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A MAP6-related protein is present in protozoa and is involved in flagellum motility

Denis Dacheux1, Nicolas Landrein, Magali Thonnus

  • 1Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France.

Plos One
|February 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified TbSAXO, a novel microtubule-stabilizing protein in Trypanosoma brucei. This protein, found in cilia and flagella, is crucial for motility and belongs to a conserved family of SAXO proteins.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Parasitology
  • Microtubule Dynamics

Background:

  • Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) like MAP6 stabilize cold-resistant microtubules in vertebrates.
  • Cilia and flagella contain cold-stable microtubules, but MAP6 proteins haven't been found in these structures.
  • The role of microtubule stabilizers in protozoan flagella remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize MAP6-related proteins in the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei.
  • To investigate the function of TbSAXO in microtubule stabilization and flagellar motility.
  • To explore the evolutionary conservation and potential roles of SAXO proteins in ciliated/flagellated organisms.

Main Methods:

  • Heterologous expression system to study TbSAXO function.
  • Identification of microtubule binding and stabilizing domains within TbSAXO.
  • Analysis of TbSAXO localization and function in Trypanosoma brucei flagella.
  • Comparative analysis of SAXO proteins across different species.

Main Results:

  • TbSAXO is the first identified MAP6-related protein in a protozoan, Trypanosoma brucei.
  • TbSAXO demonstrates microtubule stabilizing properties, with conserved homology to MAP6 Mn domains.
  • TbSAXO is localized to the axoneme and is essential for flagellum motility.
  • TbSAXO is part of a conserved SAXO protein family found in ciliated/flagellated organisms.

Conclusions:

  • TbSAXO represents a novel class of microtubule-stabilizing proteins in protozoa.
  • SAXO proteins are key regulators of microtubule stability and function in cilia and flagella.
  • The discovery of TbSAXO provides insights into the evolution and function of microtubule-associated proteins in motility structures.

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