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Genetic Manipulation in Δku80 Strains for Functional Genomic Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii
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Published on: July 12, 2013

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Protein kinase TgCDPK7 regulates vesicular trafficking and phospholipid synthesis in Toxoplasma gondii

Priyanka Bansal1, Neelam Antil2,3, Manish Kumar1,2

  • 1Eukaryotic Gene Expression laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India.

Plos Pathogens
|February 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Calcium Dependent Protein Kinases (CDPKs) regulate apicomplexan parasite development. This study reveals CDPK7 controls parasite replication by regulating phospholipid synthesis and protein trafficking via TgRab11a phosphorylation.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Apicomplexan parasites cause significant human diseases.
  • Calcium Dependent Protein Kinases (CDPKs) are essential for apicomplexan intracellular development and are potential drug targets.
  • CDPK7 is an atypical CDPK critical for Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii development, but its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which TgCDPK7 regulates T. gondii replication.
  • To identify parasitic targets of TgCDPK7.
  • To investigate TgCDPK7's role in phospholipid synthesis and vesicular trafficking.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative phosphoproteomics of T. gondii lacking TgCDPK7.
  • Lipidomic analysis.
  • Biochemical and cellular studies.

Main Results:

  • Identified several TgCDPK7 substrates involved in phospholipid synthesis and vesicular trafficking.
  • Demonstrated that TgCDPK7-mediated phosphorylation of TgRab11a is crucial for parasite development and protein transport.
  • Confirmed TgCDPK7 regulates phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) levels in T. gondii.

Conclusions:

  • TgCDPK7 plays a critical role in T. gondii intracellular development by regulating phospholipid metabolism and protein trafficking.
  • TgCDPK7's regulation of TgRab11a and PE synthesis offers new insights into apicomplexan parasite biology.
  • TgCDPK7 represents a promising drug target for treating apicomplexan parasitic infections.

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