scholarly journals Plasmodium vivax Cysteine-Rich Protective Antigen Polymorphism at Exon-1 Shows Recombination and Signatures of Balancing Selection

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Lilia González-Cerón ◽  
José Cebrián-Carmona ◽  
Concepción M. Mesa-Valle ◽  
Federico García-Maroto ◽  
Frida Santillán-Valenzuela ◽  
...  

Plasmodium vivax Cysteine-Rich Protective Antigen (CyRPA) is a merozoite protein participating in the parasite invasion of human reticulocytes. During natural P. vivax infection, antibody responses against PvCyRPA have been detected. In children, low anti-CyRPA antibody titers correlated with clinical protection, which suggests this protein as a potential vaccine candidate. This work analyzed the genetic and amino acid diversity of pvcyrpa in Mexican and global parasites. Consensus coding sequences of pvcyrpa were obtained from seven isolates. Other sequences were extracted from a repository. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees, genetic diversity parameters, linkage disequilibrium (LD), and neutrality tests were analyzed, and the potential amino acid polymorphism participation in B-cell epitopes was investigated. In 22 sequences from Southern Mexico, two synonymous and 21 nonsynonymous mutations defined nine private haplotypes. These parasites had the highest LD-R2 index and the lowest nucleotide diversity compared to isolates from South America or Asia. The nucleotide diversity and Tajima’s D values varied across the coding gene. The exon-1 sequence had greater diversity and Rm values than those of exon-2. Exon-1 had significant positive values for Tajima’s D, β-α values, and for the Z (HA: dN > dS) and MK tests. These patterns were similar for parasites of different origin. The polymorphic amino acid residues at PvCyRPA resembled the conformational B-cell peptides reported in PfCyRPA. Diversity at pvcyrpa exon-1 is caused by mutation and recombination. This seems to be maintained by balancing selection, likely due to selective immune pressure, all of which merit further study.

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1657
Author(s):  
Lana Bitencourt Chaves ◽  
Glaucia de Oliveira Guimarães ◽  
Daiana de Souza Perce-da-Silva ◽  
Dalma Maria Banic ◽  
Paulo Renato Rivas Totino ◽  
...  

The Plasmodium vivax Cysteine-Rich Protective Antigen (PvCyRPA) has an important role in erythrocyte invasion and has been considered a target for vivax malaria vaccine development. Nonetheless, its genetic diversity remains uncharted in Brazilian malaria-endemic areas. Therefore, we investigated the pvcyrpa genetic polymorphism in 98 field isolates from the Brazilian Amazon and its impact on the antigenicity of predicted B-cell epitopes. Genetic diversity parameters, population genetic analysis, neutrality test and the median-joining network were analyzed, and the potential amino acid polymorphism participation in B-cell epitopes was investigated. One synonymous and 26 non-synonymous substitutions defined fifty haplotypes. The nucleotide diversity and Tajima’s D values varied across the coding gene. The exon-1 sequence had greater diversity than those of exon-2. Concerning the prediction analysis, seven sequences were predicted as linear B cell epitopes, the majority contained in conformational epitopes. Moreover, important amino acid polymorphism was detected in regions predicted to contain residues participating in B-cell epitopes. Our data suggest that the pvcyrpa gene presents a moderate polymorphism in the studied isolates and such polymorphisms alter amino acid sequences contained in potential B cell epitopes, an important observation considering the antigen potentiality as a vaccine candidate to cover distinct P. vivax endemic areas worldwide.


2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 715-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzan Guney ◽  
Philippe Bertrand ◽  
Fabrice Jardin ◽  
Philippe Ruminy ◽  
Jean Pierre Kerckaert ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260692
Author(s):  
Jessica Allingham ◽  
Wely B. Floriano

Fertilization in mammals begins with the union of egg and sperm, an event that starts a cascade of cellular processes. The molecular-level understanding of these processes can guide the development of new strategies for controlling and/or promoting fertilization, and inform researchers and medical professional on the best choice of interventions. The proteins encoded by the IZUMO1 and JUNO genes form a ligand-receptor protein pair involved in the recognition of sperm and egg. Due to their role in the fertilization process, these proteins are potential targets for the development of novel anti-contraceptive, as well as infertility treatments. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of these gene sequences, with the objective of identifying evolutionary patterns that may support their relevance as targets for preventing or improving fertility among humans. JUNO and IZUMO1 gene sequences were identified within the genomes of over 2,000 humans sequenced in the 1000 Genomes Project. The human sequences were subjected to analyses of nucleotide diversity, deviation from neutrality of genetic variation, population-based differentiation (FST), haplotype inference, and whole chromosome scanning for signals of positive or of balancing selection. Derived alleles were determined by comparison to archaic hominin and other primate genomes. The potential effect of common non-synonymous variants on protein-protein interaction was also assessed. IZUMO1 displays higher variability among human individuals than JUNO. Genetic differentiation between continental population pairs was within whole-genome estimates for all but the JUNO gene in the African population group with respect to the other 4 population groups (American, East Asian, South Asian, and European). Tajima’s D values demonstrated deviation from neutrality for both genes in comparison to a group of genes identified in the literature as under balancing or positive selection. Tajima’s D for IZUMO1 aligns with values calculated for genes presumed to be under balancing selection, whereas JUNO’s value aligned with genes presumed to be under positive selection. These inferences on selection are both supported by SNP density, nucleotide diversity and haplotype analysis. A JUNO haplotype carrying 3 derived alleles out of 5, one of which is a missense mutation implicated in polyspermy, was found to be significant in a population of African ancestry. Polyspermy has a disadvantageous impact on fertility and its presence in approximately 30% of the population of African ancestry may be associated to a potentially beneficial role of this haplotype. This role has not been established and may be related to a non-reproductive role of JUNO. The high degree of conservation of the JUNO sequence combined with a dominant haplotype across multiple population groups supports JUNO as a potential target for the development of contraceptive treatments. In addition to providing a detailed account of human genetic diversity across these 2 important and related genes, this study also provides a framework for large population-based studies investigating protein-protein interactions at the genome level.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. e0009652
Author(s):  
Sonal Kale ◽  
Veena Pande ◽  
Om P. Singh ◽  
Jane M. Carlton ◽  
Prashant K. Mallick

Plasmodium vivax, a major contributor to the malaria burden in India, has the broadest geographic distribution and shows higher genetic diversity than P. falciparum. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity of two leading P. vivax vaccine candidate antigens, at three geographically diverse malaria-endemic regions in India. Pvama1 and Pvmsp119 partial coding sequences were generated from one hundred P. vivax isolates in India (Chennai n = 28, Nadiad n = 50 and Rourkela n = 22) and ~1100 published sequences from Asia, South America, North America, and Oceania regions included. These data were used to assess the genetic diversity and potential for vaccine candidacy of both antigens on a global scale. A total of 44 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) were identified among 100 Indian Pvama1 sequences, including 10 synonymous and 34 nonsynonymous mutations. Nucleotide diversity was higher in Rourkela and Nadiad as compared to Chennai. Nucleotide diversity measures showed a strong balancing selection in Indian and global population for domain I of Pvama1, which suggests that it is a dominant target of the protective immune response. In contrast, the Pvmsp119 region showed highly conserved sequences in India and across the Oceania, South America, North America and Asia, demonstrating low genetic diversity in the global population when compared to Pvama1. Results suggest the possibility of including Pvmsp119 in a multivalent vaccine formulation against P. vivax infections. However, the high genetic diversity seen in Pvama1 would be more challenging for vaccine development.


1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 3481-3489 ◽  
Author(s):  
D L Bentley ◽  
M Groudine

A new promoter of the human c-myc gene called P0, with multiple RNA start sites, was mapped over 500 bases upstream of the two previously identified promoters, P1 and P2. Sequencing full-length cDNA clones of P0 RNAs revealed two open reading frames upstream of that for the P64c-myc protein. P0 RNA is located on polyribosomes and released by puromycin, indicating that it functions as an mRNA. In vitro translation of RNA synthesized from the cloned cDNAs predicts that P0 transcripts are translated into a novel 12.5-kilodalton protein corresponding to the first open reading frame. The regulation of P0 RNA was studied in the B-cell lymphoma cell line Manca, in which only the translocated c-myc allele lacking exon 1 was thought to be active. However, we found that P0 transcription and the DNase I-hypersensitive site associated with this promoter persist on the untranslocated allele, even though P1/P2 transcription as measured by a nuclear runoff assay was repressed. These results suggest that allelic exclusion of c-myc expression in this B-cell lymphoma is caused by a repression of transcription which is specific to the P1/P2 promoters. We previously reported a block to elongation of transcription near the 3' end of exon 1 in the wild-type c-myc gene, which results in an excess of exon 1 over exon 2 transcription (5a). In contrast, we found that in the Daudi B-cell lymphoma, which retains exon 1 in the active allele, equimolar transcription of exons 1 and 2 occurs. This result suggests a model for the activation of c-myc in B-cell lymphomas.


1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 3481-3489
Author(s):  
D L Bentley ◽  
M Groudine

A new promoter of the human c-myc gene called P0, with multiple RNA start sites, was mapped over 500 bases upstream of the two previously identified promoters, P1 and P2. Sequencing full-length cDNA clones of P0 RNAs revealed two open reading frames upstream of that for the P64c-myc protein. P0 RNA is located on polyribosomes and released by puromycin, indicating that it functions as an mRNA. In vitro translation of RNA synthesized from the cloned cDNAs predicts that P0 transcripts are translated into a novel 12.5-kilodalton protein corresponding to the first open reading frame. The regulation of P0 RNA was studied in the B-cell lymphoma cell line Manca, in which only the translocated c-myc allele lacking exon 1 was thought to be active. However, we found that P0 transcription and the DNase I-hypersensitive site associated with this promoter persist on the untranslocated allele, even though P1/P2 transcription as measured by a nuclear runoff assay was repressed. These results suggest that allelic exclusion of c-myc expression in this B-cell lymphoma is caused by a repression of transcription which is specific to the P1/P2 promoters. We previously reported a block to elongation of transcription near the 3' end of exon 1 in the wild-type c-myc gene, which results in an excess of exon 1 over exon 2 transcription (5a). In contrast, we found that in the Daudi B-cell lymphoma, which retains exon 1 in the active allele, equimolar transcription of exons 1 and 2 occurs. This result suggests a model for the activation of c-myc in B-cell lymphomas.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wely B Floriano ◽  
Jessica Allingham

Fertilization in mammals begins with the union of egg and sperm, an event that starts a cascade of cellular processes. The molecular-level understanding of these processes can guide the development of new strategies for controlling and/or promoting fertilization, and inform researchers and medical professional on the best choice of interventions. The proteins encoded by the IZUMO1 and JUNO genes form a ligand-receptor protein pair involved in the recognition of sperm and egg. Due to their role in the fertilization process, these proteins are potential targets for the development of novel anti-contraceptive, as well as infertility treatments. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of these gene sequences, with the objective of identifying evolutionary patterns that may support their relevance as targets for preventing or improving fertility among humans. JUNO and IZUMO1 gene sequences were identified within the genomes of over 2000 humans sequenced in the 1000 Genomes Project. The human sequences were subjected to analyses of nucleotide diversity, selection neutrality, population-based differentiation (FST), haplotype inference, and whole chromosome scanning for signals of positive or of balancing selection. Derived alleles were determined by comparison to archaic hominin and other primate genomes. The potential effect of common non-synonymous variants on protein-protein interaction was also assessed. IZUMO1 displays higher variability among human individuals than JUNO. Genetic differentiation between continental population pairs was within whole-genome estimates for all but the JUNO gene in the African population group with respect to the other 4 population groups (American, East Asian, South Asian, and European). Tajima's D values demonstrated deviation from neutrality for both genes in comparison to a group of genes identified in the literature as under balancing or positive selection. Tajima's D for IZUMO1 aligns with values calculated for genes presumed to be under balancing selection, whereas JUNO's value aligned with genes presumed to be under positive selection. These inferences on selection are both supported by SNP density, nucleotide diversity and haplotype analysis. A JUNO haplotype carrying 3 derived alleles out of 5, one of which is a missense mutation implicated in polyspermy, was found to be significant in a population of African ancestry. Polyspermy has a disadvantageous impact on fertility and its presence in approximately 30% of the population of African ancestry may be associated to a potentially beneficial role of this haplotype. This role has not been established and may be related to a non-reproductive role of JUNO. The high degree of conservation of the JUNO sequence combined with a dominant haplotype across multiple population groups supports JUNO as a potential target for the development of contraceptive treatments. In addition to providing a detailed account of human genetic diversity across these 2 important and related genes, this study also provides a framework for large population-based studies investigating protein-protein interactions at the genome level.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 888
Author(s):  
Mohammed A. Ibrahim Al-Obaide ◽  
Kalkunte S. Srivenugopal

Background: The therapeutically important DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is silenced by promoter methylation in human brain cancers. The co-players/regulators associated with this process and the subsequent progression of MGMT gene transcription beyond the non-coding exon 1 are unknown. As a follow-up to our recent finding of a predicted second promoter mapped proximal to the exon 2 [Int. J. Mol. Sci.2021, 22(5), 2492], we addressed its significance in MGMT transcription. Methods: RT-PCR, RT q-PCR, and nuclear run-on transcription assays were performed to compare and contrast the transcription rates of exon 1 and exon 2 of the MGMT gene in glioblastoma cells. Results: Bioinformatic characterization of the predicted MGMT exon 2 promoter showed several consensus TATA box and INR motifs and the absence of CpG islands in contrast to the established TATA-less, CpG-rich, and GAF-bindable exon 1 promoter. RT-PCR showed very weak MGMT-E1 expression in MGMT-proficient SF188 and T98G GBM cells, compared to active transcription of MGMT-E2. In the MGMT-deficient SNB-19 cells, the expression of both exons remained weak. The RT q-PCR revealed that MGMT-E2 and MGMT-E5 expression was about 80- to 175-fold higher than that of E1 in SF188 and T98G cells. Nuclear run-on transcription assays using bromo-uridine immunocapture followed by RT q-PCR confirmed the exceptionally lower and higher transcription rates for MGMT-E1 and MGMT-E2, respectively. Conclusions: The results provide the first evidence for transcriptional pausing at the promoter 1- and non-coding exon 1 junction of the human MGMT gene and its activation/elongation through the protein-coding exons 2 through 5, possibly mediated by a second promoter. The findings offer novel insight into the regulation of MGMT transcription in glioma and other cancer types.


Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 863-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmi Kuittinen ◽  
Montserrat Aguadé

AbstractAn ~1.9-kb region encompassing the CHI gene, which encodes chalcone isomerase, was sequenced in 24 worldwide ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. and in 1 ecotype of A. lyrata ssp. petraea. There was no evidence for dimorphism at the CHI region. A minimum of three recombination events was inferred in the history of the sampled ecotypes of the highly selfing A. thaliana. The estimated nucleotide diversity (θTOTAL = 0.004, θSIL = 0.005) was on the lower part of the range of the corresponding estimates for other gene regions. The skewness of the frequency spectrum toward an excess of low-frequency polymorphisms, together with the bell-shaped distribution of pairwise nucleotide differences at CHI, suggests that A. thaliana has recently experienced a rapid population growth. Although this pattern could also be explained by a recent selective sweep at the studied region, results from the other studied loci and from an AFLP survey seem to support the expansion hypothesis. Comparison of silent polymorphism and divergence at the CHI region and at the Adh1 and ChiA revealed in some cases a significant deviation of the direct relationship predicted by the neutral theory, which would be compatible with balancing selection acting at the latter regions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Ajibola ◽  
M. F. Diop ◽  
A. Ghansah ◽  
L. Amenga-Etego ◽  
L. Golassa ◽  
...  

AbstractGenetic diversity of surface exposed and stage specific Plasmodium falciparum immunogenic proteins pose a major roadblock to developing an effective malaria vaccine with broad and long-lasting immunity. We conducted a prospective genetic analysis of candidate antigens (msp1, ama1, rh5, eba175, glurp, celtos, csp, lsa3, Pfsea, trap, conserved chrom3, hyp9, hyp10, phistb, surfin8.2, and surfin14.1) for malaria vaccine development on 2375 P. falciparum sequences from 16 African countries. We described signatures of balancing selection inferred from positive values of Tajima’s D for all antigens across all populations except for glurp. This could be as a result of immune selection on these antigens as positive Tajima’s D values mapped to regions with putative immune epitopes. A less diverse phistb antigen was characterised with a transmembrane domain, glycophosphatidyl anchors between the N and C- terminals, and surface epitopes that could be targets of immune recognition. This study demonstrates the value of population genetic and immunoinformatic analysis for identifying and characterising new putative vaccine candidates towards improving strain transcending immunity, and vaccine efficacy across all endemic populations.


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