Proteomic changes in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes treated with the proapoptotic compound PAC-1.

Apoptosis is a highly regulated process of cell death in metazoans. Therefore, understanding the biochemical changes associated with apoptosis-like death in Trypanosoma cruzi is key to drug development. PAC-1 was recently shown to induce apoptosis in T. cruzi; with this as motivation, we used quantitative proteomics to unveil alterations of PAC-1-treated versus untreated epimastigotes. The PAC-1 treatment reduced the abundance of putative vesicle-associated membrane protein, putative eukaryotic translation initiation factor 1 eIF1, coatomer subunit beta, putative amastin, and a putative cytoskeleton-associated protein. Apoptosis-like signaling also increases the abundance of proteins associated with actin cytoskeleton remodeling, cell polarization, apoptotic signaling, phosphorylation, methylation, ergosterol biosynthesis, vacuolar proteins associated with autophagy, and flagellum motility. We shortlist seventeen protein targets for possible use in chemotherapy for Chagas disease. Almost all differentially abundant proteins belong to a family of proteins previously associated with apoptosis in metazoans, suggesting that the apoptotic pathway's key functions have been preserved from trypanosomatids and metazoans. SIGNIFICANCE: Approximately 8 million people worldwide are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The treatment of Chagas disease comprises drugs with severe side effects, thus limiting their application. Thus, developing new pharmaceutical solutions is relevant, and several molecules targeting apoptosis are therapeutically efficient for parasitic, cardiac, and neurological diseases. Apoptotic processes lead to specific morphological features that have been previously observed in T. cruzi. Here, we investigate changes in epimastigotes' proteomic profile treated with the proapoptotic compound PAC-1, providing data concerning the regulation of both metabolic and cellular processes in nonmetazoan apoptotic cells. We shortlist seventeen protein target candidates for use in chemotherapy for Chagas disease.