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Evolution of Fe/S cluster biogenesis in the anaerobic parasite Blastocystis

Tsaousis, Anastasios D., Ollagnier de Choudens, Sandrine, Gentekaki, Eleni, Long, Shaojun, Gaston, Daniel, Stechmann, Alexandra, Vinella, Daniel, Py, Beatrice, Fontecave, Marc, Barras, Frederic, and others. (2012) Evolution of Fe/S cluster biogenesis in the anaerobic parasite Blastocystis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109 (26). pp. 10426-10431. ISSN 0027-8424. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1116067109) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:34970)

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1116067109

Abstract

Iron/sulfur cluster (ISC)-containing proteins are essential components of cells. In most eukaryotes, Fe/S clusters are synthesized by the mitochondrial ISC machinery, the cytosolic iron/sulfur assembly system, and, in photosynthetic species, a plastid sulfur-mobilization (SUF) system. Here we show that the anaerobic human protozoan parasite Blastocystis, in addition to possessing ISC and iron/sulfur assembly systems, expresses a fused version of the SufC and SufB proteins of prokaryotes that it has acquired by lateral transfer from an archaeon related to the Methanomicrobiales, an important lineage represented in the human gastrointestinal tract microbiome. Although components of the Blastocystis ISC system function within its anaerobic mitochondrion-related organelles and can functionally replace homologues in Trypanosoma brucei, its SufCB protein has similar biochemical properties to its prokaryotic homologues, functions within the parasite's cytosol, and is up-regulated under oxygen stress. Blastocystis is unique among eukaryotic pathogens in having adapted to its parasitic lifestyle by acquiring a SUF system from nonpathogenic Archaea to synthesize Fe/S clusters under oxygen stress.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1073/pnas.1116067109
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Anastasios Tsaousis
Date Deposited: 20 Aug 2013 10:05 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/34970 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Tsaousis, Anastasios D..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5424-1905
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