A central CRMP complex essential for invasion in Toxoplasma gondii.

Apicomplexa are obligate intracellular parasites. While most species are restricted to specific hosts and cell types, Toxoplasma gondii can invade every nucleated cell derived from warm-blooded animals. This broad host range suggests that this parasite can recognize multiple host cell ligands or str...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mirko Singer, Kathrin Simon, Ignasi Forné, Markus Meissner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2023-01-01
Series:PLoS Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001937
_version_ 1797894851425992704
author Mirko Singer
Kathrin Simon
Ignasi Forné
Markus Meissner
author_facet Mirko Singer
Kathrin Simon
Ignasi Forné
Markus Meissner
author_sort Mirko Singer
collection DOAJ
description Apicomplexa are obligate intracellular parasites. While most species are restricted to specific hosts and cell types, Toxoplasma gondii can invade every nucleated cell derived from warm-blooded animals. This broad host range suggests that this parasite can recognize multiple host cell ligands or structures, leading to the activation of a central protein complex, which should be conserved in all apicomplexans. During invasion, the unique secretory organelles (micronemes and rhoptries) are sequentially released and several micronemal proteins have been suggested to be required for host cell recognition and invasion. However, to date, only few micronemal proteins have been demonstrated to be essential for invasion, suggesting functional redundancy that might allow such a broad host range. Cysteine Repeat Modular Proteins (CRMPs) are a family of apicomplexan-specific proteins. In T. gondii, two CRMPs are present in the genome, CRMPA (TGGT1_261080) and CRMPB (TGGT1_292020). Here, we demonstrate that both proteins form a complex that contains the additional proteins MIC15 and the thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing protein (TSP1). Disruption of this complex results in a block of rhoptry secretion and parasites being unable to invade the host cell. In conclusion, this complex is a central invasion complex conserved in all apicomplexans.
first_indexed 2024-04-10T07:17:01Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1f0afea7340241a8a4e93fa70cf01ab5
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1544-9173
1545-7885
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T07:17:01Z
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS Biology
spelling doaj.art-1f0afea7340241a8a4e93fa70cf01ab52023-02-25T05:30:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Biology1544-91731545-78852023-01-01211e300193710.1371/journal.pbio.3001937A central CRMP complex essential for invasion in Toxoplasma gondii.Mirko SingerKathrin SimonIgnasi FornéMarkus MeissnerApicomplexa are obligate intracellular parasites. While most species are restricted to specific hosts and cell types, Toxoplasma gondii can invade every nucleated cell derived from warm-blooded animals. This broad host range suggests that this parasite can recognize multiple host cell ligands or structures, leading to the activation of a central protein complex, which should be conserved in all apicomplexans. During invasion, the unique secretory organelles (micronemes and rhoptries) are sequentially released and several micronemal proteins have been suggested to be required for host cell recognition and invasion. However, to date, only few micronemal proteins have been demonstrated to be essential for invasion, suggesting functional redundancy that might allow such a broad host range. Cysteine Repeat Modular Proteins (CRMPs) are a family of apicomplexan-specific proteins. In T. gondii, two CRMPs are present in the genome, CRMPA (TGGT1_261080) and CRMPB (TGGT1_292020). Here, we demonstrate that both proteins form a complex that contains the additional proteins MIC15 and the thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing protein (TSP1). Disruption of this complex results in a block of rhoptry secretion and parasites being unable to invade the host cell. In conclusion, this complex is a central invasion complex conserved in all apicomplexans.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001937
spellingShingle Mirko Singer
Kathrin Simon
Ignasi Forné
Markus Meissner
A central CRMP complex essential for invasion in Toxoplasma gondii.
PLoS Biology
title A central CRMP complex essential for invasion in Toxoplasma gondii.
title_full A central CRMP complex essential for invasion in Toxoplasma gondii.
title_fullStr A central CRMP complex essential for invasion in Toxoplasma gondii.
title_full_unstemmed A central CRMP complex essential for invasion in Toxoplasma gondii.
title_short A central CRMP complex essential for invasion in Toxoplasma gondii.
title_sort central crmp complex essential for invasion in toxoplasma gondii
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001937
work_keys_str_mv AT mirkosinger acentralcrmpcomplexessentialforinvasionintoxoplasmagondii
AT kathrinsimon acentralcrmpcomplexessentialforinvasionintoxoplasmagondii
AT ignasiforne acentralcrmpcomplexessentialforinvasionintoxoplasmagondii
AT markusmeissner acentralcrmpcomplexessentialforinvasionintoxoplasmagondii
AT mirkosinger centralcrmpcomplexessentialforinvasionintoxoplasmagondii
AT kathrinsimon centralcrmpcomplexessentialforinvasionintoxoplasmagondii
AT ignasiforne centralcrmpcomplexessentialforinvasionintoxoplasmagondii
AT markusmeissner centralcrmpcomplexessentialforinvasionintoxoplasmagondii