Functional characterization of trypanosomatid giant proteins

• Grant number: 10/19547-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2011 - June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Munira Muhammad Abdel Baqui
• Grantee: Munira Muhammad Abdel Baqui
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Over the past decades, the trypanosomatids have been used as experimental models for cellular, biochemical and molecular studies. They also represent an excellent model for cell biology suitable for investigation analysis of basic questions about the cytoskeleton and its evolution in higher eukaryotes (Gull 1999, 2003). In the Trypanosomatidae family, we demonstrated the existence of a new class of high molecular mass phosphoproteins (1000-4000kDa), which besides having a structural role have been implicated in the regulation and organization of the cytoskeleton (Baqui e cols, 1996, 2000a, 2000b). These proteins are partially located in the flagellar pocket, in the flagellar adhesion region, suggesting involvement in cellular functions such as flagellar adhesion, endocytosis and exocytosis, capping of microtubules, cytokinesis among others. However, factors that interact with these proteins in both the cytoskeleton and the host are still unknown and little is known about the giant proteins of the pathogenic trypanosomatids and their functions. This project aims to investigate the biochemical, molecular and functional properties of the giant proteins of relevant pathogens such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi and T. brucei. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GACHET-CASTRO, CAMILA; MENDONCA TRAJANO-SILVA, LAYS ADRIANNE; BAQUI, MUNIRA MUHAMMAD ABDEL. Double Labeling Immunofluorescence using Antibodies from the Same Species to Study Host-Pathogen Interactions. JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS, n. 173, JUL 2021. (10/19547-1, 18/03677-5)

GACHET-CASTRO, CAMILA; FREITAS-CASTRO, FELIPE; GONZALES-CORDOVA, RAUL ALEXANDER; DA FONSECA, CAROL KOBORI; GOMES, MARCELO DAMARIO; ISHIKAWA-ANKERHOLD, HELLEN CRISTINA; BAQUI, MUNIRA MUHAMMAD ABDEL. Modulation of the Host Nuclear Compartment by Trypanosoma cruzi Uncovers Effects on Host Transcription and Splicing Machinery. FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY, v. 11, OCT 19 2021. (18/03677-5, 10/19547-1, 18/01308-2)

MOREIRA, BERNARDO P.; FONSECA, CAROL K.; HAMMARTON, TANSY C.; BAQUI, MUNIRA M. A.. Giant FAZ10 is required for flagellum attachment zone stabilization and furrow positioning in Trypanosoma brucei. Journal of Cell Science, v. 130, n. 6, p. 1179-1193, MAR 15 2017. (12/22129-2, 10/19547-1)