Overexpression of a cytosolic pyrophosphatase (TgPPase) reveals a regulatory role of PP(i) in glycolysis for Toxoplasma gondii

PP(i) is a critical element of cellular metabolism as both an energy donor and as an allosteric regulator of several metabolic pathways. The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii uses PP(i) in place of ATP as an energy donor in at least two reactions: the glycolytic PP(i)-dependent PFK (phosphofructokinase) and V-H(+)-PPase [vacuolar H(+)-translocating PPase (pyrophosphatase)]. In the present study, we report the cloning, expression and characterization of cytosolic TgPPase (T. gondii soluble PPase). Amino acid sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicates that the gene encodes a family I soluble PPase. Overexpression of the enzyme in extracellular tachyzoites led to a 6-fold decrease in the cytosolic concentration of PP(i) relative to wild-type strain RH tachyzoites. Unexpectedly, this subsequent reduction in PP(i) was associated with a higher glycolytic flux in the overexpressing mutants, as evidenced by higher rates of proton and lactate extrusion. In addition to elevated glycolytic flux, TgPPase-overexpressing tachyzoites also possessed higher ATP concentrations relative to wild-type RH parasites. These results implicate PP(i) as having a significant regulatory role in glycolysis and, potentially, other downstream processes that regulate growth and cell division.