Characterization of ADAT2/3 molecules in Trypanosoma cruzi and regulation of mucin gene expression by tRNA editing.

Adenosine-to-inosine conversion at position 34 (A34-to-I) of certain tRNAs is essential for expanding their decoding capacity. This reaction is catalyzed by the adenosine deaminase acting on tRNA (ADAT) complex, which in Eukarya is formed by two subunits: ADAT2 and ADAT3. We herein identified and thoroughly characterized the ADAT molecules from the protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas Disease. TcADAT2 and TcADAT3 spontaneously form a catalytically active complex, as shown by expression in engineered bacteria and/or by the increased ex vivo tRNA A-to-I deamination activity of T. cruzi epimastigotes overexpressing TcADAT subunits. Importantly, enhanced TcADAT2/3 activity in transgenic parasites caused a shift in their in vivo tRNAThrAGU signature, which correlated with significant changes in the expression of the Thr-rich TcSMUG proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence indicating that T. cruzi tRNA editing can be modulated in vivo, in turn post-transcriptionally changing the expression of specific genes. Our findings suggest tRNA editing/availability as a forcible step in controlling gene expression and driving codon adaptation in T. cruzi. Moreover, we unveil certain differences between parasite and mammalian host tRNA editing and processing, such as cytosine-to-uridine conversion at position 32 of tRNAThrAGU in T. cruzi, that may be exploited for the identification of novel druggable targets of intervention.

Trypanosoma cruzi surface mucins are involved in the attachment to the Triatoma infestans rectal ampoule.

BACKGROUND: Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, is a protozoan parasite transmitted to humans by blood-sucking triatomine vectors. However, and despite its utmost biological and epidemiological relevance, T. cruzi development inside the digestive tract of the insect remains a poorly understood process. METHODS/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: Here we showed that Gp35/50 kDa mucins, the major surface glycoproteins from T. cruzi insect-dwelling forms, are involved in parasite attachment to the internal cuticle of the triatomine rectal ampoule, a critical step leading to its differentiation into mammal-infective forms. Experimental evidence supporting this conclusion could be summarized as follows: i) native and recombinant Gp35/50 kDa mucins directly interacted with hindgut tissues from Triatoma infestans, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence assays; ii) transgenic epimastigotes over-expressing Gp35/50 kDa mucins on their surface coat exhibited improved attachment rates (~2-3 fold) to such tissues as compared to appropriate transgenic controls and/or wild-type counterparts; and iii) certain chemically synthesized compounds derived from Gp35/50 kDa mucins were able to specifically interfere with epimastigote attachment to the inner lining of T. infestans rectal ampoules in ex vivo binding assays, most likely by competing with or directly blocking insect receptor(s). A solvent-exposed peptide (smugS peptide) from the Gp35/50 kDa mucins protein scaffolds and a branched, Galf-containing trisaccharide (Galfß1-4[Galpß1-6]GlcNAcα) from their O-linked glycans were identified as main adhesion determinants for these molecules. Interestingly, exogenous addition of a synthetic Galfß1-4[Galpß1-6]GlcNAcα derivative or of oligosaccharides containing this structure impaired the attachment of Dm28c but not of CL Brener epimastigotes to triatomine hindgut tissues; which correlates with the presence of Galf residues on the Gp35/50 kDa mucins' O-glycans on the former but not the latter parasite clone. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying T. cruzi-triatomine interplay, and indicate that inter-strain variations in the O-glycosylation of Gp35/50 kDa mucins may lead to differences in parasite differentiation and hence, in parasite transmissibility to the mammalian host. Most importantly, our findings point to Gp35/50 kDa mucins and/or the Galf biosynthetic pathway, which is absent in mammals and insects, as appealing targets for the development of T. cruzi transmission-blocking strategies.