Lipoamide dehydrogenase is essential for both bloodstream and procyclic Trypanosoma brucei (original) (raw)
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European Journal of Biochemistry, 1990
In the long-slender bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei, the enzyme dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase exists in the absence of the 2-0x0-acid dehydrogenase complexes of which it is normally a component, and appears to be associated with the plasma membrane of the organism [Danson, M. J., Conroy, K., Biochem. J . 243, 661 -6651. In the present paper, a complete subcellular fractionation of T. brucei has been carried out and, by comparison with marker enzymes, it is confirmed that the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase is indeed associated with the plasma membrane. In addition, we now provide evidence that the distribution of the enzyme is over the whole surface of the membrane, including the flagellar pocket region, and that the enzyme is not found in any other cellular fraction. A study of the latency of the enzyme suggests that it is located on the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane.
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 2017
In the slender bloodstream form, Trypanosoma brucei mitochondria are repressed for many functions. Multiple components of mitochondrial complex I, NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, are expressed in this stage, but electron transfer through complex I is not essential. Here we investigate the role of the parasite's second NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, NDH2, which is composed of a single subunit that also localizes to the mitochondrion. While inducible knockdown of NDH2 had a modest growth effect in bloodstream forms, NDH2 null mutants, as well as inducible knockdowns in a complex I deficient background, showed a greater reduction in growth. Altering the NAD + /NADH balance would affect numerous processes directly and indirectly, including acetate production. Indeed, loss of NDH2 led to reduced levels of acetate, which is required for several essential pathways in bloodstream form T. brucei and which may have contributed to the observed growth defect. In conclusion our study shows that NDH2 is important, but not essential, in proliferating bloodstream forms of T. brucei, arguing that the mitochondrial NAD + /NADH balance is important in this stage, even though the mitochondrion itself is not actively engaged in the generation of ATP.
Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase from Trypanosoma brucei. Characterization and cellular location
The Biochemical journal, 1987
Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase has been discovered in the bloodstream form of the eukaryotic African parasite, Trypanosoma brucei. The enzyme catalysed the stoichiometric oxidation of dihydrolipoamide by NAD+ and exhibited a hyperbolic dependence of catalytic activity on the concentrations of both dihydrolipoamide and NAD+. Chemical modification with the tervalent arsenical reagent p-aminophenyldichloroarsine indicates the involvement in catalysis of a reversibly reducible disulphide bond. Plasma-membrane sheets were purified from T. brucei, and it was shown that virtually all the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase remained closely associated with this membrane preparation. T. brucei apparently lacks the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes of which dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase is usually an integral component. In the context of this absence, the possible function of trypanosomal dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase is discussed, with particular reference to its cellular location i...
International Journal for Parasitology, 2006
Trypanosoma brucei procyclic forms possess three different malate dehydrogenase isozymes that could be separated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and were recognized as the mitochondrial, glycosomal and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase isozymes. The latter is the only malate dehydrogenase expressed in the bloodstream forms, thus confirming that the expression of malate dehydrogenase isozymes is regulated during the T. brucei life cycle. To achieve further biochemical characterization, the genes encoding mitochondrial and glycosomal malate dehydrogenase were cloned on the basis of previously reported nucleotide sequences and the recombinant enzymes were functionally expressed in Escherichia coli cultures. Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase showed to be more active than glycosomal malate dehydrogenase in the reduction of oxaloacetate; nearly 80% of the total activity in procyclic crude extracts corresponds to the former isozyme which also catalyzes, although less efficiently, the reduction of p-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate. The rabbit antisera raised against each of the recombinant isozymes showed that the three malate dehydrogenases do not cross-react immunologically. Immunofluorescence experiments using these antisera confirmed the glycosomal and mitochondrial localization of glycosomal and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase, as well as a cytosolic localization for the third malate dehydrogenase isozyme. These results clearly distinguish Trypanosoma brucei from Trypanosoma cruzi, since in the latter parasite a cytosolic malate dehydrogenase is not present and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase specifically reduces oxaloacetate. q
The extraordinary mitochondrion and unusual citric acid cycle in Trypanosoma brucei
African trypanosomes are parasitic protozoa that cause sleeping sickness and nagana. Trypanosomes are not only of scientific interest because of their clinical importance, but also because these protozoa contain several very unusual biological features, such as their specially adapted mitochondrion and the compartmentalization of glycolytic enzymes in glycosomes. The energy metabolism of Trypanosoma brucei differs significantly from that of their hosts and changes drastically during the life cycle. Despite the presence of all citric acid cycle enzymes in procyclic insect-stage T. brucei, citric acid cycle activity is not used for energy generation. Recent investigations on the influence of substrate availability on the type of energy metabolism showed that absence of glycolytic substrates did not induce a shift from a fermentative metabolism to complete oxidation of substrates. Apparently, insect-stage T. brucei use parts of the citric acid cycle for other purposes than for complete degradation of mitochondrial substrates. Parts of the cycle are suggested to be used for (i) transport of acetyl-CoA units from the mitochondrion to the cytosol for the biosynthesis of fatty acids, (ii) degradation of proline and glutamate to succinate, (iii) generation of malate, which can then be used for gluconeogenesis. Therefore the citric acid cycle in trypanosomes does not function as a cycle.
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 1981
Procyclic culture forms of Trypanosoma brucei stock 427 have been screened for the presence of enzymes involved in glycolysis, mitochondrial energy metabolism and threonine degradation. The enzyme activities in the procyclics were compared with those of the blood stream forms. The specific activities of glycolytic enzymes represented 30-70% of the respective levels in the blood stream form, except for hexokinase which was 25-fold reduced. Cell fractionation showed that the enzymes involved in the early sequence of the glycolytic pathway, i.e. from hexokinase to phosphoglycerate kinase, and the enzymes NAD+-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycerol kinase were all present in glycosomes equilibrating at a density of 1.23 g/cm3 in sucrose gradients. Malate dehydrogenase was 8-fold more active in procyclics than in bloodstream forms. This increase in activity was the result of the appearance of malate dehydrogenase in the glycosomes of the procyclics, in addition to mitochondrial and cell-sap activities which were present in both stages of the life cycle. Glycosomes contained part of the adenylate kinase activity, which was also associated with the mitochondrion. Succinate dehydrogenase and sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, together with oligomycin-sensitive ATPase, were located in the mitochondrion which had a density in sucrose ranging from 1.16 to 1.18 g/cm3. This organelle also contained L-threonine 3-dehydrogenase and carnitine acetyltransferase, two enzymes involved in threonine catabolism. The latter two enzymes had activities which were, respectively, 15-and 13-fold higher in the procyclics than in the bloodstream form. Mitochondrial sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was decreased 4-fold.
Molecular Microbiology, 2008
Trypanosoma brucei use microsomal elongases for de novo synthesis of most of its fatty acids. In addition, this parasite utilizes an essential mitochondrial type II synthase for production of octanoate (a lipoic acid precursor) as well as longer fatty acids such as palmitate. Evidence from other organisms suggests that mitochondrially synthesized fatty acids are required for efficient respiration but the exact relationship remains unclear. In procyclic form trypanosomes, we also found that RNAi depletion of the mitochondrial acyl carrier protein, an important component of the fatty acid synthesis machinery, significantly reduces cytochrome-mediated respiration. This reduction was explained by RNAi-mediated inhibition of respiratory complexes II, III and IV, but not complex I. Other effects of RNAi, such as changes in mitochondrial morphology and alterations in membrane potential, raised the possibility of a change in mitochondrial membrane composition. Using mass spectrometry, we observed a decrease in total and mitochondrial phosphatidylinositol and mitochondrial phosphatidylethanolamine. Thus, we conclude that the mitochondrial synthase produces fatty acids needed for maintaining local phospholipid levels that are required for activity of respiratory complexes and preservation of mitochondrial morphology and function.
Enigmatic Presence of Mitochondrial Complex I in Trypanosoma brucei Bloodstream Forms
Eukaryotic Cell, 2012
The presence of mitochondrial respiratory complex I in the pathogenic bloodstream stages of Trypanosoma brucei has been vigorously debated: increased expression of mitochondrially encoded functional complex I mRNAs is countered by low levels of enzymatic activity that show marginal inhibition by the specific inhibitor rotenone. We now show that epitope-tagged versions of multiple complex I subunits assemble into ␣ and  subcomplexes in the bloodstream stage and that these subcomplexes require the mitochondrial genome for their assembly. Despite the presence of these large (740-and 855-kDa) multisubunit complexes, the electron transport activity of complex I is not essential under experimental conditions since null mutants of two core genes (NUBM and NUKM) showed no growth defect in vitro or in mouse infection. Furthermore, the null mutants showed no decrease in NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity, suggesting that the observed activity is not contributed by complex I. This work conclusively shows that despite the synthesis and assembly of subunit proteins, the enzymatic function of the largest respiratory complex is neither significant nor important in the bloodstream stage. This situation appears to be in striking contrast to that for the other respiratory complexes in this parasite, where physical presence in a life-cycle stage always indicates functional significance.