TcHRG plays a central role in orchestrating heme uptake in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes

Trypanosoma cruzi, a heme auxotrophic parasite, can control intracellular heme content by modulating TcHRG expression when a free heme source is added to axenic culture. Herein, we explore the role of TcHRG protein in regulating the uptake of heme derived from hemoglobin in epimastigotes. It was found that the parasite’s endogenous TcHRG (protein and mRNA) responds similarly to bound (hemoglobin) and free (hemin) heme. Additionally, the overexpression of TcHRG leads to an increase in intracellular heme content. The localization of TcHRG is also not affected in parasites supplemented with hemoglobin as the sole heme source. Endocytic null epimastigotes do not show a significant difference in growth profile, intracellular heme content and TcHRG protein accumulation compared to WT when feeding with hemoglobin or hemin as a source of heme. These results suggest that the uptake of hemoglobin-derived heme likely occurs through extracellular proteolysis of hemoglobin via the flagellar pocket, and this process is governed by TcHRG. In sum, T. cruzi epimastigotes controls heme homeostasis by modulating TcHRG expression independently of the source of available heme.