Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand

Functional study of MICU1 and MICU2 proteins involved in Trypanosoma cruzi calcium signaling

Grant number: 15/25709-8
Support Opportunities:Scholarships in Brazil - Master
Start date: April 01, 2016
End date: February 28, 2018
Field of knowledge:Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms
Principal Investigator:Aníbal Eugênio Vercesi
Grantee:Mayara Santos Bertolini
Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, a disorder affecting thousands of people, for which an effective treatment is not available yet. This parasite exhibits several stages, where calcium signaling plays an important role in the adaptation to environmental changes encountered during its life cycle. In trypanosomatids, among other functions, calcium signaling is important for host cell invasion, differentiation, osmoregulation, cell death and flagellar function. The influx of calcium into the mitochondria, which is important for intracellular calcium homeostasis, occurs through a mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (MCUC). This complex consists of several components, including two regulatory proteins named mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 and 2 (MICU1 and MICU2), that inhibit the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter activity at low calcium concentration, preventing mitochondrial overload and stimulating MCU activity at high cytosolic calcium concentration. Our research group showed several biological aspects of MCU in T. brucei and we are currently studying MCU in T. cruzi, however both regulations are still not well known. In this project, we propose to evaluate the effect of MICU2 and MICU2 overexpression and knockout in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, suggesting that it will modify the MCUC sensitivity to citosolic calcium concentrations. The relevance of this study relies on the need of elucidating the cellular mechanisms involving calcium homeostasis in this parasite, while it could also provide important information to enable the future development of more effective drugs for the treatment of Chagas disease.

News published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the scholarship:
More itemsLess items
Articles published in other media outlets ( ):
More itemsLess items
VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)
VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)

Scientific publications (5)
(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)
LANDER, NOELIA; CHIURILLO, MIGUEL A.; BERTOLINI, MAYARA S.; DOCAMPO, ROBERTO; VERCESI, ANIBAL E.. The mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex in trypanosomes. Cell Biology International, v. 42, n. 6, SI, p. 656-663, . (14/08995-4, 14/13148-9, 15/25709-8, 13/50624-0)
CHIURILLO, MIGUEL A.; LANDER, NOELIA; BERTOLINI, MAYARA S.; VERCESI, ANIBAL E.; DOCAMPO, ROBERTO. Functional analysis and importance for host cell infection of the Ca2+-conducting subunits of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter of Trypanosoma cruzi. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, v. 30, n. 14, p. 1676-1690, . (14/08995-4, 14/13148-9, 15/25709-8, 13/50624-0)
BERTOLINI, MAYARA S.; CHIURILLO, MIGUEL A.; LANDER, NOELIA; VERCESI, ANIBAL E.; DOCAMPO, ROBERTO. MICU1 and MICU2 Play an Essential Role in Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake, Growth, and Infectivity of the Human Pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. MBIO, v. 10, n. 3, . (14/08995-4, 14/13148-9, 15/25709-8, 13/50624-0)
CHIURILLO, MIGUEL A.; LANDER, NOELIA; BERTOLINI, MAYARA S.; STOREY, MELISSA; VERCESI, ANIBAL E.; DOCAMPO, ROBERTO. Different Roles of Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Complex Subunits in Growth and Infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi. MBIO, v. 8, n. 3, . (14/08995-4, 14/13148-9, 15/25709-8, 13/50624-0)
LANDER, NOELIA; CHIURILLO, MIGUEL A.; BERTOLINI, MAYARA S.; DOCAMPO, ROBERTO; VERCESI, ANIBAL E.. The mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex in trypanosomes. Cell Biology International, v. 42, n. 6, p. 8-pg., . (14/08995-4, 13/50624-0, 15/25709-8, 14/13148-9)
Academic Publications
(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)
BERTOLINI, Mayara Santos. Functional study of MICU1 and MICU2 proteins in calcium signaling of Trypanosoma cruzi. 2018. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Campinas, SP.