Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025
14:56
A Genetic Screen to Isolate Toxoplasma gondii Host-cell Egress Mutants
Published on: February 8, 2012
13.1K
Toxoplasma protein export and effector function
Simona Seizova1, Abel Ferrel2, John Boothroyd3
1School of Life Sciences, The University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Nature Microbiology
|January 3, 2024
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii delivers effector proteins into host cells using specialized machinery to survive. This review explores these export systems, host manipulation in latent infections, and evolutionary parallels with Plasmodium.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, invades host cells to replicate.
- Successful invasion and replication depend on effector proteins delivered into host cells.
- These effectors manipulate host cell functions and counteract host defenses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the architecture of Toxoplasma gondii protein-export systems.
- To elucidate the mechanisms of effector protein recognition and selection.
- To discuss the role of host manipulation in latent infections and its evolutionary context.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. protein export.
- Analysis of effector protein delivery mechanisms.
- Comparative study of protein export systems within the Apicomplexa phylum.
Main Results:
- Toxoplasma gondii employs a two-wave system for effector protein delivery with distinct machinery.
- Host cell manipulation is crucial for establishing and maintaining latent infections.
- Comparative analysis reveals conserved and divergent strategies in protein export across Apicomplexa.
Conclusions:
- Understanding Toxoplasma gondii's protein export systems is key to deciphering host-parasite interactions.
- Host manipulation strategies offer insights into parasite evolution and pathogenesis.
- Comparative studies with Plasmodium inform broader understanding of Apicomplexa biology.
More Related Videos
11:21Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity
Published on: March 12, 2015
11.1K
09:52Genetic Manipulation in Δku80 Strains for Functional Genomic Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii
Published on: July 12, 2013
17.1K
Related Concept Videos
01:42Nuclear Export
3.7K
The nucleus restricts several proteins within and allows others to pass. The restricted proteins possess a nuclear retention sequence or NRS, anchoring them to the nuclear lamins and preventing their transport to the cytosol. The non-restricted proteins, after their synthesis, are transported to their site of action, such as the cytosol or other organelles, with the help of nuclear export signals or NES.
NES are of three types- the canonical 10-residue long leucine-rich signal and other...
NES are of three types- the canonical 10-residue long leucine-rich signal and other...
3.7K
01:19Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
3.1K
Mitochondrial precursors are translocated to the internal subcompartments via independent mechanisms involving distinct protein machineries called translocases.
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
3.1K
01:27Protein Import into the Peroxisomes
3.5K
Cells contain membrane-bound organelles called peroxisomes that oxidize organic molecules by transferring hydrogen atoms to oxygen, producing hydrogen peroxide. Peroxisomes enzymatically convert the released hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Peroxisomal Protein Import:
Peroxisomes lack the genetic machinery required to code for their own proteins. Hence, most peroxisomal membrane, lumenal and transmembrane proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm or ER and transported to the peroxisome...
Peroxisomal Protein Import:
Peroxisomes lack the genetic machinery required to code for their own proteins. Hence, most peroxisomal membrane, lumenal and transmembrane proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm or ER and transported to the peroxisome...
3.5K
01:32Export of Misfolded Proteins out of the ER
3.6K
After folding, the ER assesses the quality of secretory and membrane proteins. The correctly folded proteins are cleared by the calnexin cycle for transport to their final destination, while misfolded proteins are held back in the ER lumen. The ER chaperones attempt to unfold and refold the misfolded proteins but sometimes fail to achieve the correct native conformation. Such terminally misfolded proteins are then exported to the cytosol by ER-associated degradation or ERAD pathway for...
3.6K
01:28Protein Translocation Machinery on the ER Membrane
4.6K
The translocon complex situated on the ER membrane is the main gateway for the protein secretory pathway. It facilitates the transport of nascent peptides into the ER lumen and their insertion into the ER membrane.
Sec61 protein conducting channel
In eukaryotes, the translocon complex comprises a core heterotrimeric translocator channel called the Sec61 complex. This channel includes three transmembrane proteins, Sec61α, Sec61β, and Sec61γ, and is the largest subunit of the...
Sec61 protein conducting channel
In eukaryotes, the translocon complex comprises a core heterotrimeric translocator channel called the Sec61 complex. This channel includes three transmembrane proteins, Sec61α, Sec61β, and Sec61γ, and is the largest subunit of the...
4.6K
01:45Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport
11.4K
Eukaryotic cells have different membrane-bound organelles with distinct protein requirements. The process by which proteins are targeted to a specific organelle is called protein sorting.
Protein sorting can be of two types: signal-based sorting and vesicle-based trafficking. In signal-based sorting, specific amino acid sequences called sorting signals target proteins to the proper location inside the cell either via gated transport or by protein translocation. In gated transport, folded...
Protein sorting can be of two types: signal-based sorting and vesicle-based trafficking. In signal-based sorting, specific amino acid sequences called sorting signals target proteins to the proper location inside the cell either via gated transport or by protein translocation. In gated transport, folded...
11.4K