Genome Biology and Evolution
Genome Biology and Evolution
5 years ago

Genomic and proteomic evidence for the presence of a peroxisome in the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii and other Coccidia.

Daniel Moog, Uwe G Maier, Jude M Przyborski
Apicomplexans are successful parasites responsible for severe human diseases including malaria, toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis. For many years it has been discussed whether these parasites are in possession of peroxisomes, highly variable eukaryotic organelles usually involved in fatty acid degradation and cellular detoxification. Conflicting experimental data has been published. With the age of genomics, ever more high quality apicomplexan genomes have become available, that now allow a new assessment of the dispute. Here we provide bioinformatic evidence for the presence of peroxisomes in T. gondii and other coccidians. For these organisms we have identified a complete set of peroxins, probably responsible for peroxisome biogenesis, division and protein import. Moreover via a global screening for peroxisomal targeting signals, we were able to show that a complete set of fatty acid β-oxidation enzymes is equipped with either PTS1 or PTS2 sequences, most likely mediating transport of these factors to putative peroxisomes in all investigated Coccidia. Our results further imply a life cycle stage-specific presence of peroxisomes in T. gondii and suggest several independent losses of peroxisomes during the evolution of apicomplexan parasites.

Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evx231

DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx231

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