Trypanosoma cruzi adhesion to extracellular matrix from different cells: analysis of post-translational modifications and proteolysis of extracellular matrix elements

• Grant number: 15/07833-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2015
• End date: June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Maria Julia Manso Alves
• Grantee: Giovana Lais de Assis Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

It is well established in the literature that elements of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are involved in the Trypanosoma cruzi adhesion to mammalian cells. Our laboratory has recently shown that incubation of trypomastigotes (infectious form) extracellular matrix (ECM) from epithelial cells leads to changes in the levels of phosphorylation, nitration and S-nitrosylation of parasite proteins, as well as reduction in the activity of NO synthase and cGMP. The ECM is composed of a macromolecular complex with more than 300 proteins and different compositions in different tissues. The different ECM composition for each tissue intended the study of the role of ECM isolated from different cells (monkey kidney epithelial, glioblastoma, cardiomyocytes, adipocytes and intestinal colon) on the adhesion of T. cruzi and the post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, nitration and S-nitrosylation) of the parasite as a response of this adhesion. This project also aims the analysis of the proteolytic enzymes secreted by the parasite for hydrolysis of ECM elements. For those purpose, methodologies for quantifying the parasites adhered to ECM, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting with specific antibodies and zimograms will be used.