Identification of new Palmitoylated Proteins in Toxoplasma gondii

CABALLERO MC; ALONSO AM; DENG B; ATTIAS M; DE SOUZA; CORVI MM

BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016

1570-9639

Protein palmitoylation has been shown to be an important post-translational modification in eukaryotic cells. This modification alters the localization and/or the function of the targeted protein. In the recent years protein palmitoylation has risen in importance in apicomplexan parasites as well. In Toxoplasma gondii, some proteins have been reported to be modified by palmitate. Withthe development of new techniques thatallow the isolation of palmitoylated proteins, this significant post-translational modification has begun to be studiedin more detail in T. gondii. Here we describe the palmitoylome of the tachyzoite stage of T. gondii using a combination of the acyl-biotin exchange chemistry method and mass spectrometry analysis. We identified 401proteins found in multiple cellular compartments, with a wide range of functions that vary from metabolic processes, gliding and host-cell invasion to even regulation of transcription and translation.Besides, we found that more rhoptry proteins than the ones already describedfor Toxoplasmaare palmitoylated, suggesting animportant role for this modification in the invasion mechanism of the host-cell. This study documents that protein palmitoylation is a common modification in T. gondiithat could have an impact on different cellular processes.