A dynamin is required for the biogenesis of secretory organelles in Toxoplasma gondii.
BACKGROUND
Apicomplexans contain only a core set of factors involved in vesicular traffic. Yet these obligate intracellular parasites evolved a set of unique secretory organelles (micronemes, rhoptries, and dense granules) that are required for invasion and modulation of the host cell. Apicomplexa replicate by budding from or within a single mother cell, and secretory organelles are synthesized de novo at the final stage of division. To date, the molecular basis for their biogenesis is unknown.


RESULTS
We demonstrate that the apicomplexan dynamin-related protein B (DrpB) belongs to an alveolate specific family of dynamins that is expanded in ciliates. DrpB accumulates in a cytoplasmic region close to the Golgi that breaks up during replication and reforms after assembly of the daughter cells. Conditional ablation of DrpB function results in mature daughter parasites that are devoid of micronemes and rhoptries. In the absence of these organelles, invasion-related secretory proteins are mistargeted to the constitutive secretory pathway. Mutant parasites are able to replicate but are unable to escape from or invade into host cells.


CONCLUSIONS
DrpB is the essential mechanoenzyme for the biogenesis of secretory organelles in Apicomplexa. We suggest that DrpB is required during replication to generate vesicles for the regulated secretory pathway that form the unique secretory organelles. Our study supports a role of an alveolate-specific dynamin that was required for the evolution of novel, secretory organelles. In the case of Apicomplexa, these organelles further evolved to enable a parasitic lifestyle.
Breinich
Manuela S
MS
Hygiene Institute, Department of Parasitology, Heidelberg University School of Medicine, Germany.
Ferguson
David J P
DJ
Foth
Bernardo J
BJ
van Dooren
Giel G
GG
Lebrun
Maryse
M
Quon
Doris V
DV
Striepen
Boris
B
Bradley
Peter J
PJ
Frischknecht
Friedrich
F
Carruthers
Vern B
VB
Meissner
Markus
M
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D034281:Dynamins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010802:Phylogeny; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055571:Secretory Pathway / Q000502:physiology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D034281:Dynamins