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Published on: March 16, 2018
Exoproteome dynamics in Leishmania infantum
Nuno Santarém1, Gina Racine, Ricardo Silvestre
1Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal. santarem@ibmc.up.pt
Journal of Proteomics
|April 6, 2013
Summary
Researchers explored the Leishmania infantum exoproteome, finding distinct protein profiles in vesicles and vesicle-depleted fractions. These vesicles may play roles in parasite protein turnover and cell death.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The exoproteome of Leishmania infantum, proteins secreted extracellularly, is crucial for early infection stages.
- Limited knowledge exists regarding the composition and function of the Leishmania exoproteome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an in vitro method for recovering and analyzing the Leishmania infantum exoproteome.
- To investigate the protein composition of exoproteome fractions derived from different parasite growth phases.
Main Methods:
- In vitro recovery of exoproteome from logarithmic and stationary Leishmania infantum promastigotes.
- Separation of recovered exoproteomes into vesicle and vesicle-depleted fractions.
- Protein profiling of separated fractions to determine composition.
Main Results:
- GP63 was the most abundant protein across all fractions.
- Distinct protein compositions were observed between vesicle and vesicle-depleted fractions.
- Vesicles from logarithmic phase parasites were enriched in ribosomal proteins, suggesting a role in protein turnover.
- Stationary phase parasite vesicles showed characteristics of apoptotic vesicles, with increased release upon death stimuli.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first systematic insight into the Leishmania exoproteome.
- The recovery approach highlights distinct exoproteome compositions based on parasite metabolic state and fraction origin.
- Leishmania vesicles may be involved in protein turnover and programmed cell death, offering new perspectives on parasite biology.
