Anaplasma phagocytophilum AFAP targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosis

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the etiologic agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. During infection, A. phagocytophilum transfers its type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector proteins into host cells to manipulate cellular processes. AFAP (...

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Main Authors: Daxiu Zhang, Lifeng Yu, Hui Tang, Hua Niu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1533640/full
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author Daxiu Zhang
Lifeng Yu
Hui Tang
Hua Niu
Hua Niu
Hua Niu
author_facet Daxiu Zhang
Lifeng Yu
Hui Tang
Hua Niu
Hua Niu
Hua Niu
author_sort Daxiu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the etiologic agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. During infection, A. phagocytophilum transfers its type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector proteins into host cells to manipulate cellular processes. AFAP (an actin filament-associated Anaplasma phagocytophilum protein) was identified as a T4SS effector protein and found to interact with the host nucleolin, as described in a previous study. In this study, proteomic analysis was performed to extensively identify AFAP-interacting proteins in host cells and analyze the potential role of AFAP in modulating host cellular processes. A total of 586 host proteins were identified interacting with AFAP by data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry and annotated to 501 Gene Ontology (GO) terms, with the significantly over-represented ones related to ribosomes, nucleolus, DNA binding, and rRNA metabolic process. Given the role of the nucleolus in cellular stress response, the targeting of AFAP to the nucleolus, and the identification of dozens of AFAP-interacting proteins that were annotated to the GO term (GO:0072331, signal transduction by p53 class mediator), the role of AFAP in modulating host apoptosis was determined. AFAP was found capable of inhibiting induced apoptosis. Thus, the proteomic analysis of AFAP-interacting proteins and determination of AFAP with anti-apoptotic activity may help elucidate the role of this T4SS effector protein in HGA pathogenesis.
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spelling doaj-art-19be66e80a984feba6a01e58fe7374302025-01-07T06:46:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-01-011510.3389/fmicb.2024.15336401533640Anaplasma phagocytophilum AFAP targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosisDaxiu Zhang0Lifeng Yu1Hui Tang2Hua Niu3Hua Niu4Hua Niu5Clinical Laboratory Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, ChinaClinical Laboratory Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, ChinaClinical Laboratory Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, ChinaLaboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi, ChinaGuangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, ChinaAnaplasma phagocytophilum, the etiologic agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. During infection, A. phagocytophilum transfers its type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector proteins into host cells to manipulate cellular processes. AFAP (an actin filament-associated Anaplasma phagocytophilum protein) was identified as a T4SS effector protein and found to interact with the host nucleolin, as described in a previous study. In this study, proteomic analysis was performed to extensively identify AFAP-interacting proteins in host cells and analyze the potential role of AFAP in modulating host cellular processes. A total of 586 host proteins were identified interacting with AFAP by data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry and annotated to 501 Gene Ontology (GO) terms, with the significantly over-represented ones related to ribosomes, nucleolus, DNA binding, and rRNA metabolic process. Given the role of the nucleolus in cellular stress response, the targeting of AFAP to the nucleolus, and the identification of dozens of AFAP-interacting proteins that were annotated to the GO term (GO:0072331, signal transduction by p53 class mediator), the role of AFAP in modulating host apoptosis was determined. AFAP was found capable of inhibiting induced apoptosis. Thus, the proteomic analysis of AFAP-interacting proteins and determination of AFAP with anti-apoptotic activity may help elucidate the role of this T4SS effector protein in HGA pathogenesis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1533640/fullAnaplasma phagocytophilumtype IV secretion systemproteomic analysisapoptosisnucleolus
spellingShingle Daxiu Zhang
Lifeng Yu
Hui Tang
Hua Niu
Hua Niu
Hua Niu
Anaplasma phagocytophilum AFAP targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosis
Frontiers in Microbiology
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
type IV secretion system
proteomic analysis
apoptosis
nucleolus
title Anaplasma phagocytophilum AFAP targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosis
title_full Anaplasma phagocytophilum AFAP targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosis
title_fullStr Anaplasma phagocytophilum AFAP targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosis
title_full_unstemmed Anaplasma phagocytophilum AFAP targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosis
title_short Anaplasma phagocytophilum AFAP targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosis
title_sort anaplasma phagocytophilum afap targets the host nucleolus and inhibits induced apoptosis
topic Anaplasma phagocytophilum
type IV secretion system
proteomic analysis
apoptosis
nucleolus
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1533640/full
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