Daughter Cell Scaffold proteins drive cytokinetic abscission in Toxoplasma gondii

ABSTRACT: Cytokinetic abscission is the last step of cell division during which the daughter cells physically separate through the generation of barriers in the form of new plasma membrane or cell wall. While the contractile ring is a prominent structure during cytokinesis in bacteria, fungi and animal cells, the mechanism is divergent in Apicomplexa. In Toxoplasma gondii, two daughter cells are formed within the intact mother cell by endodyogeny. The acquisition of plasma membrane at the end of the division cycle occurs by an unknown mechanism, when the mother cell disassembles, and the daughter cells emerge. Here we identified and functionally characterized a complex of three essential T. gondii proteins, named Daughter Cell Scaffold proteins 1 and 2 (DCS1, DCS2) as well as PP2A-B2 (also named DCS3) that exhibit a dynamic localization during parasite division. Their individual downregulation prevents the accumulation of plasma membrane at the division plane, resulting in a block of cytokinesis. Remarkably, the absence of cytokinetic abscission does not preclude division cycles and the consecutive progeny is able to successfully egress from the infected cells but fails to glide and invade except for conjoined twin parasites.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive

ORGANISM(S): Eukaryota Toxoplasma Gondii Gt1

TISSUE(S): Cell Culture

DISEASE(S): Toxoplasmosis

SUBMITTER: Gaelle Lentini  

LAB HEAD: Gaelle Lentini

PROVIDER: PXD047907 | Pride | 2024-06-13

REPOSITORIES: Pride