Analogs of the Golgi complex in microsporidia: structure and avesicular mechanisms of function

J Cell Sci. 2007 Apr 1;120(Pt 7):1288-98. doi: 10.1242/jcs.03402. Epub 2007 Mar 13.

Abstract

Microsporidia are obligatory intracellular parasites, most species of which live in the host cell cytosol. They synthesize and then transport secretory proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane for formation of the spore wall and the polar tube for cell invasion. However, microsporidia do not have a typical Golgi complex. Here, using quick-freezing cryosubstitution and chemical fixation, we demonstrate that the Golgi analogs of the microsporidia Paranosema (Antonospora) grylli and Paranosema locustae appear as 300-nm networks of thin (25- to 40-nm diameter), branching or varicose tubules that display histochemical features of a Golgi, but that do not have vesicles. Vesicles are not formed even if membrane fusion is inhibited. These tubular networks are connected to the endoplasmic reticulum, the plasma membrane and the forming polar tube, and are positive for Sec13, gammaCOP and analogs of giantin and GM130. The spore-wall and polar-tube proteins are transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the target membranes through these tubular networks, within which they undergo concentration and glycosylation. We suggest that the intracellular transport of secreted proteins in microsporidia occurs by a progression mechanism that does not involve the participation of vesicles generated by coat proteins I and II.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COP-Coated Vesicles / metabolism
  • COP-Coated Vesicles / ultrastructure
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / ultrastructure
  • Fat Body / microbiology
  • Fat Body / ultrastructure
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Golgi Apparatus / ultrastructure
  • Gryllidae / anatomy & histology
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Life Cycle Stages*
  • Microsporidia / classification
  • Microsporidia / growth & development*
  • Microsporidia / metabolism*
  • Microsporidia / pathogenicity
  • Microsporidia / physiology
  • Microsporidia / ultrastructure
  • Microsporidiosis / microbiology
  • Species Specificity