The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum
ABSTRACT Dynamins, or dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), are large mechano-sensitive GTPases that mediate membrane dynamics or organellar fission/fusion events. Plasmodium falciparum encodes three dynamin-like proteins whose functions are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that one of these dynam...
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American Society for Microbiology
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03036-24 |
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| author | Alexander A. Morano Wei Xu Francesca M. Navarro Neeta Shadija Jeffrey D. Dvorin Hangjun Ke |
| author_facet | Alexander A. Morano Wei Xu Francesca M. Navarro Neeta Shadija Jeffrey D. Dvorin Hangjun Ke |
| author_sort | Alexander A. Morano |
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| description | ABSTRACT Dynamins, or dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), are large mechano-sensitive GTPases that mediate membrane dynamics or organellar fission/fusion events. Plasmodium falciparum encodes three dynamin-like proteins whose functions are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that one of these dynamin-related proteins, PfDyn2, is required to divide both the apicoplast and the mitochondrion, a striking divergence from the biology of related parasites. Using super-resolution and ultrastructure expansion microscopy (U-ExM), we show that PfDyn2 is expressed in dividing schizonts, and that it localizes to both the apicoplast and the mitochondrion. Our use of long-term, live-cell microscopy allows for the visualization of apicoplast and mitochondrial division in live parasites at super resolution for the first time, and demonstrates that in PfDyn2-deficient parasites, while the apicoplast and mitochondrion increase in size and complexity, they do not undergo fission. We also show that these organellar fission defects prevent successful individualization of the schizont mass and the formation of new daughter cells, or merozoites because the basal complex, the cytokinetic ring of Plasmodium, cannot fully contract in PfDyn2-deficient parasites, a phenotype secondary to physical blockage by undivided organelles occluding the ring. PfDyn2’s singular role in mediating both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission has not been observed in other organisms possessing two endosymbiotic organelles, including other Apicomplexans, thus reflecting a unique, potentially exploitable method of organellar division in P. falciparum.IMPORTANCEPlasmodium falciparum remains a significant global pathogen, causing over 200 million infections and over 600,000 deaths per year. One significant obstacle to the control of malaria is increasing resistance to first-line artemisinin-based antimalarials. Another is a lack of basic knowledge about the cell biology of the parasite. Along with the mitochondrion, Plasmodium contains a second organelle descended from an endosymbiotic event, the apicoplast. Both organelles are common targets for antimalarials, but because many proteins involved in organellar fission are not conserved in Plasmodium, until now, the mechanisms underlying apicoplast and mitochondrial division have been unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that PfDyn2, a dynamin-related protein (DRP), is required for the division of both organelles. We also show that defects in organellar division hinder segmentation of the schizont and formation of invasive merozoites by preventing full contraction of the basal complex. By demonstrating its necessity for the proper division of both the apicoplast and the mitochondria, this study highlights PfDyn2 as a potential target for new antimalarials. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16e9f8ca8ea242eb83eef7a7246e6e8c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2150-7511 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-16e9f8ca8ea242eb83eef7a7246e6e8c2025-01-08T14:00:38ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymBio2150-75112025-01-0116110.1128/mbio.03036-24The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparumAlexander A. Morano0Wei Xu1Francesca M. Navarro2Neeta Shadija3Jeffrey D. Dvorin4Hangjun Ke5Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USACenter for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USACenter for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USACenter for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAABSTRACT Dynamins, or dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), are large mechano-sensitive GTPases that mediate membrane dynamics or organellar fission/fusion events. Plasmodium falciparum encodes three dynamin-like proteins whose functions are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that one of these dynamin-related proteins, PfDyn2, is required to divide both the apicoplast and the mitochondrion, a striking divergence from the biology of related parasites. Using super-resolution and ultrastructure expansion microscopy (U-ExM), we show that PfDyn2 is expressed in dividing schizonts, and that it localizes to both the apicoplast and the mitochondrion. Our use of long-term, live-cell microscopy allows for the visualization of apicoplast and mitochondrial division in live parasites at super resolution for the first time, and demonstrates that in PfDyn2-deficient parasites, while the apicoplast and mitochondrion increase in size and complexity, they do not undergo fission. We also show that these organellar fission defects prevent successful individualization of the schizont mass and the formation of new daughter cells, or merozoites because the basal complex, the cytokinetic ring of Plasmodium, cannot fully contract in PfDyn2-deficient parasites, a phenotype secondary to physical blockage by undivided organelles occluding the ring. PfDyn2’s singular role in mediating both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission has not been observed in other organisms possessing two endosymbiotic organelles, including other Apicomplexans, thus reflecting a unique, potentially exploitable method of organellar division in P. falciparum.IMPORTANCEPlasmodium falciparum remains a significant global pathogen, causing over 200 million infections and over 600,000 deaths per year. One significant obstacle to the control of malaria is increasing resistance to first-line artemisinin-based antimalarials. Another is a lack of basic knowledge about the cell biology of the parasite. Along with the mitochondrion, Plasmodium contains a second organelle descended from an endosymbiotic event, the apicoplast. Both organelles are common targets for antimalarials, but because many proteins involved in organellar fission are not conserved in Plasmodium, until now, the mechanisms underlying apicoplast and mitochondrial division have been unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that PfDyn2, a dynamin-related protein (DRP), is required for the division of both organelles. We also show that defects in organellar division hinder segmentation of the schizont and formation of invasive merozoites by preventing full contraction of the basal complex. By demonstrating its necessity for the proper division of both the apicoplast and the mitochondria, this study highlights PfDyn2 as a potential target for new antimalarials.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03036-24malariaPlasmodium falciparumdynamindynamin-related proteinPfDyn2apicoplast fission |
| spellingShingle | Alexander A. Morano Wei Xu Francesca M. Navarro Neeta Shadija Jeffrey D. Dvorin Hangjun Ke The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum mBio malaria Plasmodium falciparum dynamin dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 apicoplast fission |
| title | The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum |
| title_full | The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum |
| title_fullStr | The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum |
| title_full_unstemmed | The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum |
| title_short | The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in Plasmodium falciparum |
| title_sort | dynamin related protein pfdyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in plasmodium falciparum |
| topic | malaria Plasmodium falciparum dynamin dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 apicoplast fission |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03036-24 |
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