title: Trafficking activity of myosin XXI is required in assembly of Leishmania flagellum.
abstract: Actin-based myosin motors have a pivotal role in intracellular trafficking in eukaryotic cells. The parasitic protozoan organism Leishmania expresses a novel class of myosin, myosin XXI (Myo21), which is preferentially localized at the proximal region of the flagellum. However, its function in this organism remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Myo21 interacts with actin, and its expression is dependent of the growth stage. We further reveal that depletion of Myo21 levels results in impairment of the flagellar assembly and intracellular trafficking. These defects are, however, reversed by episomal complementation. Additionally, it is shown that deletion of the Myo21 gene leads to generation of ploidy, suggesting an essential role of Myo21 in survival of Leishmania cells. Together, these results indicate that actin-dependent trafficking activity of Myo21 is essentially required during assembly of the Leishmania flagellum.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Structural Biology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, CSIR, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Santharam S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Katta
authors.forename: Trinadh V Satish
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Tammana
authors.forename: Amogh A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sahasrabuddhe
authors.forename: Virendra K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Bajpai
authors.forename: Chhitar M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005407:Flagella / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009218:Myosins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D009218:Myosins