scholarly journals Protein methyltransferase 7 deficiency in Leishmania major increases neutrophil associated pathology in murine model

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. e0009230
Author(s):  
Juliana Alcoforado Diniz ◽  
Mariana M. Chaves ◽  
Slavica Vaselek ◽  
Rubens D. Miserani Magalhães ◽  
Rafael Ricci-Azevedo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Parasite Development ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Phlebotomus Duboscqi ◽  
The Impact

Leishmania major is the main causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World. In Leishmania parasites, the lack of transcriptional control is mostly compensated by post-transcriptional mechanisms. Methylation of arginine is a conserved post-translational modification executed by Protein Arginine Methyltransferase (PRMTs). The genome from L. major encodes five PRMT homologs, including the cytosolic protein associated with several RNA-binding proteins, LmjPRMT7. It has been previously reported that LmjPRMT7 could impact parasite infectivity. In addition, a more recent work has clearly shown the importance of LmjPRMT7 in RNA-binding capacity and protein stability of methylation targets, demonstrating the role of this enzyme as an important epigenetic regulator of mRNA metabolism. In this study, we unveil the impact of PRMT7-mediated methylation on parasite development and virulence. Our data reveals that higher levels of LmjPRMT7 can impair parasite pathogenicity, and that deletion of this enzyme rescues the pathogenic phenotype of an attenuated strain of L. major. Interestingly, lesion formation caused by LmjPRMT7 knockout parasites is associated with an exacerbated inflammatory reaction in the tissue correlated with an excessive neutrophil recruitment. Moreover, the absence of LmjPRMT7 also impairs parasite development within the sand fly vector Phlebotomus duboscqi. Finally, a transcriptome analysis shed light onto possible genes affected by depletion of this enzyme. Taken together, this study highlights how post-transcriptional regulation can affect different aspects of the parasite biology.

scholarly journals PRMT7 regulates RNA-binding capacity and protein stability in Leishmania parasites

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 5511-5526
Author(s):  
Tiago R Ferreira ◽  
Adam A Dowle ◽  
Ewan Parry ◽  
Eliza V C Alves-Ferreira ◽  
Karen Hogg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Modification ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Mrna Metabolism

Abstract RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are the primary gene regulators in kinetoplastids as transcriptional control is nearly absent, making Leishmania an exceptional model for investigating methylation of non-histone substrates. Arginine methylation is an evolutionarily conserved protein modification catalyzed by Protein aRginine Methyl Transferases (PRMTs). The chromatin modifier PRMT7 is the only Type III PRMT found in higher eukaryotes and a restricted number of unicellular eukaryotes. In Leishmania major, PRMT7 is a cytoplasmic protein implicit in pathogenesis with unknown substrates. Using comparative methyl-SILAC proteomics for the first time in protozoa, we identified 40 putative targets, including 17 RBPs hypomethylated upon PRMT7 knockout. PRMT7 can modify Alba3 and RBP16 trans-regulators (mammalian RPP25 and YBX2 homologs, respectively) as direct substrates in vitro. The absence of PRMT7 levels in vivo selectively reduces Alba3 mRNA-binding capacity to specific target transcripts and can impact the relative stability of RBP16 in the cytoplasm. RNA immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrate PRMT7-dependent methylation promotes Alba3 association with select target transcripts and thus indirectly stabilizes mRNA of a known virulence factor, δ-amastin surface antigen. These results highlight a novel role for PRMT7-mediated arginine methylation of RBP substrates, suggesting a regulatory pathway controlling gene expression and virulence in Leishmania. This work introduces Leishmania PRMTs as epigenetic regulators of mRNA metabolism with mechanistic insight into the functional manipulation of RBPs by methylation.

scholarly journals Post-translational epigenetics: PRMT7 regulates RNA-binding capacity and protein stability to controlLeishmaniaparasite virulence

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago R. Ferreira ◽  
Adam A. Dowle ◽  
Ewan Parry ◽  
Eliza V. C. Alves-Ferreira ◽  
Foteini Kolokousi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Modification ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases

ABSTRACTRNA binding proteins (RBPs) are the primary gene regulators in kinetoplastids as transcriptional control is nearly absent, makingLeishmaniaan exceptional model for investigating methylation of non-histone substrates. Arginine methylation is an evolutionarily conserved protein modification catalyzed by Protein aRginine MethylTransferases (PRMTs). The chromatin modifier PRMT7 is the only Type III PRMT found in higher eukaryotes and a restricted number of unicellular eukaryotes. InLeishmania major, PRMT7 is a cytoplasmic protein implicit in pathogenesis with unknown substrates. Using comparative methyl-SILAC proteomics for the first time in protozoa, we identified 40 putative targets, including 17 RBPs hypomethylated upon PRMT7 knockout. PRMT7 can modify Alba3 and RBP16trans-regulators (mammalian RPP25 and YBX2 homologs, respectively) as direct substratesin vitro. The absence of PRMT7 levelsin vivoselectively reduces Alba3 mRNA-binding capacity to specific target transcripts and can impact the relative stability of RBP16 in the cytoplasm. RNA immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrate PRMT7-dependent methylation promotes Alba3 association with select target transcripts and stability ofδ-amastinsurface antigen. These results highlight a novel role for PRMT7-mediated arginine methylation upon RBP substrates, suggesting a regulatory pathway controlling gene expression and virulence inLeishmania. This work introducesLeishmaniaPRMTs as epigenetic regulators of mRNA metabolism with mechanistic insight into the functional manipulation of RBPs by methylation.

scholarly journals A global screening identifies chromatin-enriched RNA-binding proteins and the transcriptional regulatory activity of QKI5 during monocytic differentiation

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Ren ◽  
Yue Huo ◽  
Weiqian Li ◽  
Manman He ◽  
Siqi Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Transcriptional Activator ◽  
Monocytic Differentiation ◽  
Global Localization ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory

Abstract Background Cellular RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have multiple roles in post-transcriptional control, and some are shown to bind DNA. However, the global localization and the general chromatin-binding ability of RBPs are not well-characterized and remain undefined in hematopoietic cells. Results We first provide a full view of RBPs’ distribution pattern in the nucleus and screen for chromatin-enriched RBPs (Che-RBPs) in different human cells. Subsequently, by generating ChIP-seq, CLIP-seq, and RNA-seq datasets and conducting combined analysis, the transcriptional regulatory potentials of certain hematopoietic Che-RBPs are predicted. From this analysis, quaking (QKI5) emerges as a potential transcriptional activator during monocytic differentiation. QKI5 is over-represented in gene promoter regions, independent of RNA or transcription factors. Furthermore, DNA-bound QKI5 activates the transcription of several critical monocytic differentiation-associated genes, including CXCL2, IL16, and PTPN6. Finally, we show that the differentiation-promoting activity of QKI5 is largely dependent on CXCL2, irrespective of its RNA-binding capacity. Conclusions Our study indicates that Che-RBPs are versatile factors that orchestrate gene expression in different cellular contexts, and identifies QKI5, a classic RBP regulating RNA processing, as a novel transcriptional activator during monocytic differentiation.

scholarly journals Regulation of Translation in the Protozoan Parasite Leishmania

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2981
Author(s):  
Zemfira N. Karamysheva ◽  
Sneider Alexander Gutierrez Guarnizo ◽  
Andrey L. Karamyshev
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Translational Machinery

Leishmaniasis represents a serious health problem worldwide and drug resistance is a growing concern. Leishmania parasites use unusual mechanisms to control their gene expression. In contrast to many other species, they do not have transcriptional regulation. The lack of transcriptional control is mainly compensated by post-transcriptional mechanisms, including tight translational control and regulation of mRNA stability/translatability by RNA-binding proteins. Modulation of translation plays a major role in parasite survival and adaptation to dramatically different environments during change of host; however, our knowledge of fine molecular mechanisms of translation in Leishmania remains limited. Here, we review the current progress in our understanding of how changes in the translational machinery promote parasite differentiation during transmission from a sand fly to a mammalian host, and discuss how translational reprogramming can contribute to the development of drug resistance.

scholarly journals Repeated Sand Fly Bites of Infected BALB/c Mice Enhance the Development of Leishmania Lesions

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbora Vojtkova ◽  
Daniel Frynta ◽  
Tatiana Spitzova ◽  
Tereza Lestinova ◽  
Jan Votypka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Skin Infection ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Parasite Development ◽  
Cutaneous Lesions ◽  
Local Skin ◽  
Vector Interaction ◽  
Phlebotomus Duboscqi ◽  
Protection Against Infection

Sand fly saliva has considerable immunomodulatory effects on Leishmania infections in mammalian hosts. Studies on several Leishmania – sand fly - host combinations have demonstrated that co-inoculation with Leishmania parasites enhances pathogenicity, while pre-exposure of hosts to sand fly bites provides significant protection against infection. However, the third scenario, the effect of sand fly saliva on parasite development in hosts infected before exposure to sand flies, remains an understudied aspect of Leishmania–host–vector interaction. Here we studied the effect of exposure of L. major-infected BALB/c mice to repeated sand fly bites. Mice infected intradermally with sand fly-derived Leishmania were repeatedly bitten by Phlebotomus duboscqi females every two weeks. The lesion development was recorded weekly for ten weeks post-infection and parasite load and distribution in various organs were tested post mortem using qPCR. Repeated sand fly bites significantly enhanced the development of cutaneous lesions; they developed faster and reached larger size than in unexposed mice. Multiple sand fly bites also increased parasites load in inoculated ears. On the other hand, the distribution of parasites in mice body and their infectiousness to vectors did not differ significantly between groups. Our study provides the first evidence that multiple and repeated exposures of infected BALB/c mice to sand fly bites significantly enhance the progress of local skin infection caused by Leishmania major and increase tissue parasite load, but do not affect the visceralization of parasites. This finding appeals to adequate protection of infected humans from sand fly bites, not only to prevent transmission but also to prevent enlarged lesions.

scholarly journals Current insights into the implications of m6A RNA methylation and autophagy interaction in human diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuechai Chen ◽  
Jianan Wang ◽  
Muhammad Tahir ◽  
Fangfang Zhang ◽  
Yuanyuan Ran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Rna Modification ◽  
Rna Methylation ◽  
M6a Rna Methylation ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAutophagy is a conserved degradation process crucial to maintaining the primary function of cellular and organismal metabolism. Impaired autophagy could develop numerous diseases, including cancer, cardiomyopathy, neurodegenerative disorders, and aging. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common RNA modification in eukaryotic cells, and the fate of m6A modified transcripts is controlled by m6A RNA binding proteins. m6A modification influences mRNA alternative splicing, stability, translation, and subcellular localization. Intriguingly, recent studies show that m6A RNA methylation could alter the expression of essential autophagy-related (ATG) genes and influence the autophagy function. Thus, both m6A modification and autophagy could play a crucial role in the onset and progression of various human diseases. In this review, we summarize the latest studies describing the impact of m6A modification in autophagy regulation and discuss the role of m6A modification-autophagy axis in different human diseases, including obesity, heart disease, azoospermatism or oligospermatism, intervertebral disc degeneration, and cancer. The comprehensive understanding of the m6A modification and autophagy interplay may help in interpreting their impact on human diseases and may aid in devising future therapeutic strategies.

scholarly journals RNA-Binding Proteins HuB, HuC, and HuD are Distinctly Regulated in Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons from STZ-Sensitive Compared to STZ-Resistant Diabetic Mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cosmin Cătălin Mustăciosu ◽  
Adela Banciu ◽  
Călin Mircea Rusu ◽  
Daniel Dumitru Banciu ◽  
Diana Savu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Dorsal Root Ganglia ◽  
Dorsal Root ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Diabetic Mice

The neuron-specific Elav-like Hu RNA-binding proteins were described to play an important role in neuronal differentiation and plasticity by ensuring the post-transcriptional control of RNAs encoding for various proteins. Although Elav-like Hu proteins alterations were reported in diabetes or neuropathy, little is known about the regulation of neuron-specific Elav-like Hu RNA-binding proteins in sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) due to the diabetic condition. The goal of our study was to analyze the gene and protein expression of HuB, HuC, and HuD in DRG sensory neurons in diabetes. The diabetic condition was induced in CD-1 adult male mice with single-intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 150 mg/kg), and 8-weeks (advanced diabetes) after induction was quantified the Elav-like proteins expression. Based on the glycemia values, we identified two types of responses to STZ, and mice were classified in STZ-resistant (diabetic resistant, glycemia < 260 mg/dL) and STZ-sensitive (diabetic, glycemia > 260 mg/dL). Body weight measurements indicated that 8-weeks after STZ-induction of diabetes, control mice have a higher increase in body weight compared to the diabetic and diabetic resistant mice. Moreover, after 8-weeks, diabetic mice (19.52 ± 3.52 s) have longer paw withdrawal latencies in the hot-plate test than diabetic resistant (11.36 ± 1.92 s) and control (11.03 ± 1.97 s) mice, that correlates with the installation of warm hypoalgesia due to the diabetic condition. Further on, we evidenced the decrease of Elav-like gene expression in DRG neurons of diabetic mice (Elavl2, 0.68 ± 0.05 fold; Elavl3, 0.65 ± 0.01 fold; Elavl4, 0.53 ± 0.07 fold) and diabetic resistant mice (Ealvl2, 0.56 ± 0.07 fold; Elavl3, 0.32 ± 0.09 fold) compared to control mice. Interestingly, Elav-like genes have a more accentuated downregulation in diabetic resistant than in diabetic mice, although hypoalgesia was evidenced only in diabetic mice. The Elav-like gene expression changes do not always correlate with the Hu protein expression changes. To detail, HuB is upregulated and HuD is downregulated in diabetic mice, while HuB, HuC, and HuD are downregulated in diabetic resistant mice compared to control mice. To resume, we demonstrated HuD downregulation and HuB upregulation in DRG sensory neurons induced by diabetes, which might be correlated with altered post-transcriptional control of RNAs involved in the regulation of thermal hypoalgesia condition caused by the advanced diabetic neuropathy.

scholarly journals Post-transcriptional control of executioner caspases by RNA-binding proteins

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (19) ◽  
pp. 2213-2225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deni Subasic ◽  
Thomas Stoeger ◽  
Seline Eisenring ◽  
Ana M. Matia-González ◽  
Jochen Imig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Executioner Caspases

scholarly journals A Plasmodium yoelii Mei2-Like RNA Binding Protein Is Essential for Completion of Liver Stage Schizogony

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1336-1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorender A. Dankwa ◽  
Marshall J. Davis ◽  
Stefan H. I. Kappe ◽  
Ashley M. Vaughan
Keyword(s):  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Parasite Development ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Liver Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stage Development

Plasmodiumparasites employ posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms as their life cycle transitions between host cell invasion and replication within both the mosquito vector and mammalian host. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) provide one mechanism for modulation of RNA function. To explore the role ofPlasmodiumRBPs during parasite replication, we searched for RBPs that might play a role during liver stage development, the parasite stage that exhibits the most extensive growth and replication. We identified a parasite ortholog of theMei2(Meiosisinhibited 2) RBP that is conserved amongPlasmodiumspecies (PlasMei2) and exclusively transcribed in liver stage parasites. Epitope-taggedPlasmodium yoeliiPlasMei2 was expressed only during liver stage schizogony and showed an apparent granular cytoplasmic location. Knockout ofPlasMei2(plasmei2−) inP. yoeliionly affected late liver stage development. TheP. yoeliiplasmei2−liver stage size increased progressively until late in development, similar to wild-type parasite development. However,P. yoeliiplasmei2−liver stage schizonts exhibited an abnormal DNA segregation phenotype and failed to form exoerythrocytic merozoites. Consequently the cellular integrity ofP. yoeliiplasmei2−liver stages became increasingly compromised late in development and the majority ofP. yoeliiplasmei2−underwent cell death by the time wild-type liver stages mature and release merozoites. This resulted in a complete block ofP. yoeliiplasmei2−transition from liver stage to blood stage infection in mice. Our results show for the first time the importance of aPlasmodiumRBP in the coordinated progression of late liver stage schizogony and maturation of new invasive forms.

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