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Díaz-Pérez L, Salusso A, Patolsky R, Mayol G, Quassollo G, Feliziani C, Touz MC, Rópolo AS. Lysine methyltransferase 2 plays a key role in the encystation process in the parasite Giardia lamblia. Acta Trop 2024; 257:107295. [PMID: 38906362 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Histone post-translational modifications are extensively studied for their role in regulating gene transcription and cellular environmental adaptation. Research into these modifications has recently begun in the protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia, focusing on histone-modifying enzymes and specific post-translational changes. In the transformation from the trophozoite to the cyst form in the life cycle of this parasite, significant morphological and genetic alterations occur, culminating in the synthesis of cyst wall proteins responsible for forming the protective cyst wall. It has been previously demonstrated that histone deacetylation is required during encystation and that the enzyme lysine methyltransferase 1 is involved in the upregulation of encystation. Our study aims to extend the analysis to lysine methyltransferase 2 (GlKMT2) function. For this, two constructs were generated: one that downregulate the expression of GLKMT2 via antisense (glkmt2-as transgenic cells) and the other overexpressing GlKMT2 (glkmt2-ha transgenic cells). We found that the glktm2-as transgenic cells showed an arrest in progress at the late encystation stage. Consequently, the number of cysts produced was lower than that of the control cells. On the other hand, we found that the overexpression of GlKMT2 acts as a negative mutant of the enzyme. In this way, these glktm2-ha transgenic cells showed the same behavior during growth and encystation as glkmt2-as transgenic cells. This interplay between different enzymes acting during encystation reveals the complex process behind the differentiation of the parasite. Understanding how these enzymes play their role during the encystation of the parasite would allow the design of inhibitors to control the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Díaz-Pérez
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Agostina Salusso
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Rocío Patolsky
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo Mayol
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (FCEyN-UBA) - Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN) CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo Quassollo
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Constanza Feliziani
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María Carolina Touz
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrea S Rópolo
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
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León E, Ortiz V, Pérez A, Téllez J, Díaz GJ, Ramírez H MH, Contreras R LE. Anti-SpCas9 IgY Polyclonal Antibodies Production for CRISPR Research Use. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:33809-33818. [PMID: 37744827 PMCID: PMC10515394 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas adaptative immune system has been harnessed as an RNA-guided, programmable genome editing tool, allowing for diverse biotechnological applications. The implementation of the system relies on the ability to detect the Cas9 protein in biological samples. This task is facilitated by employing antibodies, which exhibit several advantageous features and applications in the context of tropical neglected diseases. This study reports a one-month immunization scheme with the Cas9 protein fromStreptococcus pyogenes to produce IgY polyclonal antibodies (anti-SpCas9), which can be rapidly isolated by combining yolk de-lipidation with protein salting out using pectin and ammonium sulfate, respectively. Immunodetection assays indicate that the antibodies are highly sensitive, specific, and useful for detecting the SpCas9 protein in promastigotes ofLeishmania braziliensisexpressing exogenous SpCas9. Thus, the simple method for producing anti-SpCas9 IgY antibodies will accelerate CRISPR/Cas-based studies in Leishmania spp. This approach serves as a valuable research tool in this parasite model and holds the potential for wide application in various other biological samples, promoting the implementation of the system. In fact, a bioinformatics approach based on the identification of antigenic determinants in the SpCas9 protein suggests the possibility of using the anti-SpCas9 IgY antibodies in applications such as Prime and Base editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban León
- Facultad
de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111311 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Valentina Ortiz
- Facultad
de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111311 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alexander Pérez
- Facultad
de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111311 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jair Téllez
- Escuela
de Pregrado, Dirección Académica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 202017 sede La Paz, Colombia
| | - Gonzalo J. Díaz
- Facultad
de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Laboratorio de Toxicología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111311 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María H. Ramírez H
- Facultad
de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111311 Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luis E. Contreras R
- Facultad
de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111311 Bogotá, Colombia
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Lagunas-Rangel FA, Yee J, Bazán-Tejeda ML, García-Villa E, Bermúdez-Cruz RM. Sirtuin GdSir2.4 participates in the regulation of rRNA transcription in the Giardia duodenalis parasite. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:1039-1053. [PMID: 33665906 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Giardia duodenalis is a parasite of great medical interest due to the number of infections it causes worldwide each year. Although research on epigenetic mechanisms in this protist has only begun recently, epigenetic regulation has already been shown to have important roles in encystation, antigenic variation, and resistance to antibiotics in Giardia. In this work, we show that a Giardia ortholog of Sir2, GdSir2.4, is involved in the silencing of rRNA expression. Our results demonstrate that GdSir2.4 localizes to the nucleolus, and its binding to the intergenic spacer region of the rDNA is associated with the deacetylation of the chromatin in this region. Given the importance of the regulation of rRNA expression to maintain adequate levels of ribosomes and genomic stability within the cells, GdSir2.4 can be considered a target to create new therapeutic agents against this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Alejandro Lagunas-Rangel
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Janet Yee
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - María Luisa Bazán-Tejeda
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Enrique García-Villa
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosa María Bermúdez-Cruz
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
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Morales Herrera DS, Contreras Rodríguez LE, Rubiano Castellanos CC, Ramírez Hernández MH. Identification and sub-cellular localization of a NAD transporter in Leishmania braziliensis ( LbNDT1). Heliyon 2020; 6:e04331. [PMID: 32671255 PMCID: PMC7350145 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is one of the central molecules involved in energy homeostasis, cellular signaling and antioxidative defense systems. Consequently, its biosynthetic pathways and transport systems are of vital importance. The nicotinamide/nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of NAD, is distributed in all domains of life and exhibits various isoforms in free-living organisms in contrast with intracellular parasites, which displays a single enzyme. In Leishmania braziliensis a unique cytosolic NMNAT has been reported to date and the mechanisms through which adequate levels of NAD are maintained among the different sub-cellular compartments of this parasite are unknown. Experimental evidences have related the transport of NAD to the Nucleotide Transporters (NTTs) family, whose members are located in the cytoplasmic membrane of parasitic life organisms. Additionally, the Mitochondrial Carrier Family (MCF), a group of proteins located in the membrane of internal organelles such as the mitochondria of free life organisms, has been implicated in NAD transport. Applying bioinformatics tools, the main characteristics of the MCF were found in a transporter candidate that we have designated as Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Transporter 1 of L. braziliensis (LbNDT1). The expression of LbNDT1 was tested both in axenic amastigotes and promastigotes of L. braziliensis, through immunodetection using polyclonal avian antibodies produced in this study. N-glycosylation of LbNDT1 was observed in both stages. Additionally, a possible partial mitochondrial distribution for LbNDT1 in amastigotes and a possible glycosomal location in promastigotes are proposed. Finally, the capability of LbNDT1 to transport NAD was confirmed by complementation assays in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our results demonstrate the existence of LbNDT1 in L. braziliensis becoming the first NAD transporter identified in protozoan parasites to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S. Morales Herrera
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Básicas en Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia
| | - Luis E. Contreras Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Básicas en Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia
| | - Claudia C. Rubiano Castellanos
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Básicas en Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia
| | - Maria H. Ramírez Hernández
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Básicas en Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia
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Nicotinamide induces G2 cell cycle arrest in Giardia duodenalis trophozoites and promotes changes in sirtuins transcriptional expression. Exp Parasitol 2020; 209:107822. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.107822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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