Regulation of phosphatidic acid levels in Trypanosoma cruzi

GIMENEZ AM; SANTANDER VS; VILLASUSO AL; PASQUARÉ SJ; GIUSTO NM; MACHADO EE

LIPIDS

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Año: 2011 vol. 45 p. 3 - 13

0024-4201

 Lipid  kinases  and  phosphatases  play  essential  roles  in  signal  transduction  processes involved  in  cytoskeletal  rearrangement,  membrane  trafficking  and  cellular  differentiation.  Phosphatidic acid (PtdOH) is an important mediator lipid in eukaryotic cells, but little is known  regarding its regulation in the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, an agent of Chagas´ disease. In order  to  clarify  the  relationship  between  PtdOH metabolism  and  developmental  stages  of  T.  cruzi,  6 epimastigotes  in  culture were  subjected  to  hyperosmotic  stress  (~1000 mOsm/L), mimicking  the environment in rectum of vector triatomine bugs. These experimental conditions resulted in  differentiation  to  an  intermediate  form  between  epimastigotes  and  trypomastigotes.Morphological  changes  of  epimastigotes  were  correlated  with  increased  enzyme  activity  of diacylglycerol  kinase  (DAGK,  E.C.  2.7.1.107)  and  concomitant  decreased  activity  of phosphatidate phosphatases type 1 and type 2 (PAP1, PAP2, E.C. 3.1.3.4). Our results indicate  progressive  increases  of  PtdOH  levels  during  the  differentiation  process,  and  suggest  that regulation  of  PtdOH metabolism  is  an  important mechanism  in  the  transition  from  T.  cruzi.