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An actin‐like protein is involved in regulation of mitochondrial and flagellar functions as well as in intramacrophage survival of L eishmania donovani
Author(s) -
Singh Kuldeep,
Veluru Niranjan K.,
Trivedi Vishal,
Gupta Chhitar M.,
Sahasrabuddhe Amogh A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.12477
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoplasm , flagellum , actin , complementation , mitochondrion , leishmania , mutant , motility , hspa9 , peptide sequence , gene , biochemistry , parasite hosting , world wide web , computer science
Summary Actin‐related proteins are ubiquitous actin‐like proteins that show high similarity with actin in terms of their amino acid sequence and three‐dimensional structure. However, in lower eukaryotes, such as trypanosomatids, their functions have not yet been explored. Here, we show that a novel actin‐related protein ( ORF LmjF .13.0950) is localized mainly in the L eishmania mitochondrion. We further reveal that depletion of the intracellular levels of this protein leads to an appreciable decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential as well as in the ATP production, which appears to be accompanied with impairment in the flagellum assembly and motility. Additionally, we report that the mutants so generated fail to survive inside the mouse peritoneal macrophages. These abnormalities are, however, reversed by the episomal gene complementation. Our results, for the first time indicate that apart from their classical roles in the cytoplasm and nucleus, actin‐related proteins may also regulate the mitochondrial function, and in case of L eishmania donovani they may also serve as the essential factor for their survival in the host cells.