scholarly journals PfAP2-EXP2, an Essential Transcription Factor for the Intraerythrocytic Development of Plasmodium falciparum

Author(s):  
Xiaomin Shang ◽  
Changhong Wang ◽  
Li Shen ◽  
Fei Sheng ◽  
Xiaohui He ◽  
...  

Plasmodium falciparum undergoes a series of asexual replications in human erythrocytes after infection, which are effective targets for combatting malaria. Here, we report roles of an ApiAP2 transcription factor PfAP2-EXP2 (PF3D7_0611200) in the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle of P. falciparum. PfAP2-EXP2 conditional knockdown resulted in an asexual growth defect but without an appreciable effect on parasite morphology. Further ChIP-seq analysis revealed that PfAP2-EXP2 targeted genes related to virulence and interaction between erythrocytes and parasites. Especially, PfAP2-EXP2 regulation of euchromatic genes does not depend on recognizing specific DNA sequences, while a CCCTAAACCC motif is found in its heterochromatic binding sites. Combined with transcriptome profiling, we suggest that PfAP2-EXP2 is participated in the intraerythrocytic development by affecting the expression of genes related to cell remodeling at the schizont stage. In summary, this study explores an ApiAP2 member plays an important role for the P. falciparum blood-stage replication, which suggests a new perspective for malaria elimination.

2017 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Shi Li ◽  
Paul R. Langford ◽  
J. Simon Kroll

ABSTRACT Neisseria meningitidis is a commensal microbe that colonizes the human nasopharynx but occasionally invades the bloodstream to cause life-threatening infection. N. meningitidis MC58 NMB0419 encodes a Sel1-like repeat (SLR)-containing protein, previously implicated in invasion of epithelial cells. A gene-regulatory function was revealed in Escherichia coli expressing plasmid-borne NMB0419 and showing significantly increased epithelial adherence compared to the wild type, due to increased expression of mannose-sensitive type 1 pili. While a meningococcal NMB0419 mutant did not have altered epithelial adherence, in a transcriptome-wide comparison of the wild type and an NMB0419 mutant, a large proportion of genes differentially regulated in the mutant were involved in iron acquisition and metabolism. Fifty-one percent and 38% of genes, respectively, up- and downregulated in the NMB0419 mutant had previously been identified as being induced and repressed by meningococcal Fur. An in vitro growth defect of the NMB0419 mutant under iron restriction was consistent with the downregulation of tbpAB and hmbR, while an intraepithelial replication defect was consistent with the downregulation of tonB, exbB, and exbD, based on a known phenotype of a meningococcal tonB mutant. Disruption of the N-terminal NMB0419 signal peptide, predicted to export the protein beyond the cytoplasmic membrane, resulted in loss of functional traits in N. meningitidis and E. coli. Our study indicates that the expression of NMB0419 is associated with transcriptional changes counterbalancing the regulatory function of Fur, offering a new perspective on regulatory mechanisms involved in meningococcal interaction with epithelial cells, and suggests new insights into the roles of SLR-containing genes in other bacteria.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Jankowska-Döllken ◽  
Cecilia P. Sanchez ◽  
Marek Cyrklaff ◽  
Michael Lanzer

AbstractThe glms ribozyme system has been used as an amenable tool to conditionally control expression of genes of interest. It is generally assumed that insertion of the ribozyme sequence does not affect expression of the targeted gene in the absence of the inducer glucosamine-6-phosphate, although experimental support for this assumption is scarce. Here, we report the unexpected finding that integration of the glms ribozyme sequence in the 3′ untranslated region of a gene encoding a HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase, termed Plasmodium falciparum ubiquitin transferase (PfUT), increased steady state RNA and protein levels 2.5-fold in the human malaria parasite P. falciparum. Overexpression of pfut resulted in an S/M phase-associated lengthening of the parasite’s intraerythrocytic developmental cycle and a reduced merozoite invasion efficiency. The addition of glucosamine partially restored the wild type phenotype. Our study suggests a role of PfUT in controlling cell cycle progression and merozoite invasion. Our study further raises awareness regarding unexpected effects on gene expression when inserting the glms ribozyme sequence into a gene locus.


Author(s):  
David P. Bazett-Jones ◽  
Mark L. Brown

A multisubunit RNA polymerase enzyme is ultimately responsible for transcription initiation and elongation of RNA, but recognition of the proper start site by the enzyme is regulated by general, temporal and gene-specific trans-factors interacting at promoter and enhancer DNA sequences. To understand the molecular mechanisms which precisely regulate the transcription initiation event, it is crucial to elucidate the structure of the transcription factor/DNA complexes involved. Electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) provides the opportunity to visualize individual DNA molecules. Enhancement of DNA contrast with ESI is accomplished by imaging with electrons that have interacted with inner shell electrons of phosphorus in the DNA backbone. Phosphorus detection at this intermediately high level of resolution (≈lnm) permits selective imaging of the DNA, to determine whether the protein factors compact, bend or wrap the DNA. Simultaneously, mass analysis and phosphorus content can be measured quantitatively, using adjacent DNA or tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as mass and phosphorus standards. These two parameters provide stoichiometric information relating the ratios of protein:DNA content.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1328
Author(s):  
Noushin Jahan ◽  
Yang Lv ◽  
Mengqiu Song ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Liangguang Shang ◽  
...  

Salinity is a major abiotic stressor that leads to productivity losses in rice (Oryza sativa L.). In this study, transcriptome profiling and heterosis-related genes were analyzed by ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-Seq) in seedlings of a mega rice hybrid, Liang-You-Pei-Jiu (LYP9), and its two parents 93–11 and Pei-ai64s (PA64s), under control and two different salinity levels, where we found 8292, 8037, and 631 salt-induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Heterosis-related DEGs were obtained higher after 14 days of salt treatment than after 7 days. There were 631 and 4237 salt-induced DEGs related to heterosis under 7-day and 14-day salt stresses, respectively. Gene functional classification showed the expression of genes involved in photosynthesis activity after 7-day stress treatment, and in metabolic and catabolic activity after 14 days. In addition, we correlated the concurrence of an expression of DEGs for the bHLH transcription factor and a shoot length/salinity-related quantitative trait locus qSL7 that we fine-mapped previously, providing a confirmed case of heterosis-related genes. This experiment reveals the transcriptomic divergence of the rice F1 hybrid and its parental lines under control and salt stress state, and enlightens about the significant molecular mechanisms developed over time in response to salt stress.


2021 ◽  
pp. 030098582110063
Author(s):  
Francesco C. Origgi ◽  
Patricia Otten ◽  
Petra Lohmann ◽  
Ursula Sattler ◽  
Thomas Wahli ◽  
...  

A comparative study was carried out on common and agile frogs ( Rana temporaria and R. dalmatina) naturally infected with ranid herpesvirus 3 (RaHV3) and common toads ( Bufo bufo) naturally infected with bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) to investigate common pathogenetic pathways and molecular mechanisms based on macroscopic, microscopic, and ultrastructural pathology as well as evaluation of gene expression. Careful examination of the tissue changes, supported by in situ hybridization, at different stages of development in 6 frogs and 14 toads revealed that the skin lesions are likely transient, and part of a tissue cycle necessary for viral replication in the infected hosts. Transcriptomic analysis, carried out on 2 naturally infected and 2 naïve common frogs ( Rana temporaria) and 2 naturally infected and 2 naïve common toads ( Bufo bufo), revealed altered expression of genes involved in signaling and cell remodeling in diseased animals. Finally, virus transcriptomics revealed that both RaHV3 and BfHV1 had relatively high expression of a putative immunomodulating gene predicted to encode a decoy receptor for tumor necrosis factor in the skin of the infected hosts. Thus, the comparable lesions in infected frogs and toads appear to reflect a concerted epidermal and viral cycle, with presumptive involvement of signaling and gene remodeling host and immunomodulatory viral genes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Sung-Hun Son ◽  
Mi-Kyung Lee ◽  
Ye-Eun Son ◽  
Hee-Soo Park

Homeobox transcription factors are conserved in eukaryotes and act as multi-functional transcription factors in filamentous fungi. Previously, it was demonstrated that HbxB governs fungal development and spore viability in Aspergillus nidulans. Here, the role of HbxB in A. nidulans was further characterized. RNA-sequencing revealed that HbxB affects the transcriptomic levels of genes associated with trehalose biosynthesis and response to thermal, oxidative, and radiation stresses in asexual spores called conidia. A phenotypic analysis found that hbxB deletion mutant conidia were more sensitive to ultraviolet stress. The loss of hbxB increased the mRNA expression of genes associated with β-glucan degradation and decreased the amount of β-glucan in conidia. In addition, hbxB deletion affected the expression of the sterigmatocystin gene cluster and the amount of sterigmatocystin. Overall, these results indicated that HbxB is a key transcription factor regulating trehalose biosynthesis, stress tolerance, β-glucan degradation, and sterigmatocystin production in A.nidulans conidia.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 630
Author(s):  
Yongqing Lan ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Shuangli Mi

Hematopoietic differentiation is a well-orchestrated process by many regulators such as transcription factor and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, due to the large number of lncRNAs and the difficulty in determining their roles, the study of lncRNAs is a considerable challenge in hematopoietic differentiation. Here, through gene co-expression network analysis over RNA-seq data generated from representative types of mouse myeloid cells, we obtained a catalog of potential key lncRNAs in the context of mouse myeloid differentiation. Then, employing a widely used in vitro cell model, we screened a novel lncRNA, named Gdal1 (Granulocytic differentiation associated lncRNA 1), from this list and demonstrated that Gdal1 was required for granulocytic differentiation. Furthermore, knockdown of Cebpe, a principal transcription factor of granulocytic differentiation regulation, led to down-regulation of Gdal1, but not vice versa. In addition, expression of genes involved in myeloid differentiation and its regulation, such as Cebpa, were influenced in Gdal1 knockdown cells with differentiation blockage. We thus systematically identified myeloid differentiation associated lncRNAs and substantiated the identification by investigation of one of these lncRNAs on cellular phenotype and gene regulation levels. This study promotes our understanding of the regulation of myeloid differentiation and the characterization of roles of lncRNAs in hematopoietic system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshaykumar Nayak ◽  
Himani Saxena ◽  
Chandramohan Bathula ◽  
Tarkeshwar Kumar ◽  
Souvik Bhattacharjee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Despite numerous efforts to eradicate the disease, malaria continues to remain one of the most dangerous infectious diseases plaguing the world. In the absence of any effective vaccines and with emerging drug resistance in the parasite against the majority of anti-malarial drugs, the search for new drugs is urgently needed for effective malaria treatment. Methods The goal of the present study was to examine the compound library, based on indoles generated through diversity-oriented synthesis belonging to four different architecture, i.e., 1-aryltetrahydro/dihydro-β-carbolines and piperidine/pyrrolidine-fused indole derivatives, for their in vitro anti-plasmodial activity. Trifluoroacetic acid catalyzed transformation involving tryptamine and various aldehydes/ketones provided the library. Results Among all the compounds screened, 1-aryltetrahydro-β-carbolines 2 and 3 displayed significant anti-plasmodial activity against both the artemisinin-sensitive and artemisinin-resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum. It was observed that these compounds inhibited the overall parasite growth in intra-erythrocytic developmental cycle (IDC) via reactive oxygen species-mediated parasitic death and thus could be potential anti-malarial compounds. Conclusion Overall the compounds 2 and 3 identified in this study shows promising anti-plasmodial activity that can kill both artemisinin-sensitive and artemisinin-resistant strains of P. falciparum.


2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (18) ◽  
pp. 4949-4958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie J. Ellison-Zelski ◽  
Natalia M. Solodin ◽  
Elaine T. Alarid

ABSTRACT Gene expression results from the coordinated actions of transcription factor proteins and coregulators. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that can both activate and repress the expression of genes. Activation of transcription by estrogen-bound ERα has been studied in detail, as has antagonist-induced repression, such as that which occurs by tamoxifen. How estrogen-bound ERα represses gene transcription remains unclear. In this report, we identify a new mechanism of estrogen-induced transcriptional repression by using the ERα gene, ESR1. Upon estrogen treatment, ERα is recruited to two sites on ESR1, one distal (ENH1) and the other at the proximal (A) promoter. Coactivator proteins, namely, p300 and AIB1, are found at both ERα-binding sites. However, recruitment of the Sin3A repressor, loss of RNA polymerase II, and changes in histone modifications occur only at the A promoter. Reduction of Sin3A expression by RNA interference specifically inhibits estrogen-induced repression of ESR1. Furthermore, an estrogen-responsive interaction between Sin3A and ERα is identified. These data support a model of repression wherein actions of ERα and Sin3A at the proximal promoter can overcome activating signals at distal or proximal sites and ultimately decrease gene expression.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document