A Protein Complex Map of Trypanosoma brucei

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Mar 18;10(3):e0004533. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004533. eCollection 2016 Mar.

Abstract

The functions of the majority of trypanosomatid-specific proteins are unknown, hindering our understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of Trypanosomatida. While protein-protein interactions are highly informative about protein function, a global map of protein interactions and complexes is still lacking for these important human parasites. Here, benefiting from in-depth biochemical fractionation, we systematically interrogated the co-complex interactions of more than 3354 protein groups in procyclic life stage of Trypanosoma brucei, the protozoan parasite responsible for human African trypanosomiasis. Using a rigorous methodology, our analysis led to identification of 128 high-confidence complexes encompassing 716 protein groups, including 635 protein groups that lacked experimental annotation. These complexes correlate well with known pathways as well as for proteins co-expressed across the T. brucei life cycle, and provide potential functions for a large number of previously uncharacterized proteins. We validated the functions of several novel proteins associated with the RNA-editing machinery, identifying a candidate potentially involved in the mitochondrial post-transcriptional regulation of T. brucei. Our data provide an unprecedented view of the protein complex map of T. brucei, and serve as a reliable resource for further characterization of trypanosomatid proteins. The presented results in this study are available at: www.TrypsNetDB.org.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Transcriptome
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / genetics
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins