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Forward genetic analysis of the apicomplexan cell division cycle in Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT: Apicomplexa are obligate intracellular pathogens that have fine-tuned their proliferative strategies to match a large variety of host cells. A critical aspect of this adaptation is a flexible cell cycle that remains poorly understood at the mechanistic level. Here we describe a forward genetic dissection of the apicomplexan cell cycle using the Toxoplasma model. By high-throughput screening, we have isolated 165 temperature sensitive parasite growth mutants. Phenotypic analysis of these mutants suggests regulated progression through the parasite cell cycle with defined phases and checkpoints. These analyses also highlight the critical importance of the peculiar intranuclear spindle as the physical hub of cell cycle regulation. To link these phenotypes to parasite genes, we have developed a robust complementation system based on a genomic cosmid library. Using this approach, we have so far complemented 22 temperature sensitive mutants and identified 18 candidate loci, eight of which were independently confirmed using a set of sequenced and arrayed cosmids. For three of these loci we have identified the mutant allele. The genes identified include regulators of spindle formation, nuclear trafficking, and protein degradation. The genetic approach described here should be widely applicable to numerous essential aspects of parasite biology.

SUBMITTER: Gubbels MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2242837 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Checkpoints of apicomplexan cell division identified in Toxoplasma gondii.

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Project description:Apicomplexan parasites have evolved efficient and distinctive strategies for intracellular replication where the timing of emergence of the daughter cells (budding) is a decisive element. However, the molecular mechanisms that provide the proper timing of parasite budding remain unknown. Using Toxoplasma gondii as a model Apicomplexan, we identified a master regulator that controls the timing of the budding process. We show that an ApiAP2 transcription factor, TgAP2IX-5, controls cell cycle events downstream of centrosome duplication. TgAP2IX-5 binds to the promoter of hundreds of genes and controls the activation of the budding-specific cell cycle expression program. TgAP2IX-5 regulates the expression of specific transcription factors that are necessary for the completion of the budding cycle. Moreover, TgAP2IX-5 acts as a limiting factor that ensures that asexual proliferation continues by promoting the inhibition of the differentiation pathway. Therefore, TgAP2IX-5 is a master regulator that controls both cell cycle and developmental pathways.

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A single master regulator controls asexual cell cycle division patterns in Toxoplasma gondii

Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.

2020-10-29 | GSE150406 | GEO

Receptor for retrograde transport in the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

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A single master regulator controls asexual cell cycle division patterns in Toxoplasma gondii [RNA-Seq]

Project description:ApiAP2 are a family of conserved transcription factors (TF) that play an important role in regulating gene expression in apicomplexan parasites. ApiAP2 proteins that may control the cell cycle dependent expression program are to be discovered. To better understand how these cell-cycle dependent gene expression profiles are established, we identified ApiAP2 proteins showing a cell cycle dependent expression. Using the Auxin-degradation system, we produced several inducible knock-down (iKD) mutant for these ApiAP2 proteins. Among them, a cell-cycle regulated ApiAP2 is expressed during the late S-phase of the tachyzoite cell-cycle. The iKD mutant parasites for this gene are unable to proliferate. In presence of Auxin, the mutant parasites do not produce daughter cells and are arrested in the early phase of budding. This indicates that this TF may specifically regulate the early steps of the daughter cell formation. Using RNA-Seq, we demonstrate that the level of expression of number of transcripts is affected by the knock-down of this potential TF.

2020-10-29 | GSE150334 | GEO

A single master regulator controls asexual cell cycle division patterns in Toxoplasma gondii [ChIP-Seq]

2020-10-29 | GSE150405 | GEO

A conserved apicomplexan microneme protein contributes to Toxoplasma gondii invasion and virulence.

Project description:The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii critically relies on host cell invasion during infection. Proteins secreted from the apical micronemes are central components for host cell recognition, invasion, egress, and virulence. Although previous work established that the sporozoite protein with an altered thrombospondin repeat (SPATR) is a micronemal protein conserved in other apicomplexan parasites, including Plasmodium, Neospora, and Eimeria, no genetic evidence of its contribution to invasion has been reported. SPATR contains a predicted epidermal growth factor domain and two thrombospondin type 1 repeats, implying a role in host cell recognition. In this study, we assess the contribution of T. gondii SPATR (TgSPATR) to T. gondii invasion by genetically ablating it and restoring its expression by genetic complementation. ?spatr parasites were ~50% reduced in invasion compared to parental strains, a defect that was reversed in the complemented strain. In mouse virulence assays, ?spatr parasites were significantly attenuated, with ~20% of mice surviving infection. Given the conservation of this protein among the Apicomplexa, we assessed whether the Plasmodium falciparum SPATR ortholog (PfSPATR) could complement the absence of the TgSPATR. Although PfSPATR showed correct micronemal localization, it did not reverse the invasion deficiency of ?spatr parasites, because of an apparent failure in secretion. Overall, the results suggest that TgSPATR contributes to invasion and virulence, findings that have implications for the many genera and life stages of apicomplexans that express SPATR.

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