoites and to be deposited in trails when parasites glide on a substrate. This is the third RNA-binding protein verified to be found on the sporozoite surface, and the data may point to an unappreciated RNA-centered interface between the host and parasite. IMPORTANCE Malaria remains one of the great global health problems. The parasite that causes malaria (Plasmodium genus) relies upon exquisite control of its transmission between vertebrate hosts and mosquitoes. One crucial way that it does so is by proactively producing mRNAs needed to establish the new infection but by silencing and storing them until they are needed. One key protein in this process of translational repression in model eukaryotes is poly(A)-binding protein (PABP). Here we have shown that Plasmodium yoelii utilizes both a nuclear PABP and a cytosolic PABP, both of which bind specifically to polyadenylated RNA sequences. Moreover, we find that the cytosolic PABP forms chains in vitro, consistent with its appreciated role in coating the poly(A) tails of mRNA. Finally, we have also verified that, surprisingly, the cytosolic PABP is found on the surface of Plasmodium sporozoites. Taking the data together, we propose that Plasmodium utilizes a more metazoan-like strategy for RNA metabolism using specialized PABPs.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00435-17PABPPlasmodiumRNA metabolismelectron microscopypoly(A)-binding proteinsurface proteins |
| spellingShingle | Allen M. Minns Kevin J. Hart Suriyasri Subramanian Susan Hafenstein Scott E. Lindner Nuclear, Cytosolic, and Surface-Localized Poly(A)-Binding Proteins of <named-content content-type="genus-species">Plasmodium yoelii</named-content> mSphere PABP Plasmodium RNA metabolism electron microscopy poly(A)-binding protein surface proteins |
| title | Nuclear, Cytosolic, and Surface-Localized Poly(A)-Binding Proteins of <named-content content-type="genus-species">Plasmodium yoelii</named-content> |
| title_full | Nuclear, Cytosolic, and Surface-Localized Poly(A)-Binding Proteins of <named-content content-type="genus-species">Plasmodium yoelii</named-content> |
| title_fullStr | Nuclear, Cytosolic, and Surface-Localized Poly(A)-Binding Proteins of <named-content content-type="genus-species">Plasmodium yoelii</named-content> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nuclear, Cytosolic, and Surface-Localized Poly(A)-Binding Proteins of <named-content content-type="genus-species">Plasmodium yoelii</named-content> |
| title_short | Nuclear, Cytosolic, and Surface-Localized Poly(A)-Binding Proteins of <named-content content-type="genus-species">Plasmodium yoelii</named-content> |
| title_sort | nuclear cytosolic and surface localized poly a binding proteins of named content content type genus species plasmodium yoelii named content |
| topic | PABP Plasmodium RNA metabolism electron microscopy poly(A)-binding protein surface proteins |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00435-17 |
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