ERM Proteins Play Distinct Roles in Cell Invasion by Extracellular Amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi

Autor(es)

Ferreira, Eden R. ^[1] ; Bonfim-Melo, Alexis ^[1] ; Cordero, Esteban M. ^{[1, 2]} ; Mortara, Renato A. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Mayor, Fac Ciencias, Ctr Genom & Bioinformat, Santiago - Chile

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY; v. 8, NOV 21 2017.
• Citações Web of Science: 5

Resumo

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas' disease. In mammalian hosts, T. cruzi alternates between trypomastigote and amastigote forms. Additionally, trypomastigotes can differentiate into amastigotes in the extracellular environment generating infective extracellular amastigotes (EAs). Ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) are key proteins linking plasma membrane to actin filaments, the major host cell component responsible for EA internalization. Our results revealed that depletion of host ezrin and radixin but not moesin inhibited EAs invasion in HeLa cells. ERM are recruited and colocalize with F-actin at EA invasion sites as shown by confocal microscopy. Invasion assays performed with cells overexpressing ERM showed increased EAs invasion in ezrin and radixin but not moesin overexpressing cells. Finally, time-lapse experiments have shown altered actin dynamics leading to delayed EA internalization in ezrin and radixin depleted cells when compared to control or moesin depleted cells. Altogether, these findings show distinct roles of ERM during EAs invasion, possibly regulating F-actin dynamics and plasma membrane interplay. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/51475-3 - Biologia molecular e celular do parasitismo por Trypanosoma cruzi
• Beneficiário: José Franco da Silveira Filho
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 12/25282-6 - Participação das proteínas ezrina, radixina e moesina (ERM proteins) na invasão celular por amastigotas extracelulares de Trypanosoma cruzi.
• Beneficiário: Éden Ramalho de Araujo Ferreira
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado