Identification of Newly Synthesized Proteins by Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces upon Induction of Strobilation e0004085

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 9; no. 9
• Main Authors: Debarba, João Antonio, Monteiro, Karina Mariante, Moura, Hercules, Barr, John R, Ferreira, Henrique Bunselmeyer, Zaha, Arnaldo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 01-09-2015
• Subjects: Cysts; Disease; Experiments; Gene expression; Labeling; Laboratories; Mass spectrometry; Metabolism; Microscopy; Parasites; Proteins; Scientific imaging; Studies; Tropical diseases; Visualization
• ISSN: 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004085

Background The proteins responsible for the key molecular events leading to the structural changes between the developmental stages of Echinococcus granulosus remain unknown. In this work, azidohomoalanine (AHA)-specific labeling was used to identify proteins expressed by E. granulosus protoscoleces (PSCs) upon the induction of strobilar development. Methodology/Principal Findings The in vitro incorporation of AHA with different tags into newly synthesized proteins (NSPs) by PSCs was analyzed using SDS-PAGE and confocal microscopy. The LC-MS/MS analysis of AHA-labeled NSPs by PSCs undergoing strobilation allowed for the identification of 365 proteins, of which 75 were differentially expressed in comparison between the presence or absence of strobilation stimuli and 51 were expressed exclusively in either condition. These proteins were mainly involved in metabolic, regulatory and signaling processes. Conclusions/Significance After the controlled-labeling of proteins during the induction of strobilar development, we identified modifications in protein expression. The changes in the metabolism and the activation of control and signaling pathways may be important for the correct parasite development and be target for further studies.