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Jeffers V. Histone code: a common language and multiple dialects to meet the different developmental requirements of apicomplexan parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102472. [PMID: 38581913 PMCID: PMC11162943 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites have complex life cycles, often requiring transmission between two different hosts, facing periods of dormancy within the host or in the environment to maximize chances of transmission. To support survival in these different conditions, tightly regulated and correctly timed gene expression is critical. The modification of histones and nucleosome composition makes a significant contribution to this regulation, and as eukaryotes, the fundamental mechanisms underlying this process in apicomplexans are similar to those in model eukaryotic organisms. However, single-celled intracellular parasites face unique challenges, and regulation of gene expression at the epigenetic level provides tight control for responses that must often be rapid and robust. Here, we discuss the recent advances in understanding the dynamics of histone modifications across Apicomplexan life cycles and the molecular mechanisms that underlie epigenetic regulation of gene expression to promote parasite life cycle progression, dormancy, and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Jeffers
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
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2
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Liu C, Tang J, Liang K, Liu P, Li Z. Ready for renascence in mosquito: The regulation of gene expression in Plasmodium sexual development. Acta Trop 2024; 254:107191. [PMID: 38554994 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107191] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the most perilous vector-borne infectious diseases for humans globally. Sexual gametocyte represents the exclusive stage at which malaria parasites are transmitted from the vertebrate to the Anopheles host. The feasible and effective approach to prevent malaria transmission is by addressing the sexual developmental processes, that is, gametocytogenesis and gametogenesis. Thus, this review will comprehensively cover advances in the regulation of gene expression surrounding the transmissible stages, including epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China; School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Jingjing Tang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Kejia Liang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Zhenkui Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology and Key Laboratory of Special Pathogen Prevention and Control of Hunan Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China.
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3
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Kalamuddin M, Shakri AR, Wang C, Min H, Li X, Cui L, Miao J. MYST regulates DNA repair and forms a NuA4-like complex in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. mSphere 2024; 9:e0014024. [PMID: 38564734 PMCID: PMC11036802 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00140-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone lysine acetyltransferase MYST-associated NuA4 complex is conserved from yeast to humans and plays key roles in cell cycle regulation, gene transcription, and DNA replication/repair. Here, we identified a Plasmodium falciparum MYST-associated complex, PfNuA4, which contains 11 of the 13 conserved NuA4 subunits. Reciprocal pulldowns using PfEAF2, a shared component between the NuA4 and SWR1 complexes, not only confirmed the PfNuA4 complex but also identified the PfSWR1 complex, a histone remodeling complex, although their identities are low compared to the homologs in yeast or humans. Notably, both H2A.Z/H2B.Z were associated with the PfSWR1 complex, indicating that this complex is involved in the deposition of H2A.Z/H2B.Z, the variant histone pair that is enriched in the activated promoters. Overexpression of PfMYST resulted in earlier expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA replication, and merozoite invasion, and upregulation of the genes related to antigenic variation and DNA repair. Consistently, PfMYST overexpression led to high basal phosphorylated PfH2A (γ-PfH2A), the mark of DNA double-strand breaks, and conferred protection against genotoxic agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), X-rays, and artemisinin, the first-line antimalarial drug. In contrast, the knockdown of PfMYST caused a delayed parasite recovery upon MMS treatment. MMS induced the gradual disappearance of PfMYST in the cytoplasm and concomitant accumulation of PfMYST in the nucleus, suggesting cytoplasm-nucleus shuttling of PfMYST. Meanwhile, PfMYST colocalized with the γ-PfH2A, indicating PfMYST was recruited to the DNA damage sites. Collectively, PfMYST plays critical roles in cell cycle regulation, gene transcription, and DNA replication/DNA repair in this low-branching parasitic protist.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding gene regulation and DNA repair in malaria parasites is critical for identifying targets for antimalarials. This study found PfNuA4, a PfMYST-associated, histone modifier complex, and PfSWR1, a chromatin remodeling complex in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. These complexes are divergent due to the low identities compared to their homologs from yeast and humans. Furthermore, overexpression of PfMYST resulted in substantial transcriptomic changes, indicating that PfMYST is involved in regulating the cell cycle, antigenic variation, and DNA replication/repair. Consistently, PfMYST was found to protect against DNA damage caused by the genotoxic agent methyl methanesulfonate, X-rays, and artemisinin, the first-line antimalarial drug. Additionally, DNA damage led to the relocation of cytoplasmic PfMYST to the nucleus and colocalization of PfMYST with γ-PfH2A, the mark of DNA damage. In summary, this study demonstrated that the PfMYST complex has critical functions in regulating cell cycle, antigenic variation, and DNA replication/DNA repair in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Kalamuddin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Ahmad Rushdi Shakri
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Hui Min
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Xiaolian Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jun Miao
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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Lappalainen R, Kumar M, Duraisingh MT. Hungry for control: metabolite signaling to chromatin in Plasmodium falciparum. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102430. [PMID: 38306915 PMCID: PMC11157454 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum undergoes a complex life cycle in two hosts, mammalian and mosquito, where it is constantly subjected to environmental changes in nutrients. Epigenetic mechanisms govern transcriptional switches and are essential for parasite persistence and proliferation. Parasites infecting red blood cells are auxotrophic for several nutrients, and mounting evidence suggests that various metabolites act as direct substrates for epigenetic modifications, with their abundance directly relating to changes in parasite gene expression. Here, we review the latest understanding of metabolic changes that alter the histone code resulting in changes to transcriptional programmes in malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Lappalainen
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston 02115, USA.
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Jabeena CA, Rajavelu A. Histone globular domain epigenetic modifications: The regulators of chromatin dynamics in malaria parasite. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300596. [PMID: 38078518 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium species adapt a complex lifecycle with multiple phenotypes to survive inside various cell types of humans and mosquitoes. Stage-specific gene expression in the developmental stages of parasites is tightly controlled in Plasmodium species; however, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be explored. Genome organization and gene expression for each stage of the malaria parasite need to be better characterized. Recent studies indicated that epigenetic modifications of histone proteins play a vital role in chromatin plasticity. Like other eukaryotes, Plasmodium species N-terminal tail modifications form a distinct "histone code," which creates the docking sites for histone reader proteins, including gene activator/repressor complexes, to regulate gene expression. The emerging research findings shed light on various unconventional epigenetic changes in histone proteins' core/globular domain regions, which might contribute to the chromatin organization in different developmental stages of the malaria parasite. The malaria parasite lost many transcription factors during evolution, and it is proposed that the nature of local chromatin structure essentially regulates the stage-specific gene expression. This review highlights recent discoveries of unconventional histone globular domain epigenetic modifications and their functions in regulating chromatin structure dynamics in various developmental stages of malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Jabeena
- Pathogen Biology Group, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thycaud P O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
| | - Arumugam Rajavelu
- Pathogen Biology Group, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thycaud P O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 036, India
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Reyser T, Paloque L, Augereau JM, Di Stefano L, Benoit-Vical F. Epigenetic regulation as a therapeutic target in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Malar J 2024; 23:44. [PMID: 38347549 PMCID: PMC10863139 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04855-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past thirty years, epigenetic regulation of gene expression has gained increasing interest as it was shown to be implicated in illnesses ranging from cancers to parasitic diseases. In the malaria parasite, epigenetics was shown to be involved in several key steps of the complex life cycle of Plasmodium, among which asexual development and sexual commitment, but also in major biological processes like immune evasion, response to environmental changes or DNA repair. Because epigenetics plays such paramount roles in the Plasmodium parasite, enzymes involved in these regulating pathways represent a reservoir of potential therapeutic targets. This review focuses on epigenetic regulatory processes and their effectors in the malaria parasite, as well as the inhibitors of epigenetic pathways and their potential as new anti-malarial drugs. Such types of drugs could be formidable tools that may contribute to malaria eradication in a context of widespread resistance to conventional anti-malarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaud Reyser
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Lucie Paloque
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Michel Augereau
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Luisa Di Stefano
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Françoise Benoit-Vical
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
- MAAP, Inserm ERL 1289, Team "New Antiplasmodial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches", Toulouse, France.
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
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Llergo JL, Garuti H, Lopez C, Sanchez J, Calvo D. Artificial nighttime lighting impacts Plasmodium falciparum mature stage V gametocytes infectivity in Anopheles stephensi. Malar J 2024; 23:42. [PMID: 38326842 PMCID: PMC10851600 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04866-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is one of the most important vector-borne diseases of humans with an estimated 241 million cases worldwide in 2020. As an urban and periurban mosquito species, Anopheles stephensi is exposed to artificial human stimuli like light that can alter many aspects of mosquito behaviour, physiology and metabolism. Therefore, fluctuations in the light environment may influence the host, parasite and/or mosquito biology and hence modulate risk for disease transmission. In this study, the effect of artifitial light at night on mosquito infectivity by Plasmodium falciparum during the first hours of blood digestion was tested. METHODS A total of three independent standard membrane feeding assays were performed to artificially fed septic and aseptic mosquitoes with P. falciparum infected blood. After blood feeding, females were transferred to incubators with different photoperiod cycles, so digestion occurred under day artificial light or dark. At 7 and 16 days post blood feeding, mosquitoes were dissected for midguts and salivary glands, respectively. Percentage of mosquitoes fed, percentage of prevalence and P. falciparum oocyst intensity between septic and aseptic mosquitoes in the two different photoperiod regimes, were compared using a Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a Dunn´s multiple comparison test . RESULTS The exposition of mosquitoes to light after they took an infected blood meal has a negative effect on the successful progression of P. falciparum in the mosquito midgut. Antibiotic treatment significantly incremented the number of oocysts per midgut. Photophase significantly reduced the median oocyst intensity in both septic and aseptic mosquitoes. The percentage of oocyst reduction, understood as the percentage of reduction in the mean oocyst intensity of the parasite in the mosquito midgut between photophase and scotophase, was 51% in the case of aseptic mosquitoes and 80% for septic mosquitoes, both in the photophase condition. CONCLUSION Although there are still many gaps in the understanding of parasite-mosquito interactions, these results support the idea that light can, not only, influence mosquito biting behaviour but also parasite success in the mosquito midgut. Hence, light can be considered an interesting additional mosquito-control strategy to reduce mosquito-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Luis Llergo
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, C/Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena Garuti
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, C/Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia Lopez
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, C/Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julia Sanchez
- In Vivo Science and Delivery (IVSD), GlaxoSmithKline, C/Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Calvo
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, C/Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain.
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Azizan S, Selvarajah SA, Tang J, Jeninga MD, Schulz D, Pareek K, Herr T, Day KP, De Koning-Ward TF, Petter M, Duffy MF. The P. falciparum alternative histones Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are dynamically acetylated and antagonized by PfSir2 histone deacetylases at heterochromatin boundaries. mBio 2023; 14:e0201423. [PMID: 37882786 PMCID: PMC10746207 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02014-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum relies on variant expression of members of multi-gene families as a strategy for environmental adaptation to promote parasite survival and pathogenesis. These genes are located in transcriptionally silenced DNA regions. A limited number of these genes escape gene silencing, and switching between them confers variant fitness on parasite progeny. Here, we show that PfSir2 histone deacetylases antagonize DNA-interacting acetylated alternative histones at the boundaries between active and silent DNA. This finding implicates acetylated alternative histones in the mechanism regulating P. falciparum variant gene silencing and thus malaria pathogenesis. This work also revealed that acetylation of alternative histones at promoters is dynamically associated with promoter activity across the genome, implicating acetylation of alternative histones in gene regulation genome wide. Understanding mechanisms of gene regulation in P. falciparum may aid in the development of new therapeutic strategies for malaria, which killed 619,000 people in 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suffian Azizan
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shamista A. Selvarajah
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jingyi Tang
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Myriam D. Jeninga
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Kapil Pareek
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tamara Herr
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Karen P. Day
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania F. De Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Michaela Petter
- Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Mikrobiologisches Institut – Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael F. Duffy
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, the human malaria parasite, infects two hosts and various cell types, inducing distinct morphological and physiological changes in the parasite in response to different environmental conditions. These variations required the parasite to adapt and develop elaborate molecular mechanisms to ensure its spread and transmission. Recent findings have significantly improved our understanding of the regulation of gene expression in P. falciparum. Here, we provide an up-to-date overview of technologies used to highlight the transcriptomic adjustments occurring in the parasite throughout its life cycle. We also emphasize the complementary and complex epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression in malaria parasites. This review concludes with an outlook on the chromatin architecture, the remodeling systems, and how this 3D genome organization is critical in various biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hollin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA;
| | - Zeinab Chahine
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA;
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA;
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Ouologuem DT, Dara A, Kone A, Ouattara A, Djimde AA. Plasmodium falciparum Development from Gametocyte to Oocyst: Insight from Functional Studies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1966. [PMID: 37630530 PMCID: PMC10460021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination may never succeed without the implementation of transmission-blocking strategies. The transmission of Plasmodium spp. parasites from the human host to the mosquito vector depends on circulating gametocytes in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host. Once ingested by the mosquito during blood meals, these sexual forms undergo a series of radical morphological and metabolic changes to survive and progress from the gut to the salivary glands, where they will be waiting to be injected into the vertebrate host. The design of effective transmission-blocking strategies requires a thorough understanding of all the mechanisms that drive the development of gametocytes, gametes, sexual reproduction, and subsequent differentiation within the mosquito. The drastic changes in Plasmodium falciparum shape and function throughout its life cycle rely on the tight regulation of stage-specific gene expression. This review outlines the mechanisms involved in Plasmodium falciparum sexual stage development in both the human and mosquito vector, and zygote to oocyst differentiation. Functional studies unravel mechanisms employed by P. falciparum to orchestrate the expression of stage-specific functional products required to succeed in its complex life cycle, thus providing us with potential targets for developing new therapeutics. These mechanisms are based on studies conducted with various Plasmodium species, including predominantly P. falciparum and the rodent malaria parasites P. berghei. However, the great potential of epigenetics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional genetic studies to improve the understanding of malaria as a disease remains partly untapped because of limitations in studies using human malaria parasites and field isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinkorma T. Ouologuem
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Antoine Dara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Aminatou Kone
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
| | - Amed Ouattara
- Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Abdoulaye A. Djimde
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako 1805, Mali
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11
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Lucky AB, Wang C, Liu M, Liang X, Min H, Fan Q, Siddiqui FA, Adapa SR, Li X, Jiang RHY, Chen X, Cui L, Miao J. A type II protein arginine methyltransferase regulates merozoite invasion in Plasmodium falciparum. Commun Biol 2023; 6:659. [PMID: 37349497 PMCID: PMC10287762 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05038-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) regulate many important cellular processes, such as transcription and RNA processing in model organisms but their functions in human malaria parasites are not elucidated. Here, we characterize PfPRMT5 in Plasmodium falciparum, which catalyzes symmetric dimethylation of histone H3 at R2 (H3R2me2s) and R8, and histone H4 at R3 in vitro. PfPRMT5 disruption results in asexual stage growth defects primarily due to lower invasion efficiency of the merozoites. Transcriptomic analysis reveals down-regulation of many transcripts related to invasion upon PfPRMT5 disruption, in agreement with H3R2me2s being an active chromatin mark. Genome-wide chromatin profiling detects extensive H3R2me2s marking of genes of different cellular processes, including invasion-related genes in wildtype parasites and PfPRMT5 disruption leads to the depletion of H3R2me2s. Interactome studies identify the association of PfPRMT5 with invasion-related transcriptional regulators such as AP2-I, BDP1, and GCN5. Furthermore, PfPRMT5 is associated with the RNA splicing machinery, and PfPRMT5 disruption caused substantial anomalies in RNA splicing events, including those for invasion-related genes. In summary, PfPRMT5 is critical for regulating parasite invasion and RNA splicing in this early-branching eukaryote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amuza Byaruhanga Lucky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Chengqi Wang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Xiaoying Liang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Hui Min
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Qi Fan
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Faiza Amber Siddiqui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Swamy Rakesh Adapa
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Xiaolian Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Rays H Y Jiang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Xiaoguang Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Jun Miao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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Reers AB, Bautista R, McLellan J, Morales B, Garza R, Bol S, Hanson KK, Bunnik EM. Histone modification analysis reveals common regulators of gene expression in liver and blood stage merozoites of Plasmodium parasites. Epigenetics Chromatin 2023; 16:25. [PMID: 37322481 PMCID: PMC10268464 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-023-00500-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression in malaria parasites is subject to various layers of regulation, including histone post-translational modifications (PTMs). Gene regulatory mechanisms have been extensively studied during the main developmental stages of Plasmodium parasites inside erythrocytes, from the ring stage following invasion to the schizont stage leading up to egress. However, gene regulation in merozoites that mediate the transition from one host cell to the next is an understudied area of parasite biology. Here, we sought to characterize gene expression and the corresponding histone PTM landscape during this stage of the parasite lifecycle through RNA-seq and ChIP-seq on P. falciparum blood stage schizonts, merozoites, and rings, as well as P. berghei liver stage merozoites. In both hepatic and erythrocytic merozoites, we identified a subset of genes with a unique histone PTM profile characterized by a region of H3K4me3 depletion in their promoter. These genes were upregulated in hepatic and erythrocytic merozoites and rings, had roles in protein export, translation, and host cell remodeling, and shared a DNA motif. These results indicate that similar regulatory mechanisms may underlie merozoite formation in the liver and blood stages. We also observed that H3K4me2 was deposited in gene bodies of gene families encoding variant surface antigens in erythrocytic merozoites, which may facilitate switching of gene expression between different members of these families. Finally, H3K18me and H2K27me were uncoupled from gene expression and were enriched around the centromeres in erythrocytic schizonts and merozoites, suggesting potential roles in the maintenance of chromosomal organization during schizogony. Together, our results demonstrate that extensive changes in gene expression and histone landscape occur during the schizont-to-ring transition to facilitate productive erythrocyte infection. The dynamic remodeling of the transcriptional program in hepatic and erythrocytic merozoites makes this stage attractive as a target for novel anti-malarial drugs that may have activity against both the liver and blood stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley B Reers
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rodriel Bautista
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - James McLellan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Beatriz Morales
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rolando Garza
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sebastiaan Bol
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kirsten K Hanson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Evelien M Bunnik
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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Muema JM, Mutunga JM, Obonyo MA, Getahun MN, Mwakubambanya RS, Akala HM, Cheruiyot AC, Yeda RA, Juma DW, Andagalu B, Johnson JL, Roth AL, Bargul JL. Isoliensinine from Cissampelos pariera rhizomes exhibits potential gametocytocidal and anti-malarial activities against Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates. Malar J 2023; 22:161. [PMID: 37208735 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04590-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unmet demand for effective malaria transmission-blocking agents targeting the transmissible stages of Plasmodium necessitates intensive discovery efforts. In this study, a bioactive bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ), isoliensinine, from Cissampelos pariera (Menispermaceae) rhizomes was identified and characterized for its anti-malarial activity. METHODS Malaria SYBR Green I fluorescence assay was performed to evaluate the in vitro antimalarial activity against D6, Dd2, and F32-ART5 clones, and immediate ex vivo (IEV) susceptibility for 10 freshly collected P. falciparum isolates. To determine the speed- and stage-of-action of isoliensinine, an IC50 speed assay and morphological analyses were performed using synchronized Dd2 asexuals. Gametocytocidal activity against two culture-adapted gametocyte-producing clinical isolates was determined using microscopy readouts, with possible molecular targets and their binding affinities deduced in silico. RESULTS Isoliensinine displayed a potent in vitro gametocytocidal activity at mean IC50gam values ranging between 0.41 and 0.69 µM for Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates. The BBIQ compound also inhibited asexual replication at mean IC50Asexual of 2.17 µM, 2.22 µM, and 2.39 µM for D6, Dd2 and F32-ART5 respectively, targeting the late-trophozoite to schizont transition. Further characterization demonstrated a considerable immediate ex vivo potency against human clinical isolates at a geometric mean IC50IEV = 1.433 µM (95% CI 0.917-2.242). In silico analyses postulated a probable anti-malarial mechanism of action by high binding affinities for four mitotic division protein kinases; Pfnek1, Pfmap2, Pfclk1, and Pfclk4. Additionally, isoliensinine was predicted to possess an optimal pharmacokinetics profile and drug-likeness properties. CONCLUSION These findings highlight considerable grounds for further exploration of isoliensinine as an amenable scaffold for malaria transmission-blocking chemistry and target validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson M Muema
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya.
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya.
| | - James M Mutunga
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya
- School of Engineering Design, Technology and Professional Programs, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Meshack A Obonyo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, Egerton, Kenya
| | - Merid N Getahun
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Hoseah M Akala
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Agnes C Cheruiyot
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Redemptah A Yeda
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Dennis W Juma
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Ben Andagalu
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Jaree L Johnson
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Amanda L Roth
- U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A), Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Joel L Bargul
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya.
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya.
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14
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Jeninga MD, Tang J, Selvarajah SA, Maier AG, Duffy MF, Petter M. Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes display global chromatin remodelling during sexual differentiation. BMC Biol 2023; 21:65. [PMID: 37013531 PMCID: PMC10071754 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01568-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protozoan malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has a complex life cycle during which it needs to differentiate into multiple morphologically distinct life forms. A key process for transmission of the disease is the development of male and female gametocytes in the human blood, yet the mechanisms determining sexual dimorphism in these haploid, genetically identical sexual precursor cells remain largely unknown. To understand the epigenetic program underlying the differentiation of male and female gametocytes, we separated the two sexual forms by flow cytometry and performed RNAseq as well as comprehensive ChIPseq profiling of several histone variants and modifications. RESULTS We show that in female gametocytes the chromatin landscape is globally remodelled with respect to genome-wide patterns and combinatorial usage of histone variants and histone modifications. We identified sex specific differences in heterochromatin distribution, implicating exported proteins and ncRNAs in sex determination. Specifically in female gametocytes, the histone variants H2A.Z/H2B.Z were highly enriched in H3K9me3-associated heterochromatin. H3K27ac occupancy correlated with stage-specific gene expression, but in contrast to asexual parasites this was unlinked to H3K4me3 co-occupancy at promoters in female gametocytes. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, we defined novel combinatorial chromatin states differentially organising the genome in gametocytes and asexual parasites and unravelled fundamental, sex-specific differences in the epigenetic code. Our chromatin maps represent an important resource for future understanding of the mechanisms driving sexual differentiation in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam D Jeninga
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jingyi Tang
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Bio21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Shamista A Selvarajah
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Bio21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Alexander G Maier
- The Australian National University, Research School of Biology, 134 Linnaeus Way, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Michael F Duffy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute, 792 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Bio21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Michaela Petter
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Bio21 Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
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Zhang X, Wei Q, Meng X, Zhao L, Liu Z, Huang Y. Boronate Avidity Assisted by Dendrimer-like Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes for a Microfluidic Platform for Selective Enrichment of Ubiquitination and Glycosylation. Anal Chem 2023; 95:1241-1250. [PMID: 36563082 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A new strategy of improving boronate avidity with good accessibility of sites was suggested by utilizing a dendrimer-like structure of boron materials based on octavinyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (Ov-POSS). 3-(Acrylamido)phenylboronic acid (AAPBA) was used as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) and Ov-POSS as cross-linkers. The resulting Ov-POSS cross-linked boron monolith exhibited 27 times stronger affinity for glycoproteins than the Ov-POSS-free monolith. Importantly, the bonding strength of the poly(AAPBA-co-Ov-POSS-co-EDMA) monolith to the glycoproteins with multiple sugars, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of the single cis-diol-containing compound. The resulting monolith was used as a part of a microfluidic platform for online processing of the protein extracts from mouse liver, which integrated five functions, including protein grading, denaturation, enzymatic hydrolysis, and enrichment of glycopeptides and ubiquitin-modified peptides. The sample processing time can be reduced by nearly half compared to the offline method. Moreover, 86.7% of glycopeptides and 75% of glycoproteins were newly identified after treatment. All of the results indicated that the synergistic strategy of Ov-POSS cross-linking can significantly improve trace glycosylation's binding capacity and enrichment performance. The microfluidic platform developed may provide a promising technical tool for automated, high-efficiency, high-throughput analysis for post-translational modification proteomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Qin Wei
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Xin Meng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Lili Zhao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Zhaosheng Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Yanping Huang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory on Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and Diagnostics (Theranostics), School of Pharmacy, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
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16
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Keroack CD, Duraisingh MT. Molecular mechanisms of cellular quiescence in apicomplexan parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 70:102223. [PMID: 36274498 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Quiescence is a reversible nonproliferative cellular state that allows organisms to persist through unfavorable conditions. Quiescence can be stimulated by a wide range of external or intrinsic factors. Cells undergo a coordinated molecular program to enter and exit from the quiescent state, which is governed by signaling, transcriptional and translational changes, epigenetic mechanisms, metabolic switches, and changes in cellular architecture. These mechanisms have been extensively studied in model organisms, and a growing number of studies have identified conserved mechanisms in apicomplexan parasites. Quiescence in the context of a parasitic infection has significant clinical impact: quiescent forms may underlie treatment failures, relapsing infections, and stress tolerance. Here, we review the latest understanding of quiescence in apicomplexa, synthesizing these studies to highlight conserved mechanisms, and identifying technologies to assist in further characterization of quiescence. Understanding conserved mechanisms of quiescence in apicomplexans will provide avenues for transmission prevention and radical cure of infections.
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17
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Reader J, Opperman DFL, van der Watt ME, Theron A, Leshabane M, da Rocha S, Turner J, Garrabrant K, Piña I, Mills C, Woster PM, Birkholtz L. New Transmission-Selective Antimalarial Agents through Hit-to-Lead Optimization of 2-([1,1'-Biphenyl]-4-carboxamido)benzoic Acid Derivatives. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200427. [PMID: 36106425 PMCID: PMC10946866 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Malaria elimination requires multipronged approaches, including the application of antimalarial drugs able to block human-to-mosquito transmission of malaria parasites. The transmissible gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum seem to be highly sensitive towards epidrugs, particularly those targeting demethylation of histone post-translational marks. Here, we report exploration of compounds from a chemical library generated during hit-to-lead optimization of inhibitors of the human histone lysine demethylase, KDM4B. Derivatives of 2-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-carboxamido) benzoic acid, around either the amide or a sulfonamide linker backbone (2-(arylcarboxamido)benzoic acid, 2-carboxamide (arylsulfonamido)benzoic acid and N-(2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)-arylcarboxamide), showed potent activity towards late-stage gametocytes (stage IV/V) of P. falciparum, with the most potent compound reaching single digit nanomolar activity. Structure-activity relationship trends were evident and frontrunner compounds also displayed microsomal stability and favourable solubility profiles. Simplified synthetic routes support further derivatization of these compounds for further development of these series as malaria transmission-blocking agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janette Reader
- Department of BiochemistryGenetics and MicrobiologyInstitute for Sustainable Malaria ControlUniversity of PretoriaLynnwood RoadPretoria0028South Africa
| | - Daniel F. L. Opperman
- Department of BiochemistryGenetics and MicrobiologyInstitute for Sustainable Malaria ControlUniversity of PretoriaLynnwood RoadPretoria0028South Africa
| | - Mariëtte E. van der Watt
- Department of BiochemistryGenetics and MicrobiologyInstitute for Sustainable Malaria ControlUniversity of PretoriaLynnwood RoadPretoria0028South Africa
- School of Health Systems and Public HealthUniversity of Pretoria, HatfieldPretoria0028South Africa
| | - Anjo Theron
- Next Generation HealthCouncil for Scientific and Industrial ResearchPretoria0001South Africa
| | - Meta Leshabane
- Department of BiochemistryGenetics and MicrobiologyInstitute for Sustainable Malaria ControlUniversity of PretoriaLynnwood RoadPretoria0028South Africa
| | - Shanté da Rocha
- Department of BiochemistryGenetics and MicrobiologyInstitute for Sustainable Malaria ControlUniversity of PretoriaLynnwood RoadPretoria0028South Africa
| | - Jonathan Turner
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical SciencesMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSC 29425USA
| | - Kathleen Garrabrant
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical SciencesMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSC 29425USA
| | - Ivett Piña
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical SciencesMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSC 29425USA
| | - Catherine Mills
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical SciencesMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSC 29425USA
| | - Patrick M. Woster
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical SciencesMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSC 29425USA
| | - Lyn‐Marié Birkholtz
- Department of BiochemistryGenetics and MicrobiologyInstitute for Sustainable Malaria ControlUniversity of PretoriaLynnwood RoadPretoria0028South Africa
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Epigenetic and Epitranscriptomic Gene Regulation in Plasmodium falciparum and How We Can Use It against Malaria. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101734. [PMID: 36292619 PMCID: PMC9601349 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, is still one of the biggest global health challenges. P. falciparum is the deadliest species to humans. In this review, we discuss how this parasite develops and adapts to the complex and heterogenous environments of its two hosts thanks to varied chromatin-associated and epigenetic mechanisms. First, one small family of transcription factors, the ApiAP2 proteins, functions as master regulators of spatio-temporal patterns of gene expression through the parasite life cycle. In addition, chromatin plasticity determines variable parasite cell phenotypes that link to parasite growth, virulence and transmission, enabling parasite adaptation within host conditions. In recent years, epitranscriptomics is emerging as a new regulatory layer of gene expression. We present evidence of the variety of tRNA and mRNA modifications that are being characterized in Plasmodium spp., and the dynamic changes in their abundance during parasite development and cell fate. We end up outlining that new biological systems, like the mosquito model, to decipher the unknowns about epigenetic mechanisms in vivo; and novel methodologies, to study the function of RNA modifications; are needed to discover the Achilles heel of the parasite. With this new knowledge, future strategies manipulating the epigenetics and epitranscriptomic machinery of the parasite have the potential of providing new weapons against malaria.
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Shrestha S, Lucky AB, Brashear AM, Li X, Cui L, Miao J. Distinct Histone Post-translational Modifications during Plasmodium falciparum Gametocyte Development. J Proteome Res 2022; 21:1857-1867. [PMID: 35772009 PMCID: PMC9738646 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Histones are the building units of nucleosomes, which constitute chromatin. Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) play an essential role in epigenetic gene regulation. The Plasmodium falciparum genome encodes canonical and variant histones and a collection of conserved enzymes for histone PTMs and chromatin remodeling. Herein, we profiled the P. falciparum histone PTMs during the development of gametocytes, the obligatory stage for parasite transmission. Mass spectrometric analysis of histones extracted from the early, middle, and late stages of gametocytes identified 457 unique histone peptides with 90 PTMs, of which 50% were novel. The gametocyte histone PTMs display distinct patterns from asexual stages, with many new methylation sites in histones H3 and H3.3 (e.g., K14, K18, and K37). Quantitative analyses revealed a high abundance of acetylation in H3 and H4, mono-methylation of H3/H3.3 K37, and ubiquitination of H3BK112, suggesting that these PTMs play critical roles in gametocytes. Gametocyte histones also showed extensive and unique combinations of PTMs. These data indicate that the parasite harbors distinct transcription regulation mechanisms during gametocyte development and lay the foundation for further characterization of epigenetic regulation in the life cycle of the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sony Shrestha
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Amuza Byaruhanga Lucky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Awtum Marie Brashear
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Xiaolian Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States; Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Jun Miao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States; Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
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Plasmodium falciparum S-Adenosylmethionine Synthetase Is Essential for Parasite Survival through a Complex Interaction Network with Cytoplasmic and Nuclear Proteins. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071419. [PMID: 35889137 PMCID: PMC9320499 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (SAMS) is a key enzyme for the synthesis of the lone methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), which is involved in transmethylation reactions and hence required for cellular processes such as DNA, RNA, and histone methylation, but also polyamine biosynthesis and proteostasis. In the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, PfSAMS is encoded by a single gene and has been suggested to be crucial for malaria pathogenesis and transmission; however, to date, PfSAMS has not been fully characterized. To gain deeper insight into the function of PfSAMS, we generated a conditional gene knockdown (KD) using the glmS ribozyme system. We show that PfSAMS localizes to the cytoplasm and the nucleus of blood-stage parasites. PfSAMS-KD results in reduced histone methylation and leads to impaired intraerythrocytic growth and gametocyte development. To further determine the interaction network of PfSAMS, we performed a proximity-dependent biotin identification analysis. We identified a complex network of 1114 proteins involved in biological processes such as cell cycle control and DNA replication, or transcription, but also in phosphatidylcholine and polyamine biosynthesis and proteasome regulation. Our findings highlight the diverse roles of PfSAMS during intraerythrocytic growth and sexual stage development and emphasize that PfSAMS is a potential drug target.
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21
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van der Watt ME, Reader J, Birkholtz LM. Adapt or Die: Targeting Unique Transmission-Stage Biology for Malaria Elimination. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:901971. [PMID: 35755845 PMCID: PMC9218253 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.901971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites have a complex life cycle that includes development in the human host as well as the Anopheles vector. Successful transmission of the parasite between its host and vector therefore requires the parasite to balance its investments in asexual replication and sexual reproduction, varying the frequency of sexual commitment to persist within the human host and generate future opportunities for transmission. The transmission window is extended further by the ability of stage V gametocytes to circulate in peripheral blood for weeks, whereas immature stage I to IV gametocytes sequester in the bone marrow and spleen until final maturation. Due to the low gametocyte numbers in blood circulation and with the ease of targeting such life cycle bottlenecks, transmission represents an efficient target for therapeutic intervention. The biological process of Plasmodium transmission is a multistage, multifaceted process and the past decade has seen a much deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulators involved. Clearly, specific and divergent processes are used during transmission compared to asexual proliferation, which both poses challenges but also opportunities for discovery of transmission-blocking antimalarials. This review therefore presents an update of our molecular understanding of gametocyte and gamete biology as well as the status of transmission-blocking activities of current antimalarials and lead development compounds. By defining the biological components associated with transmission, considerations for the development of new transmission-blocking drugs to target such untapped but unique biology is suggested as an important, main driver for transmission-blocking drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariëtte E van der Watt
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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22
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Connacher J, von Grüning H, Birkholtz L. Histone Modification Landscapes as a Roadmap for Malaria Parasite Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:848797. [PMID: 35433676 PMCID: PMC9010790 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.848797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum remains the deadliest parasite species in the world, responsible for 229 million cases of human malaria in 2019. The ability of the P. falciparum parasite to progress through multiple life cycle stages and thrive in diverse host and vector species hinges on sophisticated mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Emerging evidence indicates such epigenetic control exists in concentric layers, revolving around core histone post-translational modification (PTM) landscapes. Here, we provide a necessary update of recent epigenome research in malaria parasites, focusing specifically on the ability of dynamic histone PTM landscapes to orchestrate the divergent development and differentiation pathways in P. falciparum parasites. In addition to individual histone PTMs, we discuss recent findings that imply functional importance for combinatorial PTMs in P. falciparum parasites, representing an operational histone code. Finally, this review highlights the remaining gaps and provides strategies to address these to obtain a more thorough understanding of the histone modification landscapes that are at the center of epigenetic regulation in human malaria parasites.
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Birkholtz LM, Alano P, Leroy D. Transmission-blocking drugs for malaria elimination. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:390-403. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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von Grüning H, Coradin M, Mendoza MR, Reader J, Sidoli S, Garcia BA, Birkholtz LM. A dynamic and combinatorial histone code drives malaria parasite asexual and sexual development. Mol Cell Proteomics 2022; 21:100199. [PMID: 35051657 PMCID: PMC8941266 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) frequently co-occur on the same chromatin domains or even in the same molecule. It is now established that these “histone codes” are the result of cross talk between enzymes that catalyze multiple PTMs with univocal readout as compared with these PTMs in isolation. Here, we performed a comprehensive identification and quantification of histone codes of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. We used advanced quantitative middle-down proteomics to identify combinations of PTMs in both the proliferative, asexual stages and transmissible, sexual gametocyte stages of P. falciparum. We provide an updated, high-resolution compendium of 77 PTMs on H3 and H3.3, of which 34 are newly identified in P. falciparum. Coexisting PTMs with unique stage distinctions were identified, indicating that many of these combinatorial PTMs are associated with specific stages of the parasite life cycle. We focused on the code H3R17me2K18acK23ac for its unique presence in mature gametocytes; chromatin proteomics identified a gametocyte-specific SAGA-like effector complex including the transcription factor AP2-G2, which we tied to this specific histone code, as involved in regulating gene expression in mature gametocytes. Ultimately, this study unveils previously undiscovered histone PTMs and their functional relationship with coexisting partners. These results highlight that investigating chromatin regulation in the parasite using single histone PTM assays might overlook higher-order gene regulation for distinct proliferation and differentiation processes. First middle-down chromatin proteomics compendium of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Novel histone PTMs (including arginine methylation) in both asexual parasites and transmissible gametocytes. Histone PTM cross talk is dynamic life cycle stage stratified. Gametocytes rely on histone PTM connectivity to allow onward transmission. AP2-G2 is an important effector of H3K18acK23ac in mature gametocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilde von Grüning
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Private bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mariel Coradin
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mariel R Mendoza
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Private bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Private bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa.
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Abstract
Protozoan parasites continue to cause a significant health and economic burden worldwide. As infectious organisms, they pose unique and difficult challenges due to a level of conservation of critical eukaryotic cellular pathways with their hosts. Gene regulation has been pinpointed as an essential pathway with enough divergence to warrant investigation into therapeutically targeting. Examination of human parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, and kinetoplastids have revealed that epigenetic mechanisms play a key role in their gene regulation. The enzymes involved in adding and removing epigenetic posttranslational modifications (PTMs) have historically been the focus of study. However, the reader proteins that recognize and bind PTMs, initiating recruitment of chromatin-modifying and transcription complexes, are now being realized for their critical role in regulation and their potential as drug targets. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on epigenetic reader proteins in model parasitic protozoa, focusing on the histone acyl- and methyl-reading domains. With this knowledge base, we compare differences between medically relevant parasites, discuss conceivable functions of these understudied proteins, indicate gaps in knowledge, and provide current progress in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista Fleck
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Malorie Nitz
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Victoria Jeffers
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
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Impact of Sickle Cell Trait Hemoglobin on the Intraerythrocytic Transcriptional Program of Plasmodium falciparum. mSphere 2021; 6:e0075521. [PMID: 34668757 PMCID: PMC8527989 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00755-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sickle-trait hemoglobin (HbAS) confers nearly complete protection from severe, life-threatening falciparum malaria in African children. Despite this clear protection, the molecular mechanisms by which HbAS confers these protective phenotypes remain incompletely understood. As a forward genetic screen for aberrant parasite transcriptional responses associated with parasite neutralization in HbAS red blood cells (RBCs), we performed comparative transcriptomic analyses of Plasmodium falciparum in normal (HbAA) and HbAS erythrocytes during both in vitro cultivation of reference parasite strains and naturally occurring P. falciparum infections in Malian children with HbAA or HbAS. During in vitro cultivation, parasites matured normally in HbAS RBCs, and the temporal expression was largely unperturbed of the highly ordered transcriptional program that underlies the parasite’s maturation throughout the intraerythrocytic development cycle (IDC). However, differential expression analysis identified hundreds of transcripts aberrantly expressed in HbAS, largely occurring late in the IDC. Surprisingly, transcripts encoding members of the Maurer’s clefts were overexpressed in HbAS despite impaired parasite protein export in these RBCs, while parasites in HbAS RBCs underexpressed transcripts associated with the endoplasmic reticulum and those encoding serine repeat antigen proteases that promote parasite egress. Analyses of P. falciparum transcriptomes from 32 children with uncomplicated malaria identified stage-specific differential expression: among infections composed of ring-stage parasites, only cyclophilin 19B was underexpressed in children with HbAS, while trophozoite-stage infections identified a range of differentially expressed transcripts, including downregulation in HbAS of several transcripts associated with severe malaria in collateral studies. Collectively, our comparative transcriptomic screen in vitro and in vivo indicates that P. falciparum adapts to HbAS by altering its protein chaperone and folding machinery, oxidative stress response, and protein export machinery. Because HbAS consistently protects from severe P. falciparum, modulation of these responses may offer avenues by which to neutralize P. falciparum parasites. IMPORTANCE Sickle-trait hemoglobin (HbAS) confers nearly complete protection from severe, life-threatening malaria, yet the molecular mechanisms that underlie HbAS protection from severe malaria remain incompletely understood. Here, we used transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to measure the impact of HbAS on the blood-stage transcriptome of Plasmodium falciparum in in vitro time series experiments and in vivo samples from natural infections. Our in vitro time series data reveal that, during its blood stage, P. falciparum’s gene expression in HbAS is impacted primarily through alterations in the abundance of gene products as opposed to variations in the timing of gene expression. Collectively, our in vitro and in vivo data indicate that P. falciparum adapts to HbAS by altering its protein chaperone and folding machinery, oxidative stress response, and protein export machinery. Due to the persistent association of HbAS and protection from severe disease, these processes that are modified in HbAS may offer strategies to neutralize P. falciparum.
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Niemand J, van Biljon R, van der Watt M, van Heerden A, Reader J, van Wyk R, Orchard L, Chibale K, Llinás M, Birkholtz LM. Chemogenomic Fingerprints Associated with Stage-Specific Gametocytocidal Compound Action against Human Malaria Parasites. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:2904-2916. [PMID: 34569223 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Kinase-focused inhibitors previously revealed compounds with differential activity against different stages of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. MMV666810, a 2-aminopyrazine, is more active on late-stage gametocytes, while a pyrazolopyridine, MMV674850, preferentially targets early-stage gametocytes. Here, we probe the biological mechanisms underpinning this differential stage-specific killing using in-depth transcriptome fingerprinting. Compound-specific chemogenomic profiles were observed with MMV674850 treatment associated with biological processes shared between asexual blood stage parasites and early-stage gametocytes but not late-stage gametocytes. MMV666810 has a distinct profile with clustered gene sets associated primarily with late-stage gametocyte development, including Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CDPK1 and 5) and serine/threonine protein kinases (FIKK). Chemogenomic profiling therefore highlights essential processes in late-stage gametocytes, on a transcriptional level. This information is important to prioritize compounds that preferentially compromise late-stage gametocytes for further development as transmission-blocking antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jandeli Niemand
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Riëtte van Biljon
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariëtte van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Ashleigh van Heerden
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Roelof van Wyk
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Lindsey Orchard
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Centre for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Centre for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
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Sethumadhavan DV, Govindaraju G, Jabeena CA, Rajavelu A. Plasmodium falciparum SET2 domain is allosterically regulated by its PHD-like domain to methylate at H3K36. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2021; 1864:194744. [PMID: 34389510 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2021.194744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The antigenic variation is an essential mechanism employed by the malaria parasite to establish a chronic infection in humans. Three major virulent proteins EMP1, RIFINs, and STEVOR have been implicated in contributing to the antigenic variation process and are encoded by multigene families in Plasmodium spp. The key virulence factor PfEMP1 is encoded by var genes, and it exhibits a mutually exclusive transcriptional switching between var genes, ensuring an individual parasite only transcribes a single var gene at a time. Expression of var genes is tightly regulated by two histone epigenetic methylation marks H3K36me3 and H3K9me3, of which the H3K36me3 mark is highly enriched on transcription start sites (TSSs) of suppressed var genes in P. falciparum. However, the mechanisms of H3K36me3 mark propagation on all the 59 var genes of P. falciparum are not known. Here, we have identified a PHD (Plant Homeodomain-like Domain) like domain present within the PfSET2 protein that specifically binds to the H3K36me2 mark, an intermediate product of the H3K36me3 mark formation on the nucleosome. Surprisingly, we have found that PHD - H3K36me2 interaction leads to stimulation of SET2 domain activity on the nucleosome substrates. The allosteric stimulation of the PfSET2 domain by PHD-like domain present within the same protein suggests a novel mechanism of H3K36me3 mark propagation on var genes of P. falciparum. This study proposes allosteric regulation of PfSET2 protein by H3K36me2 mark as an essential mechanism of var genes suppression to ensure successful antigenic variation by the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devadathan Valiyamangalath Sethumadhavan
- Pathogen Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram-, 695014, Kerala, India; Ph.D registered with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Tiger Circle Road, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Gayathri Govindaraju
- Pathogen Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram-, 695014, Kerala, India; Ph.D registered with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Tiger Circle Road, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - C A Jabeena
- Pathogen Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram-, 695014, Kerala, India; Ph.D registered with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Tiger Circle Road, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Arumugam Rajavelu
- Pathogen Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram-, 695014, Kerala, India; Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, 600 036, India.
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29
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Johnson N, Philip N. Beyond phosphorylation: Putative roles of post-translational modifications in Plasmodium sexual stages. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 245:111406. [PMID: 34324911 PMCID: PMC8505795 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) allow proteins to regulate their structure, localisation and function in response to cell intrinsic and environmental signals. The diversity and number of modifications on proteins increase the complexity of cellular proteomes by orders of magnitude. Several proteomic and molecular studies have revealed an abundance of PTMs in malaria parasite proteome, where mediators of PTMs play crucial roles in parasite pathogenesis and transmission. In this article, we discuss recent findings in asexual stages of ten diverse PTMs and investigate whether these proteins are expressed in sexual stages. We discovered 25-50 % of proteins exhibiting post-translational modifications in asexual stages are also expressed in sexual stage gametocytes. Moreover we analyse the function of the modified proteins shared with the gametocyte proteome and try to encourage the scientific community to investigate the roles of diverse PTMs beyond phosphorylation in sexual stages which could not only reveal unique aspects of parasite biology, but also uncover new avenues for transmission blocking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nila Johnson
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Nisha Philip
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK.
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Rashidi S, Tuteja R, Mansouri R, Ali-Hassanzadeh M, Shafiei R, Ghani E, Karimazar M, Nguewa P, Manzano-Román R. The main post-translational modifications and related regulatory pathways in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum: An update. J Proteomics 2021; 245:104279. [PMID: 34089893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There are important challenges when investigating individual post-translational modifications (PTMs) or protein interaction network and delineating if PTMs or their changes and cross-talks are involved during infection, disease initiation or as a result of disease progression. Proteomics and in silico approaches now offer the possibility to complement each other to further understand the regulatory involvement of these modifications in parasites and infection biology. Accordingly, the current review highlights key expressed or altered proteins and PTMs are invisible switches that turn on and off the function of most of the proteins. PTMs include phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitylation, palmitoylation, myristoylation, prenylation, acetylation, methylation, and epigenetic PTMs in P. falciparum which have been recently identified. But also other low-abundant or overlooked PTMs that might be important for the parasite's survival, infectivity, antigenicity, immunomodulation and pathogenesis. We here emphasize the PTMs as regulatory pathways playing major roles in the biology, pathogenicity, metabolic pathways, survival, host-parasite interactions and the life cycle of P. falciparum. Further validations and functional characterizations of such proteins might confirm the discovery of therapeutic targets and might most likely provide valuable data for the treatment of P. falciparum, the main cause of severe malaria in human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Rashidi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Renu Tuteja
- Parasite Biology Group, ICGEB, P. O. Box 10504, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Reza Mansouri
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali-Hassanzadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Reza Shafiei
- Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Esmaeel Ghani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Karimazar
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Paul Nguewa
- University of Navarra, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Raúl Manzano-Román
- Proteomics Unit, Cancer Research Centre (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
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Cheeseman K, Jannot G, Lourenço N, Villares M, Berthelet J, Calegari-Silva T, Hamroune J, Letourneur F, Rodrigues-Lima F, Weitzman JB. Dynamic methylation of histone H3K18 in differentiating Theileria parasites. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3221. [PMID: 34050145 PMCID: PMC8163883 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23477-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysine methylation on histone tails impacts genome regulation and cell fate determination in many developmental processes. Apicomplexa intracellular parasites cause major diseases and they have developed complex life cycles with fine-tuned differentiation events. Yet, apicomplexa genomes have few transcription factors and little is known about their epigenetic control systems. Tick-borne Theileria apicomplexa species have relatively small, compact genomes and a remarkable ability to transform leucocytes in their bovine hosts. Here we report enriched H3 lysine 18 monomethylation (H3K18me1) on the gene bodies of repressed genes in Theileria macroschizonts. Differentiation to merozoites (merogony) leads to decreased H3K18me1 in parasite nuclei. Pharmacological manipulation of H3K18 acetylation or methylation impacted parasite differentiation and expression of stage-specific genes. Finally, we identify a parasite SET-domain methyltransferase (TaSETup1) that can methylate H3K18 and represses gene expression. Thus, H3K18me1 emerges as an important epigenetic mark which controls gene expression and stage differentiation in Theileria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Cheeseman
- Université de Paris, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Jannot
- Université de Paris, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Nelly Lourenço
- Université de Paris, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Marie Villares
- Université de Paris, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Berthelet
- Université de Paris, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Functional and Adaptive Biology, CNRS, Paris, France
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Peculiarities of Plasmodium falciparum Gene Regulation and Chromatin Structure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105168. [PMID: 34068393 PMCID: PMC8153576 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly complex life cycle of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is based on an orchestrated and tightly regulated gene expression program. In general, eukaryotic transcription regulation is determined by a combination of sequence-specific transcription factors binding to regulatory DNA elements and the packaging of DNA into chromatin as an additional layer. The accessibility of regulatory DNA elements is controlled by the nucleosome occupancy and changes of their positions by an active process called nucleosome remodeling. These epigenetic mechanisms are poorly explored in P. falciparum. The parasite genome is characterized by an extraordinarily high AT-content and the distinct architecture of functional elements, and chromatin-related proteins also exhibit high sequence divergence compared to other eukaryotes. Together with the distinct biochemical properties of nucleosomes, these features suggest substantial differences in chromatin-dependent regulation. Here, we highlight the peculiarities of epigenetic mechanisms in P. falciparum, addressing chromatin structure and dynamics with respect to their impact on transcriptional control. We focus on the specialized chromatin remodeling enzymes and discuss their essential function in P. falciparum gene regulation.
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33
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Jabeena CA, Govindaraju G, Rawat M, Gopi S, Sethumadhavan DV, Jaleel A, Sasankan D, Karmodiya K, Rajavelu A. Dynamic association of the H3K64 trimethylation mark with genes encoding exported proteins in Plasmodium falciparum. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100614. [PMID: 33839154 PMCID: PMC8095176 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications have emerged as critical regulators of virulence genes and stage-specific gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum. However, the specific roles of histone core epigenetic modifications in regulating the stage-specific gene expression are not well understood. In this study, we report an unconventional trimethylation at lysine 64 on histone 3 (H3K64me3) and characterize its functional relevance in P. falciparum. We show that PfSET4 and PfSET5 proteins of P. falciparum methylate H3K64 and that they prefer the nucleosome as a substrate over free histone 3 proteins. Structural analysis of PfSET5 revealed that it interacts with the nucleosome as a dimer. The H3K64me3 mark is dynamic, being enriched in the ring and trophozoite stages and drastically reduced in the schizont stages. Stage-specific global chromatin immunoprecipitation –sequencing analysis of the H3K64me3 mark revealed the selective enrichment of this methyl mark on the genes of exported family proteins in the ring and trophozoite stages and a significant reduction of the same in the schizont stages. Collectively, our data identify a novel epigenetic mark that is associated with the subset of genes encoding for exported proteins, which may regulate their expression in different stages of P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Jabeena
- Pathogen Biology Group, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Gayathri Govindaraju
- Pathogen Biology Group, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Mukul Rawat
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Soundhararajan Gopi
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Devadathan Valiyamangalath Sethumadhavan
- Pathogen Biology Group, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Abdul Jaleel
- Cardiovascular Disease Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Dhakshmi Sasankan
- Pathogen Biology Group, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Krishanpal Karmodiya
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Arumugam Rajavelu
- Pathogen Biology Group, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
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34
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Connacher J, Josling GA, Orchard LM, Reader J, Llinás M, Birkholtz LM. H3K36 methylation reprograms gene expression to drive early gametocyte development in Plasmodium falciparum. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:19. [PMID: 33794978 PMCID: PMC8017609 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00393-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Plasmodium sexual gametocyte stages are the only transmissible form of the malaria parasite and are thus responsible for the continued transmission of the disease. Gametocytes undergo extensive functional and morphological changes from commitment to maturity, directed by an equally extensive control program. However, the processes that drive the differentiation and development of the gametocyte post-commitment, remain largely unexplored. A previous study reported enrichment of H3K36 di- and tri-methylated (H3K36me2&3) histones in early-stage gametocytes. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing, we identify a stage-specific association between these repressive histone modifications and transcriptional reprogramming that define a stage II gametocyte transition point. Results Here, we show that H3K36me2 and H3K36me3 from stage II gametocytes are associated with repression of genes involved in asexual proliferation and sexual commitment, indicating that H3K36me2&3-mediated repression of such genes is essential to the transition from early gametocyte differentiation to intermediate development. Importantly, we show that the gene encoding the transcription factor AP2-G as commitment master regulator is enriched with H3K36me2&3 and actively repressed in stage II gametocytes, providing the first evidence of ap2-g gene repression in post-commitment gametocytes. Lastly, we associate the enhanced potency of the pan-selective Jumonji inhibitor JIB-04 in gametocytes with the inhibition of histone demethylation including H3K36me2&3 and a disruption of normal transcriptional programs. Conclusions Taken together, our results provide the first description of an association between global gene expression reprogramming and histone post-translational modifications during P. falciparum early sexual development. The stage II gametocyte-specific abundance of H3K36me2&3 manifests predominantly as an independent regulatory mechanism targeted towards genes that are repressed post-commitment. H3K36me2&3-associated repression of genes is therefore involved in key transcriptional shifts that accompany the transition from early gametocyte differentiation to intermediate development. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-021-00393-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Connacher
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Gabrielle A Josling
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lindsey M Orchard
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa.
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35
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Multistage and transmission-blocking targeted antimalarials discovered from the open-source MMV Pandemic Response Box. Nat Commun 2021; 12:269. [PMID: 33431834 PMCID: PMC7801607 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20629-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical matter is needed to target the divergent biology associated with the different life cycle stages of Plasmodium. Here, we report the parallel de novo screening of the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) Pandemic Response Box against Plasmodium asexual and liver stage parasites, stage IV/V gametocytes, gametes, oocysts and as endectocides. Unique chemotypes were identified with both multistage activity or stage-specific activity, including structurally diverse gametocyte-targeted compounds with potent transmission-blocking activity, such as the JmjC inhibitor ML324 and the antitubercular clinical candidate SQ109. Mechanistic investigations prove that ML324 prevents histone demethylation, resulting in aberrant gene expression and death in gametocytes. Moreover, the selection of parasites resistant to SQ109 implicates the druggable V-type H+-ATPase for the reduced sensitivity. Our data therefore provides an expansive dataset of compounds that could be redirected for antimalarial development and also point towards proteins that can be targeted in multiple parasite life cycle stages. Here, Reader et al. screen the Medicines for Malaria Venture Pandemic Response Box in parallel against Plasmodiumasexual and liver stage parasites, stage IV/V gametocytes, gametes, oocysts and as endectocides. They identify two potent transmission-blocking drugs: a histone demethylase inhibitor ML324 and the antitubercular SQ109.
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36
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Hollin T, Le Roch KG. From Genes to Transcripts, a Tightly Regulated Journey in Plasmodium. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:618454. [PMID: 33425787 PMCID: PMC7793691 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.618454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, we have witnessed significant progresses in understanding gene regulation in Apicomplexa including the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. This parasite possesses the ability to convert in multiple stages in various hosts, cell types, and environments. Recent findings indicate that P. falciparum is talented at using efficient and complementary molecular mechanisms to ensure a tight control of gene expression at each stage of its life cycle. Here, we review the current understanding on the contribution of the epigenome, atypical transcription factors, and chromatin organization to regulate stage conversion in P. falciparum. The adjustment of these regulatory mechanisms occurring during the progression of the life cycle will be extensively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hollin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, United States
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37
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Eukaryote-conserved histone post-translational modification landscape in Giardia duodenalis revealed by mass spectrometry. Int J Parasitol 2020; 51:225-239. [PMID: 33275945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Diarrheal disease caused by Giardia duodenalis is highly prevalent, causing over 200 million cases globally each year. The processes that drive parasite virulence, host immune evasion and transmission involve coordinated gene expression and have been linked to epigenetic regulation. Epigenetic regulatory systems are eukaryote-conserved, including in deep branching excavates such as Giardia, with several studies already implicating histone post-translational modifications in regulation of its pathogenesis and life cycle. However, further insights into Giardia chromatin dynamics have been hindered by a lack of site-specific knowledge of histone modifications. Using mass spectrometry, we have provided the first known molecular map of histone methylation, acetylation and phosphorylation modifications in Giardia core histones. We have identified over 50 previously unreported histone modifications including sites with established roles in epigenetic regulation, and co-occurring modifications indicative of post-translational modification crosstalk. These demonstrate conserved histone modifications in Giardia which are equivalent to many other eukaryotes, and suggest that similar epigenetic mechanisms are in place in this parasite. Further, we used sequence, domain and structural homology to annotate putative histone enzyme networks in Giardia, highlighting representative chromatin modifiers which appear sufficient for identified sites, particularly those from H3 and H4 variants. This study is to our knowledge the first and most comprehensive, complete and accurate view of Giardia histone post-translational modifications to date, and a substantial step towards understanding their associations in parasite development and virulence.
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38
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Wang J, Jiang N, Sang X, Yang N, Feng Y, Chen R, Wang X, Chen Q. Protein Modification Characteristics of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the Infected Erythrocytes. Mol Cell Proteomics 2020; 20:100001. [PMID: 33517144 PMCID: PMC7857547 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra120.002375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria elimination is still pending on the development of novel tools that rely on a deep understanding of parasite biology. Proteins of all living cells undergo myriad posttranslational modifications (PTMs) that are critical to multifarious life processes. An extensive proteome-wide dissection revealed a fine PTM map of most proteins in both Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of severe malaria, and the infected red blood cells. More than two-thirds of proteins of the parasite and its host cell underwent extensive and dynamic modification throughout the erythrocytic developmental stage. PTMs critically modulate the virulence factors involved in the host-parasite interaction and pathogenesis. Furthermore, P. falciparum stabilized the supporting proteins of erythrocyte origin by selective demodification. Collectively, our multiple omic analyses, apart from having furthered a deep understanding of the systems biology of P. falciparum and malaria pathogenesis, provide a valuable resource for mining new antimalarial targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China; College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, China; College of Basic Sciences, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, China; The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China.
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39
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Tang J, Chisholm SA, Yeoh LM, Gilson PR, Papenfuss AT, Day KP, Petter M, Duffy MF. Histone modifications associated with gene expression and genome accessibility are dynamically enriched at Plasmodium falciparum regulatory sequences. Epigenetics Chromatin 2020; 13:50. [PMID: 33225957 PMCID: PMC7682024 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-020-00365-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has an unusually euchromatic genome with poorly conserved positioning of nucleosomes in intergenic sequences and poorly understood mechanisms of gene regulation. Variant histones and histone modifications determine nucleosome stability and recruit trans factors, but their combinatorial contribution to gene regulation is unclear. Results Here, we show that the histone H3 acetylations H3K18ac and H3K27ac and the variant histone Pf H2A.Z are enriched together at regulatory sites upstream of genes. H3K18ac and H3K27ac together dynamically mark regulatory regions of genes expressed during the asexual life cycle. In contrast, H3K4me1 is depleted in intergenic sequence and dynamically depleted upstream of expressed genes. The temporal pattern of H3K27ac and H3K18ac enrichment indicates that they accumulate during S phase and mitosis and are retained at regulatory sequences until at least G1 phase and after cessation of expression of the cognate genes. We integrated our ChIPseq data with existing datasets to show that in schizont stages H3K18ac, H3K27ac and Pf H2A.Z colocalise with the transcription factor PfAP2-I and the bromodomain protein PfBDP1 and are enriched at stably positioned nucleosomes within regions of exposed DNA at active transcriptional start sites. Using transient transfections we showed that sequences enriched with colocalised H3K18ac, H3K27ac and Pf H2A.Z possess promoter activity in schizont stages, but no enhancer-like activity. Conclusions The dynamic H3 acetylations define P. falciparum regulatory sequences and contribute to gene activation. These findings expand the knowledge of the chromatin landscape that regulates gene expression in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Tang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Scott A Chisholm
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Bio21 Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Lee M Yeoh
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.,Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Anthony T Papenfuss
- Bioinformatics Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum, Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Karen P Day
- Bio21 Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Michaela Petter
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.,Erlangen University, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael F Duffy
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia. .,Bio21 Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.
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40
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Dynamic Chromatin Structure and Epigenetics Control the Fate of Malaria Parasites. Trends Genet 2020; 37:73-85. [PMID: 32988634 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Multiple hosts and various life cycle stages prompt the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, to acquire sophisticated molecular mechanisms to ensure its survival, spread, and transmission to its next host. To face these environmental challenges, increasing evidence suggests that the parasite has developed complex and complementary layers of regulatory mechanisms controlling gene expression. Here, we discuss the recent developments in the discovery of molecular components that contribute to cell replication and differentiation and highlight the major contributions of epigenetics, transcription factors, and nuclear architecture in controlling gene regulation and life cycle progression in Plasmodium spp.
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41
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Activity of Epigenetic Inhibitors against Plasmodium falciparum Asexual and Sexual Blood Stages. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.02523-19. [PMID: 32366713 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02523-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Earlier genetic and inhibitor studies showed that epigenetic regulation of gene expression is critical for malaria parasite survival in multiple life stages and a promising target for new antimalarials. We therefore evaluated the activity of 350 diverse epigenetic inhibitors against multiple stages of Plasmodium falciparum We observed ≥90% inhibition at 10 μM for 28% of compounds against asexual blood stages and early gametocytes, of which a third retained ≥90% inhibition at 1 μM.
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42
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Zsidó BZ, Hetényi C. Molecular Structure, Binding Affinity, and Biological Activity in the Epigenome. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114134. [PMID: 32531926 PMCID: PMC7311975 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of valid structure–activity relationships (SARs) is a key to the elucidation of pathomechanisms of epigenetic diseases and the development of efficient, new drugs. The present review is based on selected methodologies and applications supplying molecular structure, binding affinity and biological activity data for the development of new SARs. An emphasis is placed on emerging trends and permanent challenges of new discoveries of SARs in the context of proteins as epigenetic drug targets. The review gives a brief overview and classification of the molecular background of epigenetic changes, and surveys both experimental and theoretical approaches in the field. Besides the results of sophisticated, cutting edge techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy, protein crystallography, and isothermal titration calorimetry, examples of frequently used assays and fast screening techniques are also selected. The review features how different experimental methods and theoretical approaches complement each other and result in valid SARs of the epigenome.
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43
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Hoeijmakers WAM, Miao J, Schmidt S, Toenhake CG, Shrestha S, Venhuizen J, Henderson R, Birnbaum J, Ghidelli-Disse S, Drewes G, Cui L, Stunnenberg HG, Spielmann T, Bártfai R. Epigenetic reader complexes of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:11574-11588. [PMID: 31728527 PMCID: PMC7145593 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms are central to the development and survival of all eukaryotic organisms. These mechanisms critically depend on the marking of chromatin domains with distinctive histone tail modifications (PTMs) and their recognition by effector protein complexes. Here we used quantitative proteomic approaches to unveil interactions between PTMs and associated reader protein complexes of Plasmodium falciparum, a unicellular parasite causing malaria. Histone peptide pull-downs with the most prominent and/or parasite-specific PTMs revealed the binding preference for 14 putative and novel reader proteins. Amongst others, they highlighted the acetylation-level-dependent recruitment of the BDP1/BDP2 complex and identified an PhD-finger protein (PHD 1, PF3D7_1008100) that could mediate a cross-talk between H3K4me2/3 and H3K9ac marks. Tagging and interaction proteomics of 12 identified proteins unveiled the composition of 5 major epigenetic complexes, including the elusive TBP-associated-factor complex as well as two distinct GCN5/ADA2 complexes. Furthermore, it has highlighted a remarkable degree of interaction between these five (sub)complexes. Collectively, this study provides an extensive inventory of PTM-reader interactions and composition of epigenetic complexes. It will not only fuel further explorations of gene regulation amongst ancient eukaryotes, but also provides a stepping stone for exploration of PTM-reader interactions for antimalarial drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jun Miao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.,Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sabine Schmidt
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Section, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg D-20359, Germany
| | | | - Sony Shrestha
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jeron Venhuizen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands
| | - Rob Henderson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands.,TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen 6534 AT, the Netherlands
| | - Jakob Birnbaum
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Section, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg D-20359, Germany
| | | | - Gerard Drewes
- Cellzome GmbH, a GlaxoSmithKline Company, Heidelberg 69117, Germany
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.,Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Hendrik Gerard Stunnenberg
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands.,Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht 3584CS, the Netherlands
| | - Tobias Spielmann
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Section, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg D-20359, Germany
| | - Richárd Bártfai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands
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Matthews KA, Senagbe KM, Nötzel C, Gonzales CA, Tong X, Rijo-Ferreira F, Bhanu NV, Miguel-Blanco C, Lafuente-Monasterio MJ, Garcia BA, Kafsack BFC, Martinez ED. Disruption of the Plasmodium falciparum Life Cycle through Transcriptional Reprogramming by Inhibitors of Jumonji Demethylases. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:1058-1075. [PMID: 32272012 PMCID: PMC7748244 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Little
is known about the role of the three Jumonji C (JmjC) enzymes
in Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Here,
we show that JIB-04 and other established inhibitors of mammalian
JmjC histone demethylases kill asexual blood stage parasites and are
even more potent at blocking gametocyte development and gamete formation.
In late stage parasites, JIB-04 increased levels of trimethylated
lysine residues on histones, suggesting the inhibition of P. falciparum Jumonji demethylase activity. These epigenetic
defects coincide with deregulation of invasion, cell motor, and sexual
development gene programs, including gene targets coregulated by the
PfAP2-I transcription factor and chromatin-binding factor, PfBDP1.
Mechanistically, we demonstrate that PfJmj3 converts 2-oxoglutarate
to succinate in an iron-dependent manner consistent with mammalian
Jumonji enzymes, and this catalytic activity is inhibited by JIB-04
and other Jumonji inhibitors. Our pharmacological studies of Jumonji
activity in the malaria parasite provide evidence that inhibition
of these enzymatic activities is detrimental to the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista A. Matthews
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Kossi M. Senagbe
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Christopher Nötzel
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, W-705, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, W-705, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Christopher A. Gonzales
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Xinran Tong
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, W-705, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Filipa Rijo-Ferreira
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Natarajan V. Bhanu
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Bldg. 421, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Celia Miguel-Blanco
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, P.T.M. Severo Ochoa, Tres Cantos, Madrid 28760, Spain
| | | | - Benjamin A. Garcia
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Bldg. 421, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Björn F. C. Kafsack
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, W-705, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, W-705, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Elisabeth D. Martinez
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
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45
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Ruiz JL, Gómez-Díaz E. The second life of Plasmodium in the mosquito host: gene regulation on the move. Brief Funct Genomics 2020; 18:313-357. [PMID: 31058281 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites face dynamically changing environments and strong selective constraints within human and mosquito hosts. To survive such hostile and shifting conditions, Plasmodium switches transcriptional programs during development and has evolved mechanisms to adjust its phenotype through heterogeneous patterns of gene expression. In vitro studies on culture-adapted isolates have served to set the link between chromatin structure and functional gene expression. Yet, experimental evidence is limited to certain stages of the parasite in the vertebrate, i.e. blood, while the precise mechanisms underlying the dynamic regulatory landscapes during development and in the adaptation to within-host conditions remain poorly understood. In this review, we discuss available data on transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in Plasmodium mosquito stages in the context of sporogonic development and phenotypic variation, including both bet-hedging and environmentally triggered direct transcriptional responses. With this, we advocate the mosquito offers an in vivo biological model to investigate the regulatory networks, transcription factors and chromatin-modifying enzymes and their modes of interaction with regulatory sequences, which might be responsible for the plasticity of the Plasmodium genome that dictates stage- and cell type-specific blueprints of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Ruiz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra (IPBLN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Elena Gómez-Díaz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra (IPBLN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
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46
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Coetzee N, von Grüning H, Opperman D, van der Watt M, Reader J, Birkholtz LM. Epigenetic inhibitors target multiple stages of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2355. [PMID: 32047203 PMCID: PMC7012883 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59298-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenome of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is associated with regulation of various essential processes in the parasite including control of proliferation during asexual development as well as control of sexual differentiation. The unusual nature of the epigenome has prompted investigations into the potential to target epigenetic modulators with novel chemotypes. Here, we explored the diversity within a library of 95 compounds, active against various epigenetic modifiers in cancerous cells, for activity against multiple stages of P. falciparum development. We show that P. falciparum is differentially susceptible to epigenetic perturbation during both asexual and sexual development, with early stage gametocytes particularly sensitive to epi-drugs targeting both histone and non-histone epigenetic modifiers. Moreover, 5 compounds targeting histone acetylation and methylation show potent multistage activity against asexual parasites, early and late stage gametocytes, with transmission-blocking potential. Overall, these results warrant further examination of the potential antimalarial properties of these hit compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanika Coetzee
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Hilde von Grüning
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Daniel Opperman
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariette van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa.
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van Biljon R, van Wyk R, Painter HJ, Orchard L, Reader J, Niemand J, Llinás M, Birkholtz LM. Hierarchical transcriptional control regulates Plasmodium falciparum sexual differentiation. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:920. [PMID: 31795940 PMCID: PMC6889441 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6322-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria pathogenesis relies on sexual gametocyte forms of the malaria parasite to be transmitted between the infected human and the mosquito host but the molecular mechanisms controlling gametocytogenesis remains poorly understood. Here we provide a high-resolution transcriptome of Plasmodium falciparum as it commits to and develops through gametocytogenesis. RESULTS The gametocyte-associated transcriptome is significantly different from that of the asexual parasites, with dynamic gene expression shifts characterizing early, intermediate and late-stage gametocyte development and results in differential timing for sex-specific transcripts. The transcriptional dynamics suggest strict transcriptional control during gametocytogenesis in P. falciparum, which we propose is mediated by putative regulators including epigenetic mechanisms (driving active repression of proliferation-associated processes) and a cascade-like expression of ApiAP2 transcription factors. CONCLUSIONS The gametocyte transcriptome serves as the blueprint for sexual differentiation and will be a rich resource for future functional studies on this critical stage of Plasmodium development, as the intraerythrocytic transcriptome has been for our understanding of the asexual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riëtte van Biljon
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Roelof van Wyk
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Heather J Painter
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, the Huck Center for Malaria Research, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Review, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Lindsey Orchard
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, the Huck Center for Malaria Research, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Jandeli Niemand
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, the Huck Center for Malaria Research, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa.
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Ngwa CJ, Kiesow MJ, Orchard LM, Farrukh A, Llinás M, Pradel G. The G9a Histone Methyltransferase Inhibitor BIX-01294 Modulates Gene Expression during Plasmodium falciparum Gametocyte Development and Transmission. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20205087. [PMID: 31615031 PMCID: PMC6829282 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum from the human to the mosquito is initiated by specialized sexual cells, the gametocytes. In the human, gametocytes are formed in response to stress signals and following uptake by a blood-feeding Anopheles mosquito initiate sexual reproduction. Gametocytes need to fine-tune their gene expression in order to develop inside the mosquito to continue life-cycle progression. Previously, we showed that post-translational histone acetylation controls gene expression during gametocyte development and transmission. However, the role of histone methylation remains poorly understood. We here use the histone G9a methyltransferase inhibitor BIX-01294 to investigate the role of histone methylation in regulating gene expression in gametocytes. In vitro assays demonstrated that BIX-01294 inhibits intraerythrocytic replication with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 13.0 nM. Furthermore, BIX-01294 significantly impairs gametocyte maturation and reduces the formation of gametes and zygotes. Comparative transcriptomics between BIX-01294-treated and untreated immature, mature and activated gametocytes demonstrated greater than 1.5-fold deregulation of approximately 359 genes. The majority of these genes are transcriptionally downregulated in the activated gametocytes and could be assigned to transcription, translation, and signaling, indicating a contribution of histone methylations in mediating gametogenesis. Our combined data show that inhibitors of histone methylation may serve as a multi-stage antimalarial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Julius Ngwa
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Meike Jutta Kiesow
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Lindsey Marie Orchard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Afia Farrukh
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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Jabeena CA, Rajavelu A. Epigenetic Players of Chromatin Structure Regulation in Plasmodium falciparum. Chembiochem 2019; 20:1225-1230. [PMID: 30632244 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Plasmodium has evolved to survive in different hosts and environments. The diverse strategies of adaptation to different niches involve differential gene expression mechanisms mediated by chromatin plasticity that are poorly characterized in Plasmodium. The parasite employs a wide variety of regulatory mechanisms to complete their life cycle and survive inside hosts. Among them, epigenetic-mediated mechanisms have been implicated for controlling chromatin organization, gene regulation, morphological differentiation, and antigenic variation. The differential gene expression in parasite is largely dependent on the nature of the chromatin structure. The histone core methylation marks and methyl mark readers contribute to chromatin dynamics. Here, we review the recent developments on various epigenetic marks and its enzymes in the Plasmodium falciparum, how these marks play a key role in the regulation of transcriptional activity of variable genes and coordinate the differential gene expression. We also discuss the possible roles of these epigenetic marks in chromatin structure regulation and plasticity at various stages of its development.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Jabeena
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Tiger Circle Road, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Arumugam Rajavelu
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India
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50
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Inducing controlled cell cycle arrest and re-entry during asexual proliferation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16581. [PMID: 30409996 PMCID: PMC6224408 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34964-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The life cycle of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is tightly regulated, oscillating between stages of intense proliferation and quiescence. Cyclic 48-hour asexual replication of Plasmodium is markedly different from cell division in higher eukaryotes, and mechanistically poorly understood. Here, we report tight synchronisation of malaria parasites during the early phases of the cell cycle by exposure to DL-α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), which results in the depletion of polyamines. This induces an inescapable cell cycle arrest in G1 (~15 hours post-invasion) by blocking G1/S transition. Cell cycle-arrested parasites enter a quiescent G0-like state but, upon addition of exogenous polyamines, re-initiate their cell cycle. This ability to halt malaria parasites at a specific point in their cell cycle, and to subsequently trigger re-entry into the cell cycle, provides a valuable framework to investigate cell cycle regulation in these parasites. We subsequently used gene expression analyses to show that re-entry into the cell cycle involves expression of Ca2+-sensitive (cdpk4 and pk2) and mitotic kinases (nima and ark2), with deregulation of the pre-replicative complex associated with expression of pk2. Changes in gene expression could be driven through transcription factors MYB1 and two ApiAP2 family members. This new approach to parasite synchronisation therefore expands our currently limited toolkit to investigate cell cycle regulation in malaria parasites.
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