A novel lipase with dual localisation in Trypanosoma brucei

S. G. Monic, A. Lamy, M. Thonnus, T. Bizarra-Rebelo, F. Bringaud, T. K. Smith, L. M. Figueiredo, L. Rivière*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Phospholipases are esterases involved in lipid catabolism. In pathogenic micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites) they often play a critical role in virulence and pathogenicity. A few phospholipases (PL) have been characterised so far at the gene and protein level in unicellular parasites including African trypanosomes (AT). They could play a role in different processes such as host–pathogen interaction, antigenic variation, intermediary metabolism. By mining the genome database of AT we found putative new phospholipase candidate genes and here we provided biochemical evidence that one of these has lipolytic activity. This protein has a unique non-canonical glycosome targeting signal responsible for its dual localisation in the cytosol and the peroxisomes-related organelles named glycosomes. We also show that this new phospholipase is excreted by these pathogens and that antibodies directed against this protein are generated during an experimental infection with T. brucei gambiense, a subspecies responsible for infection in humans. This feature makes this protein a possible tool for diagnosis.
Original languageEnglish
Article number4766
JournalScientific Reports
Volume12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Mar 2022

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