Evolutionary analysis identifies a Golgi pathway and correlates lineage-specific factors with endomembrane organelle emergence in apicomplexans

Klinger, Christen M.; Jimenez-Ruiz, Elena; Mourier, Tobias; Klingl, Andreas; Lemgruber, Leandro; Pain, Arnab; Dacks, Joel B.; Meissner, Markus (2024): Evolutionary analysis identifies a Golgi pathway and correlates lineage-specific factors with endomembrane organelle emergence in apicomplexans. Cell Reports, 43 (2): 113740. ISSN 22111247

Abstract

The organelle paralogy hypothesis (OPH) aims to explain the evolution of non-endosymbiotically derived organelles. It predicts that lineage-specific pathways or organelles should result when identity-encoding membrane-trafficking components duplicate and co-evolve. Here, we investigate the presence of such lineage-specific membrane-trafficking machinery paralogs in Apicomplexa, a globally important parasitic lineage. We are able to identify 18 paralogs of known membrane-trafficking machinery, in several cases co-incident with the presence of new endomembrane organelles in apicomplexans or their parent lineage, the Alveolata. Moreover, focused analysis of the apicomplexan Arf-like small GTPases (i.e., ArlX3) revealed a specific post-Golgi trafficking pathway. This pathway appears involved in delivery of proteins to micronemes and rhoptries, with knockdown demonstrating reduced invasion capacity. Overall, our data have identified an unforeseen post-Golgi trafficking pathway in apicomplexans and are consistent with the OPH mechanism acting to produce endomembrane pathways or organelles at various evolutionary stages across the alveolate lineage.

• Doc-Type: Article (LMU)
• Organisational unit (Faculties): 08 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Veterinary Medicine > Institut für Infektionsmedizin und Zoonosen
• DFG subject classification of scientific disciplines: Life sciences
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 434524639
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 491502892