Biochemical characterization of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit-like protein from Trypanosoma equiperdum, detection of its inhibitory activity, and identification of potential interacting proteins

Abstract

An enriched fraction of an inhibitor of both the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) from pig heart and a Trypanosoma equiperdum PKA catalytic subunit-like protein (TeqC-like) was obtained from the soluble fraction of T. equiperdum parasites after three consecutive purification steps: sedimentation through a linear 5–20% sucrose gradient, diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose anion-exchange chromatography, and Bio-Sil Sec-400-S size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. The inhibitor was identified as the T. equiperdum PKA regulatory subunit-like protein (TeqR-like) on the basis of Western blot and mass spectrometry analyses, and behaved as an uncompetitive or anti-competitive inhibitor of the parasite TeqC-like protein, with respect to a fluorescently labeled substrate (kemptide, sequence: LRRASLG), showing a Ki of 1.17 μM. The isolated protein possesses a molecular mass of 57.54 kDa, a Stokes radius of 3.64 nm, and a slightly asymmetric shape with a frictional ratio f/fo = 1.43. As revealed during the purification steps and by immunoprecipitation experiments, the TeqR-like and TeqC-like proteins were not associated forming a heterooligomeric complex, differing from traditional PKA subunits. Co-immunoprecipitation results followed by mass spectrometry sequencing identified two isoforms of the parasite heat-shock protein 70, α-tubulin, and β-tubulin as candidates that interact with the TeqR-like protein in T. equiperdum.