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Harnischfeger J, Beutler M, Salzig D, Rahlfs S, Becker K, Grevelding CG, Czermak P. Biochemical characterization of the recombinant schistosome tegumental protein SmALDH_312 produced in E. coli and baculovirus expression vector system. ELECTRON J BIOTECHN 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejbt.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Non-histone protein acetylation by the evolutionarily conserved GCN5 and PCAF acetyltransferases. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2020; 1864:194608. [PMID: 32711095 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2020.194608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
GCN5, conserved from yeast to humans, and the vertebrate specific PCAF, are lysine acetyltransferase enzymes found in large protein complexes. Both enzymes have well documented roles in the histone acetylation and the concomitant regulation of transcription. However, these enzymes also acetylate non-histone substrates to impact diverse aspects of cell physiology. Here, I review our current understanding of non-histone acetylation by GCN5 and PCAF across eukaryotes, from target identification to molecular mechanism and regulation. I focus mainly on budding yeast, where Gcn5 was first discovered, and mammalian systems, where the bulk of non-histone substrates have been characterized. I end the review by defining critical caveats and open questions that apply to all models.
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Liu W. Epigenetics in Schistosomes: What We Know and What We Need Know. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:149. [PMID: 27891322 PMCID: PMC5104962 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes are metazoan parasites and can cause schistosomiasis. Epigenetic modifications include DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs. Some enzymes involved in epigenetic modification and microRNA processes have been developed as drugs to treat the disease. Compared with humans and vertebrates, an in-depth understanding of epigenetic modifications in schistosomes is starting to be realized. DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs play important roles in the development and reproduction of schistosomes and in interactions between the host and schistosomes. Therefore, exploring and investigating the epigenetic modifications in schistosomes will facilitate drug development and therapy for schistosomiasis. Here, we review the role of epigenetic modifications in the development, growth and reproduction of schistosomes, and the interactions between the host and schistosome. We further discuss potential epigenetic targets for drug discovery for the treatment of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Liu
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science Shanghai, China
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Cabezas-Cruz A, Lancelot J, Caby S, Oliveira G, Pierce RJ. Epigenetic control of gene function in schistosomes: a source of therapeutic targets? Front Genet 2014; 5:317. [PMID: 25309576 PMCID: PMC4159997 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of the epigenetic regulation of gene expression has revolutionized both our understanding of how genomes function and approaches to the therapy of numerous pathologies. Schistosomes are metazoan parasites and as such utilize most, if not all the epigenetic mechanisms in play in their vertebrate hosts: histone variants, histone tail modifications, non-coding RNA and, perhaps, DNA methylation. Moreover, we are acquiring an increasing understanding of the ways in which these mechanisms come into play during the complex schistosome developmental program. In turn, interest in the actors involved in epigenetic mechanisms, particularly the enzymes that carry out epigenetic modifications of histones or nucleic acid, as therapeutic targets has been stimulated by the finding that their inhibitors exert profound effects, not only on survival, but also on the reproductive function of Schistosoma mansoni. Here, we review our current knowledge, and what we can infer, about the role of epigenetic mechanisms in schistosome development, differentiation and survival. We will consider which epigenetic actors can be targeted for drug discovery and what strategies can be employed to develop potent, selective inhibitors as drugs to cure schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1019 – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de LilleLille, France
| | - Julien Lancelot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1019 – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de LilleLille, France
| | - Stéphanie Caby
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1019 – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de LilleLille, France
| | - Guilherme Oliveira
- Genomics and Computational Biology Group, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Center for Excellence in Bioinformatics, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, National Institute of Science and Technology in Tropical DiseasesBelo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Raymond J. Pierce
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1019 – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de LilleLille, France
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Carneiro VC, de Abreu da Silva IC, Torres EJL, Caby S, Lancelot J, Vanderstraete M, Furdas SD, Jung M, Pierce RJ, Fantappié MR. Epigenetic changes modulate schistosome egg formation and are a novel target for reducing transmission of schistosomiasis. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004116. [PMID: 24809504 PMCID: PMC4014452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment and control of schistosomiasis relies on the only available drug, praziquantel, and the search for alternative chemotherapeutic agents is therefore urgent. Egg production is required for the transmission and immunopathology of schistosomiasis and females of S. mansoni lay 300 eggs daily. A large fraction of the total mRNA in the mature female worm encodes one eggshell protein, Smp14. We report that the nuclear receptors SmRXR1 and SmNR1 regulate Smp14 transcription through the recruitment of two histone acetyltransferases (HATs), SmGCN5 and SmCBP1. The treatment of HEK293 cells with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (NaB or TSA) produced an 8-fold activation of the SmRXR1/SmNR1-mediated Smp14 promoter activity. Incubation with synthetic HAT inhibitors, including PU139, significantly impaired the Smp14 promoter activity in these cells. Worm pairs cultivated in the presence of PU139 exhibited limited expression of Smp14 mRNA and protein. ChIP analysis demonstrated chromatin condensation at the Smp14 promoter site in worms treated with PU139. ChIP also revealed the presence of H3K27me3 and the absence of RNA Pol II at the Smp14 promoter region in the PU139-treated worms. Most significantly, the PU139-mediated inhibition of Smp14 expression resulted in a significant number of abnormal eggs as well as defective eggs within the ootype. In addition, scanning electron microscopy revealed structural defects and unformed eggshells, and vitelline cell leakage was apparent. The dsRNAi-targeting of SmGCN5 or SmCBP1 significantly decreased Smp14 transcription and protein synthesis, which compromised the reproductive system of mature female worms, egg-laying and egg morphology. Our data strongly suggest that the inhibition of Smp14 expression targeting SmGCN5 and/or SmCBP1 represents a novel and effective strategy to control S. mansoni egg development. Schistosoma mansoni is a parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis, a debilitating disease in Africa and South America. Female worms mated with males produce hundreds of eggs that can reach the environment to propagate the biological cycle, or become trapped in host tissues, triggering inflammation and pathology. Because eggshell formation is a key step in egg development and viability, we have studied the molecular mechanisms of S. mansoni eggshell development, focusing on a major eggshell gene, Smp14. Using a variety of technical and biological approaches, we obtained strong evidence that eggshell formation depends on nuclear receptors and coactivators with chromatin modifying activities, mainly histone acetylation. Inhibition or partial deletion of S. mansoni histone acetyltransferases impaired the expression of Smp14, culminating in a severe negative effect on eggshell formation. Our findings will contribute not only to a better understanding of sex and tissue-specific gene regulation in S. mansoni but also provide an alternative strategy for interfering with the egg production, which might be targeted in novel therapeutics directed against this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Coutinho Carneiro
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Isabel Caetano de Abreu da Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Stephany Caby
- CIIL, INSERM U1019 – CNRS UMR 8204, Université Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Julien Lancelot
- CIIL, INSERM U1019 – CNRS UMR 8204, Université Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- CIIL, INSERM U1019 – CNRS UMR 8204, Université Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Silviya D. Furdas
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Jung
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Raymond J. Pierce
- CIIL, INSERM U1019 – CNRS UMR 8204, Université Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
- * E-mail: (RJP); (MRF)
| | - Marcelo Rosado Fantappié
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- * E-mail: (RJP); (MRF)
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Pierce RJ, Dubois-Abdesselem F, Caby S, Trolet J, Lancelot J, Oger F, Bertheaume N, Roger E. Chromatin regulation in schistosomes and histone modifying enzymes as drug targets. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2012; 106:794-801. [PMID: 22124550 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000700003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2011] [Accepted: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Only one drug is currently available for the treatment and control of schistosomiasis and the increasing risk of selecting strains of schistosome that are resistant to praziquantel means that the development of new drugs is urgent. With this objective we have chosen to target the enzymes modifying histones and in particular the histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Inhibitors of HDACs (HDACi) are under intense study as potential anti-cancer drugs and act via the induction of cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Schistosomes like other parasites can be considered as similar to tumours in that they maintain an intense metabolic activity and rate of cell division that is outside the control of the host. We have shown that HDACi can induce apoptosis and death of schistosomes maintained in culture and have set up a consortium (Schistosome Epigenetics: Targets, Regulation, New Drugs) funded by the European Commission with the aim of developing inhibitors specific for schistosome histone modifying enzymes as novel lead compounds for drug development.
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Mourão MM, Grunau C, LoVerde PT, Jones MK, Oliveira G. Recent advances in Schistosoma genomics. Parasite Immunol 2012; 34:151-62. [PMID: 22145587 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2011.01349.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Schistosome research has entered the genomic era with the publications reporting the Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum genomes. Schistosome genomics is motivated by the need for new control tools. However, much can also be learned about the biology of Schistosoma, which is a tractable experimental model. In this article, we review the recent achievements in the field of schistosome research and discuss future perspectives on genomics and how it can be integrated in a usable format, on the genetic mapping and how it has improved the genome assembly and provided new research approaches, on how epigenetics provides interesting insights into the biology of the species and on new functional genomics tools that will contribute to the understanding of the function of genes, many of which are parasite- or taxon specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Mourão
- Genomics and Computational Biology Group, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Anderson L, Pierce RJ, Verjovski-Almeida S. Schistosoma mansoni histones: From transcription to chromatin regulation; an in silico analysis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2012; 183:105-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2012.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2012] [Revised: 02/29/2012] [Accepted: 03/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Shiosaki S, Kuramoto M, Toita R, Mori T, Niidome T, Katayama Y. A hydrophilic polymer grafted with a histone tail peptide as an artificial gene regulator. Bioorg Med Chem 2011; 19:4101-5. [PMID: 21636282 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2011.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Revised: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 05/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In chromatin, gene transcription is regulated through posttranslational modifications on the histone N-terminal tail sequences, typically an acetyl group modification on lysine residues. To realize a simple model of the gene regulation of chromatin, we designed a hydrophilic polymer grafted with histone H3 tail peptides. The polyplex formed from the polymer and DNA suppressed the gene expression effectively although the polyplex was weaker than the polyplex of poly-L-lysine and DNA. This weaker polyplex afforded the acetylation of the lysine residue of the grafted peptides by histone acetyltransferase. Subsequently, the gene expression was activated due to the relaxation of the polyplex which was brought by a cationic charge decrease in the grafted peptides. This molecular system is the first functional model of the gene regulation of the chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujiro Shiosaki
- Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
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Fantappié MR, Furtado DR, Rumjanek FD, Loverde PT. A unique nuclear receptor direct repeat 17 (DR17) is present within the upstream region of Schistosoma mansoni female-specific p14 gene. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 371:689-93. [PMID: 18455507 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.04.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2008] [Accepted: 04/19/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The eggs produced by sexually mature female Schistosma mansoni are responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease. The eggshell precursor gene p14 is expressed only in the vitelline cells of sexually mature female worms in response to a yet unidentified male stimulus. Herein, we report the identification of a novel nuclear receptor response element in the upstream region of the p14 gene. This element contains the canonical hexameric DNA core motif, 5'-PuGGTCA, composed of an atypically spaced direct repeat (DR17). Schistosome nuclear receptors SmRXR1 and SmNR1 specifically bound to the p14-DR17 element as a heterodimer. SmRXR1, but not SmNR1, bound to the motif as a monomer. Introduction of mutations in the TCA core sequence completely abolished the binding by SmRXR1/SmNR1 heterodimer. This finding supports our hypothesis that the expression of Schistosoma mansonip14 gene is regulated through the nuclear receptor signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Rosado Fantappié
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Programa de Biotecnologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil.
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