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TcRho1 of Trypanosoma cruzi: role in metacyclogenesis and cellular localization

2004; Elsevier BV; Volume: 323; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.08.197

1090-2104

Luiz Dione Barbosa de Melo, José Luciano Nepomuceno‐Silva, Celso Sant’Anna, Nicole Eisele, Rodrigo B. Ferraro, José Roberto Meyer‐Fernandes, Wanderley de Souza, Narcisa L. Cunha‐e‐Silva, Ulisses Gazos Lopes,

Signaling Pathways in Disease

Here we have investigated the function of TcRho1, a Rho family orthologue from the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. We have selected parasites overexpressing wild-type TcRho1 and a truncated form of TcRho1 (TcRho1-DeltaCaaX) which is unable to undergo farnesylation and supposed to interfere with recruitment of Rho effectors to membranes. TcRho1 protein was localized at the anterior region of wild-type and TcRho1 overexpressing epimastigotes, suggesting association with the Golgi apparatus. Accordingly, parasites overexpressing TcRho1-DeltaCaaX presented cytoplasmic fluorescence. To address the function of TcRho1 during differentiation, from epimastigotes to trypomastigotes, we submitted parasites overexpressing the above-cited lineages to metacyclogenesis assays. Parasites overexpressing TcRho1-DeltaCaaX generated a discrete number of metacyclic trypomastigotes when compared with other lineages. Strikingly, TcRho1-DeltaCaaX cells died synchronously during the process of metacyclogenesis.