Cryo‐Electron Tomography of Toxoplasma gondii Indicates That the Conoid Fiber May Be Derived from Microtubules
Abstract Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis and can infect numerous warm‐blooded animals. An improved understanding of the fine structure of this parasite can help elucidate its replication mechanism. Previous studies have resolved the ultrastructure of the cytoske...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Advanced Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202206595 |
| _version_ | 1797825258074406912 |
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| author | Zhixun Li Wenjing Du Jiong Yang De‐Hua Lai Zhao‐Rong Lun Qiang Guo |
| author_facet | Zhixun Li Wenjing Du Jiong Yang De‐Hua Lai Zhao‐Rong Lun Qiang Guo |
| author_sort | Zhixun Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis and can infect numerous warm‐blooded animals. An improved understanding of the fine structure of this parasite can help elucidate its replication mechanism. Previous studies have resolved the ultrastructure of the cytoskeleton using purified samples, which eliminates their cellular context. Here the application of cryo‐electron tomography to visualize T. gondii tachyzoites in their native state is reported. The fine structure and cellular distribution of the cytoskeleton are resolved and analyzed at nanometer resolution. Additionally, the tachyzoite structural characteristics are annotated during its endodyogeny for the first time. By comparing the structural features in mature tachyzoites and their daughter buds, it is proposed that the conoid fiber of the Apicomplexa originates from microtubules. This work represents the detailed molecular anatomy of T. gondii, particularly during the budding replication stage of tachyzoite, and provides a reference for further studies of this fascinating organism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:51:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8343fc45efd64bd894b73ff8a31b7888 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2198-3844 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:51:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Advanced Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-8343fc45efd64bd894b73ff8a31b78882023-05-17T13:02:05ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442023-05-011014n/an/a10.1002/advs.202206595Cryo‐Electron Tomography of Toxoplasma gondii Indicates That the Conoid Fiber May Be Derived from MicrotubulesZhixun Li0Wenjing Du1Jiong Yang2De‐Hua Lai3Zhao‐Rong Lun4Qiang Guo5State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking‐Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, School of Life Sciences Peking University Beijing 100871 P. R. ChinaState Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking‐Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, School of Life Sciences Peking University Beijing 100871 P. R. ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou 510275 P. R. ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou 510275 P. R. ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou 510275 P. R. ChinaState Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking‐Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, School of Life Sciences Peking University Beijing 100871 P. R. ChinaAbstract Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis and can infect numerous warm‐blooded animals. An improved understanding of the fine structure of this parasite can help elucidate its replication mechanism. Previous studies have resolved the ultrastructure of the cytoskeleton using purified samples, which eliminates their cellular context. Here the application of cryo‐electron tomography to visualize T. gondii tachyzoites in their native state is reported. The fine structure and cellular distribution of the cytoskeleton are resolved and analyzed at nanometer resolution. Additionally, the tachyzoite structural characteristics are annotated during its endodyogeny for the first time. By comparing the structural features in mature tachyzoites and their daughter buds, it is proposed that the conoid fiber of the Apicomplexa originates from microtubules. This work represents the detailed molecular anatomy of T. gondii, particularly during the budding replication stage of tachyzoite, and provides a reference for further studies of this fascinating organism.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202206595Apicomplexaconoid fiberscryo‐electron tomographyendodyogenymicrotubulestachyzoites |
| spellingShingle | Zhixun Li Wenjing Du Jiong Yang De‐Hua Lai Zhao‐Rong Lun Qiang Guo Cryo‐Electron Tomography of Toxoplasma gondii Indicates That the Conoid Fiber May Be Derived from Microtubules Advanced Science Apicomplexa conoid fibers cryo‐electron tomography endodyogeny microtubules tachyzoites |
| title | Cryo‐Electron Tomography of Toxoplasma gondii Indicates That the Conoid Fiber May Be Derived from Microtubules |
| title_full | Cryo‐Electron Tomography of Toxoplasma gondii Indicates That the Conoid Fiber May Be Derived from Microtubules |
| title_fullStr | Cryo‐Electron Tomography of Toxoplasma gondii Indicates That the Conoid Fiber May Be Derived from Microtubules |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryo‐Electron Tomography of Toxoplasma gondii Indicates That the Conoid Fiber May Be Derived from Microtubules |
| title_short | Cryo‐Electron Tomography of Toxoplasma gondii Indicates That the Conoid Fiber May Be Derived from Microtubules |
| title_sort | cryo electron tomography of toxoplasma gondii indicates that the conoid fiber may be derived from microtubules |
| topic | Apicomplexa conoid fibers cryo‐electron tomography endodyogeny microtubules tachyzoites |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202206595 |
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