Constitutive calcium-independent release of Toxoplasma gondii dense granules occurs through the NSF/SNAP/SNARE/Rab machinery

Sudha Chaturvedi, Huilin Qi, David Coleman, Anna Rodriguez, Phyllis I. Hanson, Boris Striepen, David S. Roos, Keith A. Joiner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

The signals and the molecular machinery mediating release of dense matrix granules from pathogenic protozoan parasites are unknown. We compared the secretion of the endogenous dense granule marker GRA3 in Toxoplasma gondii with the release of a stably transfected foreign reporter, β- lactamase, that localizes to parasite dense granules. Both proteins were released constitutively in a calcium-independent fashion, as shown using both intact and streptolysin O-permeabilized parasites. N-Ethylmaleimide and recombinant bovine Rab-guanine dissociation inhibitor inhibited β-lactamase secretion in permeabilized parasites, whereas recombinant hamster N- ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein and bovine α-SNAP augmented release. Guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate, but not cAMP, augmented secretion in the presence but not in the absence of ATP. The T. gondii NSF/SNAP/SNARE/Rab machinery participates in dense granule release using parasite protein components that can interact functionally with their mammalian homolognes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2424-2431
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume274
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 22 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Constitutive calcium-independent release of Toxoplasma gondii dense granules occurs through the NSF/SNAP/SNARE/Rab machinery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this