A conserved domain of the gp85/trans-sialidase family activates host cell extracellular signal-regulated kinase and facilitates Trypanosoma cruzi infection

• Published in: Experimental cell research Vol. 313; no. 1; pp. 210 - 218
• Main Authors: Magdesian, Margaret H., Tonelli, Renata R., Fessel, Melissa R., Silveira, Mariana S., Schumacher, Robert I., Linden, Rafael, Colli, Walter, Alves, Maria Júlia M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2007; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cell Line; Conserved Sequence; Cytokeratin; Enzymes; Glycoproteins - chemistry; Glycoproteins - genetics; Glycoproteins - physiology; Gp85/trans-sialidase protein superfamily; Humans; Infectious diseases; Keratin-18 - chemistry; Keratin-18 - metabolism; Kinases; MAP kinase; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Neuraminidase - chemistry; Neuraminidase - genetics; Neuraminidase - physiology; Parasites; Peptide Fragments - chemistry; Peptide Fragments - genetics; Peptide Fragments - metabolism; Phosphorylation; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protozoan Proteins - chemistry; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Protozoan Proteins - physiology; Signal transduction; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - genetics; Trypanosoma cruzi - pathogenicity; Trypanosoma cruzi - physiology; Virulence; Cytokeratin; MAP kinase; Gp85/trans-sialidase protein superfamily; Phosphorylation; Trypanosoma cruzi
• ISSN: 0014-4827; 1090-2422
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2006.10.008

Chagas' disease is a chronic, debilitating and incapacitating illness, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi when infective trypomastigotes invade host cells. Although the mechanism of trypomastigotes interaction with mammalian cells has been intensively studied, a final and integrated picture of the signal transduction mechanisms involved still remains to be elucidated. Our group has previously shown that the conserved FLY domain (VTVXNVFLYNR), present in all members of the gp85/trans-sialidase glycoprotein family coating the surface of trypomastigotes, binds to cytokeratin 18 (CK18) on the surface of LLC-MK 2 epithelial cells, and significantly increases parasite entry into mammalian cells. Now it is reported that FLY, present on the surface of trypomastigotes or on latex beads binds to CK18, promotes dephosphorylation and reorganization of CK18 and activation of the ERK1/2 signaling cascade culminating in an increase of approximately 9-fold in the number of parasites/cell. Inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation completely blocks the adhesion of FLY to cells and blocks by 57% the host cell infection by T. cruzi. Taken together our results indicate that the conserved FLY domain is an important tool that trypomastigotes have evolved to specific exploit the host cell machinery and guarantee a successful infection.