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Oxygen sensing by protozoans: how they catch their breath
Christopher M West1, Ira J Blader2
1Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Oklahoma Center for Medical Glycobiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 975 NE 10th St., BRC 417, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|May 20, 2015
Summary
Cells sense oxygen levels using prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs). This review explores how these oxygen sensors regulate unicellular eukaryotes, including parasites, by adapting to varying oxygen availability.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Biochemistry
- Parasitology
Background:
- Cells require mechanisms to detect and respond to local oxygen levels.
- Prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs) are identified as crucial cellular oxygen sensors.
- Oxygen sensing is vital for cellular adaptation and survival in diverse environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging oxygen-sensing mechanisms in unicellular eukaryotes.
- To discuss the role of P4Hs in cellular oxygen detection.
- To explore how these mechanisms regulate organisms, particularly intracellular parasites.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on cellular oxygen sensing.
- Analysis of P4H function in different organisms (animals and protozoa).
- Examination of glycosylation-dependent mechanisms in protozoan oxygen sensing.
Main Results:
- P4Hs function as universal cellular oxygen sensors.
- In animals, P4Hs regulate hypoxia-inducible transcription factors in response to low oxygen.
- In protozoa, P4Hs activate E3-SCF ubiquitin ligase complexes via glycosylation.
Conclusions:
- Oxygen-sensing pathways are critical for unicellular eukaryotes, especially parasites.
- P4Hs play a conserved role in sensing oxygen and regulating cellular processes.
- Understanding these mechanisms is key to comprehending parasite adaptation and survival.
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