title: SUMOylation of paraflagellar rod protein, PFR1, and its stage-specific localization in Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The flagellate protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, is a causative agent of Chagas disease that is transmitted by reduviid bugs to humans. The parasite exists in multiple morphological forms in both vector and host, and cell differentiation in T. cruzi is tightly associated with stage-specific protein synthesis and degradation. However, the specific molecular mechanisms responsible for this coordinated cell differentiation are unclear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SUMO conjugation system plays an important role in specific protein expression. In T. cruzi, a subset of SUMOlylated protein candidates and the nuclear localization of SUMO have been shown. Here, we examined the biological roles of SUMO in T. cruzi. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis of SUMO consensus motifs within T. cruzi SUMO using a bacterial SUMOylation system revealed that T. cruzi SUMO can polymerize. Indirect fluorescence analysis using T. cruzi SUMO-specific antibody showed the extra-nuclear localization of SUMO on the flagellum of epimastigote and metacyclic and bloodstream trypomastigote stages. In the short-flagellate intracellular amastigote, an extra-nuclear distribution of SUMO is associated with basement of the flagellum and becomes distributed along the flagellum as amastigote transforms into trypomastigote. We examined the flagellar target protein of SUMO and show that a paraflagellar rod protein, PFR1, is SUMOylated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that SUMOylation is associated with flagellar homeostasis throughout the parasite life cycle, which may play an important role in differentiation of T. cruzi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Annoura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makiuchi
authors.forename: Idalia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sariego
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nara
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005407:Flagella / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D058207:Sumoylation; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C045519:paraflagellar rod proteins, Trypanosoma brucei