Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C regulates transferrin endocytosis in the African trypanosome

Subramanya, Sandesh, Hardin, C. Frank, Steverding, Dietmar and Mensa-Wilmot, Kojo (2009) Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C regulates transferrin endocytosis in the African trypanosome. Biochemical Journal, 417 (3). pp. 685-694. ISSN 0264-6021

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Abstract

GPI-PLC (glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C) is expressed in bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei, a protozoan that causes human African trypanosomiasis. Loss of genes encoding GPI-PLC reduces the virulence of a pleomorphic strain of the parasite, for reasons that are not clear. In the present paper, we report that GPI-PLC stimulates endocytosis of transferrin by 300-500%. Surprisingly, GPI-PLC is not detected at endosomes, suggesting that the enzyme does not interact directly with the endosomal machinery. We therefore hypothesized that a diffusible product of the GPI-PLC enzyme reaction [possibly DAG (diacylglycerol)] mediated the biological effects of the protein. Two sets of data support this assertion. First, a catalytically inactive Q81L mutant of GPI-PLC, expressed in a GPI-PLC-null background, had no effect on endocytosis, indicating that enzyme activity is essential for the protein to stimulate endocytosis. Secondly, the exogenous DAGs OAG (1-oleyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol) and DMG (dimyristoylglycerol) independently stimulated endocytosis of transferrin. Furthermore, the DAG mimic PMA, a phorbol ester, also activated endocytosis in T. brucei. DAG-stimulated endocytosis is a novel pathway in the trypanosome. We surmise that (i) GPI-PLC regulates transferrin endocytosis in T. brucei, (ii) GPI-PLC is a signalling enzyme, and (iii) DAG is a second messenger for GPI-PLC. We propose that regulation of endocytosis is a physiological function of GPI-PLC in bloodstream T. brucei.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	animals,diglycerides,endocytosis,glycosylphosphatidylinositol diacylglycerol-lyase,microscopy, fluorescence,phorbol esters,protozoan proteins,transferrin,trypanosoma brucei brucei
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Gastroenterology and Gut Biology
Depositing User:	EPrints Services
Date Deposited:	25 Nov 2010 11:13
Last Modified:	05 Jan 2023 16:31
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/15097
DOI:	10.1042/BJ20080167

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