Identification of Giardia lamblia DHHC proteins and the role of protein S-palmitoylation in the encystation process.

ABSTRACT: Protein S-palmitoylation, a hydrophobic post-translational modification, is performed by protein acyltransferases that have a common DHHC Cys-rich domain (DHHC proteins), and provides a regulatory switch for protein membrane association. In this work, we analyzed the presence of DHHC proteins in the protozoa parasite Giardia lamblia and the function of the reversible S-palmitoylation of proteins during parasite differentiation into cyst. Two specific events were observed: encysting cells displayed a larger amount of palmitoylated proteins, and parasites treated with palmitoylation inhibitors produced a reduced number of mature cysts. With bioinformatics tools, we found nine DHHC proteins, potential protein acyltransferases, in the Giardia proteome. These proteins displayed a conserved stru

SUBMITTER: Merino MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4109852 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature