Abstract
Pore forming proteins such as those belonging to the membrane attack/perforin (MACPF) family have important functions in many organisms. Of the five MACPF proteins found in Plasmodium parasites, three have functions in cell passage and one in host cell egress. Here we report an analysis of the perforin-like protein 4, PPLP4, in the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. We found that the protein is expressed only in the ookinete, the invasive stage of the parasite formed in the mosquito midgut. Transcriptional analysis revealed that expression of the pplp4 gene commences during ookinete development. The protein was detected in retorts and mature ookinetes. Using two antibodies, the protein was found localized in a dotted pattern, and 3-D SIM super-resolution microcopy revealed the protein in the periphery of the cell. Analysis of a C-terminal mCherry fusion of the protein however showed mainly cytoplasmic label. A pplp4 null mutant formed motile ookinetes, but these were unable to invade and traverse the midgut epithelium resulting in severely impaired oocyst formation and no transmission to naïve mice. However, when in vitro cultured ookinetes were injected into the thorax of the mosquito, thus by-passing midgut passage, sporozoites were formed and the mutant parasites were able to infect naïve mice. Taken together, our data show that PPLP4 is required only for ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut. Thus PPLP4 has a similar role to the previously studied PPLP3 and PPLP5, raising the question why three proteins with MACPF domains are needed for invasion by the ookinete of the mosquito midgut epithelium.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e0201651 |
| Journal | PLoS One |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Plasmodium
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
Cite this
Essential role of Plasmodium perforin-like protein 4 in ookinete midgut passage. / Deligianni, Elena; Silmon de Monerri, Natalie C.; McMillan, Paul J.; Bertuccini, Lucia; Superti, Fabiana; Manola, Maria; Spanos, Lefteris; Louis, Christos; Blackman, Michael J.; Tilley, Leann; Siden-Kiamos, Inga.
In: PLoS One, Vol. 13, No. 8, e0201651, 01.08.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Essential role of Plasmodium perforin-like protein 4 in ookinete midgut passage
AU - Deligianni, Elena
AU - Silmon de Monerri, Natalie C.
AU - McMillan, Paul J.
AU - Bertuccini, Lucia
AU - Superti, Fabiana
AU - Manola, Maria
AU - Spanos, Lefteris
AU - Louis, Christos
AU - Blackman, Michael J.
AU - Tilley, Leann
AU - Siden-Kiamos, Inga
PY - 2018/8/1
Y1 - 2018/8/1
N2 - Pore forming proteins such as those belonging to the membrane attack/perforin (MACPF) family have important functions in many organisms. Of the five MACPF proteins found in Plasmodium parasites, three have functions in cell passage and one in host cell egress. Here we report an analysis of the perforin-like protein 4, PPLP4, in the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. We found that the protein is expressed only in the ookinete, the invasive stage of the parasite formed in the mosquito midgut. Transcriptional analysis revealed that expression of the pplp4 gene commences during ookinete development. The protein was detected in retorts and mature ookinetes. Using two antibodies, the protein was found localized in a dotted pattern, and 3-D SIM super-resolution microcopy revealed the protein in the periphery of the cell. Analysis of a C-terminal mCherry fusion of the protein however showed mainly cytoplasmic label. A pplp4 null mutant formed motile ookinetes, but these were unable to invade and traverse the midgut epithelium resulting in severely impaired oocyst formation and no transmission to naïve mice. However, when in vitro cultured ookinetes were injected into the thorax of the mosquito, thus by-passing midgut passage, sporozoites were formed and the mutant parasites were able to infect naïve mice. Taken together, our data show that PPLP4 is required only for ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut. Thus PPLP4 has a similar role to the previously studied PPLP3 and PPLP5, raising the question why three proteins with MACPF domains are needed for invasion by the ookinete of the mosquito midgut epithelium.
AB - Pore forming proteins such as those belonging to the membrane attack/perforin (MACPF) family have important functions in many organisms. Of the five MACPF proteins found in Plasmodium parasites, three have functions in cell passage and one in host cell egress. Here we report an analysis of the perforin-like protein 4, PPLP4, in the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei. We found that the protein is expressed only in the ookinete, the invasive stage of the parasite formed in the mosquito midgut. Transcriptional analysis revealed that expression of the pplp4 gene commences during ookinete development. The protein was detected in retorts and mature ookinetes. Using two antibodies, the protein was found localized in a dotted pattern, and 3-D SIM super-resolution microcopy revealed the protein in the periphery of the cell. Analysis of a C-terminal mCherry fusion of the protein however showed mainly cytoplasmic label. A pplp4 null mutant formed motile ookinetes, but these were unable to invade and traverse the midgut epithelium resulting in severely impaired oocyst formation and no transmission to naïve mice. However, when in vitro cultured ookinetes were injected into the thorax of the mosquito, thus by-passing midgut passage, sporozoites were formed and the mutant parasites were able to infect naïve mice. Taken together, our data show that PPLP4 is required only for ookinete invasion of the mosquito midgut. Thus PPLP4 has a similar role to the previously studied PPLP3 and PPLP5, raising the question why three proteins with MACPF domains are needed for invasion by the ookinete of the mosquito midgut epithelium.
KW - Plasmodium
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051517781&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85051517781&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0201651
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0201651
M3 - Article
C2 - 30102727
AN - SCOPUS:85051517781
VL - 13
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 8
M1 - e0201651
ER -