TfVPS32 Regulates Cell Division in the Parasite Tritrichomonas foetus.

Authors :: Iriarte LS
Midlej V
Frontera LS
Moros Duarte D
Barbeito CG
de Souza W
Benchimol M
de Miguel N
Coceres VM
Source :: The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology [J Eukaryot Microbiol] 2018 Jan; Vol. 65 (1), pp. 28-37. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Jun 07.
Publication Year :: 2018
Abstract: The flagellated protist Tritrichomonas foetus is a parasite that causes bovine trichomonosis, a major sexually transmitted disease in cattle. Cell division has been described as a key player in controlling cell survival in other cells, including parasites but there is no information on the regulation of this process in T. foetus. The regulation of cytokinetic abscission, the final stage of cell division, is mediated by members of the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery. VPS32 is a subunit within the ESCRTIII complex and here, we report that TfVPS32 is localized on cytoplasmic vesicles and a redistribution of the protein to the midbody is observed during the cellular division. In concordance with its localization, deletion of TfVPS32 C-terminal alpha helices (α5 helix and/or α4-5 helix) leads to abnormal T. foetus growth, an increase in the percentage of multinucleated parasites and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Together, these results indicate a role of this protein in controlling normal cell division.<br /> (© 2017 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2017 International Society of Protistologists.)