Depletion of a Toxoplasma porin leads to defects in mitochondrial morphology and contacts with the ER

Mallo, N. et al. (2021) Depletion of a Toxoplasma porin leads to defects in mitochondrial morphology and contacts with the ER. Journal of Cell Science, 134(20), jcs255299. (doi: 10.1242/jcs.255299) (PMID:34523684) (PMCID:PMC8572010)

Abstract

The Voltage Dependent Anion channel (VDAC) is a ubiquitous channel in the outer membrane of the mitochondrion with multiple roles in protein, metabolite and small molecule transport. In mammalian cells, VDAC, as part of a larger complex including the inositol triphosphate receptor, has been shown to have a role in mediating contacts between the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We identify VDAC of the pathogenic apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii and demonstrate its importance for parasite growth. We show that VDAC is involved in protein import and metabolite transfer to mitochondria. Further, depletion of VDAC resulted in significant morphological changes of the mitochondrion and ER, suggesting a role in mediating contacts between these organelles in T. gondii.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ovciarikova, Miss Jana and Mallo, Dr Natalia and Harding, Dr Clare and Biddau, Dr Marco and Sheiner, Professor Lilach and Lemgruber Soares, Dr Leandro
• Authors: Mallo, N., Ovciarikova, J., Martins-Duarte, E. S., Baehr, S. C., Biddau, M., Wilde, M.-L., Uboldi, A. D., Lemgruber, L., Tonkin, C. J., Wideman, J. G., Harding, C. R., and Sheiner, L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Journal of Cell Science
• Publisher: Company of Biologists
• ISSN: 0021-9533
• ISSN (Online): 1477-9137
• Published Online: 15 September 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Company of Biologists Ltd
• First Published: First published in Journal of Cell Science 134(20): jcs255299
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
172187		Dissection of the unusual mitochondrial tRNA import translocon of Toxoplasma gondii	Lilach Sheiner	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/N003675/1	Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation
307056		Lost in translation. A study of the divergent mitochondrial translation pathway of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii	Lilach Sheiner	Wellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)	217173/Z/19/Z	MVLS - Polyomics Facility
304336		Iron usage in the eukaryotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii	Clare Harding	Wellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)	213455/Z/18/Z	III - Parasitology