Parasite extracts were loaded onto 13.5% SDS gel and transferred to a PVDF membrane. Atg proteins are highly conserved in eukaryotes, protozoa possess only a partial set of Atg proteins. Nonetheless, almost all protozoa have the complete factors belonging to the Atg8 conjugation system, namely, Atg3, Atg4, Atg7, and Atg8. Here, we statement the biochemical properties and subcellular localization of the Atg8 protein of the human being malaria parasite (PfAtg8). PfAtg8 is definitely indicated during intra-erythrocytic development and associates with membranes likely like a lipid-conjugated form. Fluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy display that PfAtg8 localizes to the apicoplast, a four membrane-bound non-photosynthetic plastid. Autophagosome-like constructions are not observed in the erythrocytic phases. These data suggest that, although parasites have lost most Atg proteins during evolution, they use the Atg8 conjugation system for the unique organelle, the apicoplast. Intro Macroautophagy (just referred to as autophagy hereafter) is definitely a fundamental cellular process, by which cytoplasmic parts including proteins and organelles are delivered to the lysosome (or vacuole in yeasts and OT-R antagonist 2 vegetation) for degradation. Autophagy is definitely involved in many cellular functions such as adaptation to starvation, cell differentiation, quality control of proteins and organelles, ageing, and degradation of invading microbes [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]. It is also Rabbit Polyclonal to CtBP1 implicated in human being diseases such as malignancy, inflammatory diseases, and OT-R antagonist 2 neurodegeneration. Autophagy entails complex membrane dynamics; a membrane cisterna termed the isolation membrane (or phagophore) elongates within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and forms a increase membrane-bound autophagosome, which consists of cytoplasmic materials. Then, the autophagosome fuses having a lysosome to degrade the enclosed materials. Autophagosome formation is the central event of this process and is governed by autophagy-related (Atg) proteins, which were originally recognized in candida [7], [8]. The genetic hierarchy of these Atg proteins has been identified and they are classified into at least six practical organizations: the starvation-responsive Atg1 kinase complex (Atg1CAtg13CAtg17CAtg29CAtg31), the multi-membrane spanning protein Atg9, the class III phosphatidylinositol 3 (PtdIns 3)-kinase complex (Atg6CAtg14CVps15CVps34), the Atg2CAtg18 complex, the Atg12 C Atg5CAtg16 complex (C denotes a covalent attachment), and the Atg8Cphosphatidylethanolamine (PE) conjugate (Number 1A) [8], [9], [10]. Open in a separate window Number 1 Atg protein sets are only partially conserved in and genome is definitely indicated in parentheses. (B) Positioning of the full sequences of Atg8, LC3B (one of the Atg8 homologs), and Atg8. Identical amino acid residues are indicated with packed boxes. These core Atg proteins are highly conserved in most eukaryotes including fungi, animals, and vegetation [11]. However, recent genome-wide analyses have exposed that they are only partially present in protozoa [12], [13]. It is interesting that their conservation pattern is not random; the users belonging to the Atg8 conjugation systems are highly conserved in almost all protozoans, whereas potential homologs of additional Atg proteins are only found sporadically (Number 1A) [12]. The ubiquitin-like protein Atg8 can be covalently conjugated to PE through a sequential reaction that is mediated by a ubiquitin E1-like enzyme, OT-R antagonist 2 Atg7, and an E2-like enzyme Atg3 [14]. Atg4 cleaves the C-terminal extension of the proform of Atg8 to expose a glycine residue, to which PE is definitely conjugated. Atg4 also catalyzes deconjugation of the PE moiety from Atg8 C PE to release Atg8 from your membrane after completion of autophagosome formation [15]. Although the precise function of Atg8 and its PE conjugation in autophagy remains unclear, it is suggested that Atg8 C PE is definitely important for membrane tethering and hemifusion [16], determination of the autophagosome size [17], and growth and closure of the isolation membrane [18], [19], [20]. The partial conservation of the genes in protozoans might imply that the smaller set of Atg proteins is sufficient to constitute the autophagosome in these organisms. Alternatively, these organisms could use the Atg8 system for additional purposes. To date, several practical and morphological analyses of autophagy have been performed.