Protein subcellular relocalization and function of duplicated flagellar calcium binding protein genes in honey bee trypanosomatid parasite

by Xuye Yuan, Tatsuhiko Kadowaki The honey bee trypanosomatid parasite,Lotmaria passim, contains two genes that encode the flagellar calcium binding protein (FCaBP) through tandem duplication in its genome. FCaBPs localize in the flagellum and entire body membrane ofL.passim through specific N-terminal sorting sequences. This finding suggests that this is an example of protein subcellular relocalization resulting from gene duplication, altering the intracellular localization of FCaBP. However, this phenomenon may not have occurred inLeishmania, as one or both of the duplicated genes have become pseudogenes. Multiple copies of theFCaBP gene are present in severalTrypanosoma species andLeptomonas pyrrhocoris, indicating rapid evolution of this gene in trypanosomatid parasites. The N-terminal flagellar sorting sequence ofL.passim FCaBP1 is in close proximity to the BBSome complex, while that ofTrypanosoma brucei FCaBP does not direct GFP to the flagellum inL.passim. Deletion of the twoFCaBP genes inL.passim affected growth and impaired flagellar morphogenesis and motility, but it did not impact host infection. Therefore,FCaBP represents a duplicated gene with a rapid evolutionary history that is essential for flagellar structure and function in a trypanosomatid parasite.
Source: PLoS Genetics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Source Type: research