Comparative protein profiling identifies elongation factor-1beta and tryparedoxin peroxidase as factors associated with metastasis in Leishmania guyanensis

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2006 Feb;145(2):254-64. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2005.10.008. Epub 2005 Oct 28.

Abstract

Parasites of the Leishmania Viannia subgenus are major causative agents of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL), a disease characterised by parasite dissemination (metastasis) from the original cutaneous lesion to form debilitating secondary lesions in the nasopharyngeal mucosa. We employed a protein profiling approach to identify potential metastasis factors in laboratory clones of L. (V.) guyanensis with stable phenotypes ranging from highly metastatic (M+) through infrequently metastatic (M+/M-) to non-metastatic (M-). Comparison of the soluble proteomes of promastigotes by two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed two abundant protein spots specifically associated with M+ and M+/M- clones (Met2 and Met3) and two others exclusively expressed in M- parasites (Met1 and Met4). The association between clinical disease phenotype and differential expression of Met1-Met4 was less clear in L. Viannia strains from mucosal (M+) or cutaneous (M-) lesions of patients. Identification of Met1-Met4 by biological mass spectrometry (LC-ES-MS/MS) and bioinformatics revealed that M+ and M- clones express distinct acidic and neutral isoforms of both elongation factor-1 subunit beta (EF-1beta) and cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (TXNPx). This interchange of isoforms may relate to the mechanisms by which the activities of EF-1beta and TXNPx are modulated, and/or differential post-translational modification of the gene product(s). The multiple metabolic functions of EF-1 and TXNPx support the plausibility of their participation in parasite survival and persistence and thereby, metastatic disease. Both polypeptides are active in resistance to chemical and oxidant stress, providing a basis for further elucidation of the importance of antioxidant defence in the pathogenesis underlying MCL.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Computational Biology
  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Immunoblotting
  • Leishmania guyanensis / chemistry*
  • Leishmania guyanensis / genetics
  • Leishmania guyanensis / growth & development
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / analysis*
  • Peroxidases / analysis*
  • Protein Isoforms / analysis
  • Proteome / analysis*
  • Protozoan Proteins / analysis*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Peptide Elongation Factor 1
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Proteome
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Peroxidases
  • tryparedoxin peroxidase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY753537
  • GENBANK/AY763288