title: TcRho1 of Trypanosoma cruzi: role in metacyclogenesis and cellular localization.
abstract: Here we have investigated the function of TcRho1, a Rho family orthologue from the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. We have selected parasites overexpressing wild-type TcRho1 and a truncated form of TcRho1 (TcRho1-DeltaCaaX) which is unable to undergo farnesylation and supposed to interfere with recruitment of Rho effectors to membranes. TcRho1 protein was localized at the anterior region of wild-type and TcRho1 overexpressing epimastigotes, suggesting association with the Golgi apparatus. Accordingly, parasites overexpressing TcRho1-DeltaCaaX presented cytoplasmic fluorescence. To address the function of TcRho1 during differentiation, from epimastigotes to trypomastigotes, we submitted parasites overexpressing the above-cited lineages to metacyclogenesis assays. Parasites overexpressing TcRho1-DeltaCaaX generated a discrete number of metacyclic trypomastigotes when compared with other lineages. Strikingly, TcRho1-DeltaCaaX cells died synchronously during the process of metacyclogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, CCS, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Dione B
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nepomuceno-Silva
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sant'Anna
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.forename: Rodrigo B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Meyer-Fernandes
authors.forename: Wanderley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Narcisa L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Cunha-e-Silva
authors.forename: Ulisses Gazos
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C434054:Rho1 protein, Trypanosoma cruzi; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins