iScience (Mar 2024)

Trichinella spiralis inhibits myoblast differentiation by targeting SQSTM1/p62 with a secreted E3 ubiquitin ligase

  • Jian da Pang,
  • Xue min Jin,
  • Yi Liu,
  • Zi jian Dong,
  • Jing Ding,
  • Pascal Boireau,
  • Isabelle Vallée,
  • Ming yuan Liu,
  • Ning Xu,
  • Xiao lei Liu

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 3
p. 109102

Abstract

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Summary: Trichinella spiralis infection is associated with the formation of cysts within host skeletal muscle cells, thereby enabling immune evasion and subsequent growth and development; however, the pathogenic factors involved in this process and their mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we found that Ts-RNF secreted by T. spiralis is required for its growth and development in host cells. Further study revealed that Ts-RNF functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets the UBA domain of SQSTM1/p62 by forming K63-type ubiquitin chains. This modification interferes with autophagic flux, leading to impaired mitochondrial clearance and abnormal myotube differentiation and fusion. Our results established that T. spiralis increases its escape by interfering with host autophagy via the secretion of an E3 ubiquitin ligase.

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