TcRho1 of Trypanosoma cruzi: role in metacyclogenesis and cellular localization |
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| Authors: | de Melo Luiz Dione B Nepomuceno-Silva José L Sant'Anna Celso Eisele Nicole Ferraro Rodrigo B Meyer-Fernandes José R de Souza Wanderley Cunha-e-Silva Narcisa L Lopes Ulisses Gazos |
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| Affiliation: | Laboratório de Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, CCS, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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| Keywords: | Trypanosoma cruzi GTPase Rho TcRho1 |
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