title: Cloning, localization and differential expression of the Trypanosoma cruzi TcOGNT-2 glycosyl transferase.
abstract: The surface of Trypanosoma cruzi is covered by a dense glycocalix which is characteristic of each stage of the life cycle. Its composition and complexity depend mainly on mucin-like proteins. A remarkable feature of O-glycan biosynthesis in trypanosomes is that it initiates with the addition of a GlcNAc instead of the GalNAc residue that is commonly used in vertebrate mucins. The fact that the interplay between trans-sialidase and mucin is crucial for pathogenesis, and both families have stage-specific members is also remarkable. Recently the enzyme that transfers the first GlcNAc from UDP-GlcNAc to a serine or threonine residue was kinetically characterized. The relevance of this enzyme is evidenced by its role as catalyzer of the first step in O-glycosylation. In this paper we describe how this gene is expressed differentially along the life cycle with a pattern that is very similar to that of trans-sialidases. Its localization was determined, showing that the protein predicted to be in the Golgi apparatus is also present in reservosomes. Finally our results indicate that this enzyme, when overexpressed, enhances T. cruzi infectivity.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: María Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chiribao
authors.forename: María Gabriela
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Libisch
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osinaga
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parodi-Talice
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robello
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000469:parasitology; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014530:Uridine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D014709:Vero Cells / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014530:Uridine Diphosphate; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; C069715:trans-sialidase; D009439:Neuraminidase; D000117:Acetylglucosamine