Toxoplasma gondiiF-actin forms an extensive filamentous network required for material exchange and parasite maturation.
Apicomplexan actin is important during the parasite's life cycle. Its polymerization kinetics are unusual, permitting only short, unstable F-actin filaments. It has not been possible to study actin in vivo and so its physiological roles have remained obscure, leading to models distinct from conventional actin behaviour. Here a modified version of the commercially available actin-chromobody was tested as a novel tool for visualising F-actin dynamics inToxoplasma gondii.Cb labels filamentous actin structures within the parasite cytosol and labels an extensive F-actin network that connects parasites within the parasitophorous vacuole and allows vesicles to be exchanged between parasites. In the absence of actin, parasites lack a residual body and inter-parasite connections and grow in an asynchronous and disorganized manner. Collectively, these data identify new roles for actin in the intracellular phase of the parasites lytic cycle and provide a robust new tool for imaging parasitic F-actin dynamics.
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Javier
J
Periz
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Jamie
J
Whitelaw
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Clare
C
Harding
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Simon
S
Gras
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Mario Igor
MI
Del Rosario Minina
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Fernanda
F
Latorre-Barragan
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Leandro
L
Lemgruber
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Madita Alice
MA
Reimer
Cancer Research United Kingdom Beatson Institute, Bearsden, United Kingdom.
Robert
R
Insall
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, United States.
Aoife
A
Heaslip
Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Markus
0000-0002-4816-5221
M
Meissner
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*
D000199:Actins
Apicomplexa; Toxoplasma; actin; cell biology; infectious disease; microbiology; nanobodies; replication