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Transmissible stages of Toxoplasma gondii store energy in the form of the carbohydrate amylopectin. Here, we show that the Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase CDPK2 is a critical regulator of amylopectin metabolism. Increased synthesis and loss of degradation of amylopectin in CDPK2 deficient parasites results in the hyperaccumulation of this sugar polymer. A carbohydrate-binding module 20 (CBM20) targets CDPK2 to amylopectin stores, while the EF-hands regulate CDPK2 kinase activity in response to Ca(2+) to modulate amylopectin levels. We identify enzymes involved in amylopectin turnover whose phosphorylation is dependent on CDPK2 activity. Strikingly, accumulation of massive amylopectin granules in CDPK2-deficient bradyzoite stages leads to gross morphological defects and complete ablation of cyst formation in a mouse model. Together these data show that Ca(2+) signaling regulates carbohydrate metabolism in Toxoplasma and that the post-translational control of this pathway is required for normal cyst development.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.chom.2015.11.004

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cell Host Microbe

Publication Date

09/12/2015

Volume

18

Pages

670 - 681

Keywords

Amylopectin, Animals, Calcium, Calcium-Binding Proteins, Cell Survival, Gene Deletion, Mice, Protein Kinases, Protozoan Proteins, Spores, Protozoan, Toxoplasma, Toxoplasmosis, Animal, Virulence