Characterization of lysine acetylation in Toxoplasma gondii proteome lacking acetyl-CoA transporter 1 (AT1).

Acetyl-CoA participates in post-translational modification of proteins, central carbon and lipid metabolism in several cell compartments. In mammals, the acetyl-CoA transporter 1 (AT1) facilitates the flux of cytosolic acetyl-CoA into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), enabling the acetylation of proteins of the secretory pathway, in concert with dedicated acetyltransferases including Nat8. However, the implication of the ER acetyl-CoA pool in acetylation of ER-transiting proteins and their relevance throughout the parasites’ life cycle is unknown. Here, we evaluated the impact of blocking putative cytosolic acetyl-CoA import on acetylation of proteins through KO of the homologue of AT1 in the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.