Characterization of glycosomal RING finger proteins of trypanosomatids

Exp Parasitol. 2007 May;116(1):14-24. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2006.11.004. Epub 2006 Dec 26.

Abstract

The glycosomes of trypanosomatids are essential organelles that are evolutionarily related to peroxisomes of other eukaryotes. The peroxisomal RING proteins-PEX2, PEX10 and PEX12-comprise a network of integral membrane proteins that function in the matrix protein import cycle. Here, we describe PEX10 and PEX12 in Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania major, and Trypanosoma cruzi. We expressed GFP fusions of each T. brucei coding region in procyclic form T. brucei, where they localized to glycosomes and behaved as integral membrane proteins. Despite the weak transmembrane predictions for TbPEX12, protease protection assays demonstrated that both the N and C termini are cytosolic, similar to mammalian PEX12. GFP fusions of T. cruzi PEX10 and L. major PEX12 also localized to glycosomes in T. brucei indicating that glycosomal membrane protein targeting is conserved across trypanosomatids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Leishmania major / chemistry
  • Leishmania major / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / physiology
  • Microbodies / chemistry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmids
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / physiology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Protozoan / chemistry
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / chemistry
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / genetics
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / chemistry
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / genetics
  • Trypanosomatina / chemistry*
  • Trypanosomatina / genetics
  • Zinc Fingers / physiology

Substances

  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • RNA, Protozoan