1
|
Sivakumar R, Floyd K, Jessey E, Kim JK, Bayguinov PO, Fitzpatrick JA, Goldfrab D, Jovanovic M, Tripathi A, Djuranovic S, Pavlovic-Djuranovic S. Poly-basic peptides and polymers as new drug candidate against Plasmodium falciparum. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.16.558069. [PMID: 37745508 PMCID: PMC10516022 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.16.558069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria-causing parasite, is a leading cause of infection-induced deaths worldwide. The preferred treatment approach is artemisinin-combination therapy, which couples fast-acting artemisinin derivatives with longer-acting drugs like lumefantrine, mefloquine, and amodiaquine. However, the urgency for new treatments has risen due to the parasite's growing resistance to existing therapies. Our study shows that a common characteristic of the P. falciparum proteome - stretches of poly-lysine residues such as those found in proteins related to adhesion and pathogenicity - can serve as an effective peptide treatment for infected erythrocytes. A single dose of these poly-basic peptides can successfully diminish parasitemia in human erythrocytes in vitro with minimal toxicity. The effectiveness of the treatment correlates with the length of the poly-lysine peptide, with 30 lysine peptides supporting the eradication of erythrocytic parasites within 72 hours. PEG-ylation of the poly-lysine peptides or utilizing poly-lysine dendrimers and polymers further increases parasite clearance efficiency and bolsters the stability of these potential new therapeutics. Lastly, our affinity pull-downs and mass-spectrometry identify P. falciparum's outer membrane proteins as likely targets for polybasic peptide medications. Since poly-lysine dendrimers are already FDA-approved for drug delivery, their adaptation as antimalarial drugs presents a promising new therapeutic strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Sivakumar
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
| | - Katherine Floyd
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
| | - Erath Jessey
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
| | - Jenny Kim Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University; New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter O. Bayguinov
- Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
| | - James A.J. Fitzpatrick
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
- Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
| | - Dennis Goldfrab
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
| | - Marko Jovanovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University; New York, New York, USA
| | - Abhai Tripathi
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sergej Djuranovic
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine; Missouri, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Matos ADS, Soares IF, Baptista BDO, de Souza HADS, Chaves LB, Perce-da-Silva DDS, Riccio EKP, Albrecht L, Totino PRR, Rodrigues-da-Silva RN, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Pratt-Riccio LR, Lima-Junior JDC. Construction, Expression, and Evaluation of the Naturally Acquired Humoral Immune Response against Plasmodium vivax RMC-1, a Multistage Chimeric Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11571. [PMID: 37511330 PMCID: PMC10380678 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411571] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The PvCelTOS, PvCyRPA, and Pvs25 proteins play important roles during the three stages of the P. vivax lifecycle. In this study, we designed and expressed a P. vivax recombinant modular chimeric protein (PvRMC-1) composed of the main antigenic regions of these vaccine candidates. After structure modelling by prediction, the chimeric protein was expressed, and the antigenicity was assessed by IgM and IgG (total and subclass) ELISA in 301 naturally exposed individuals from the Brazilian Amazon. The recombinant protein was recognized by IgG (54%) and IgM (40%) antibodies in the studied individuals, confirming the natural immunogenicity of the epitopes that composed PvRMC-1 as its maintenance in the chimeric structure. Among responders, a predominant cytophilic response mediated by IgG1 (70%) and IgG3 (69%) was observed. IgM levels were inversely correlated with age and time of residence in endemic areas (p < 0.01). By contrast, the IgG and IgM reactivity indexes were positively correlated with each other, and both were inversely correlated with the time of the last malaria episode. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that PvRMC-1 was successfully expressed and targeted by natural antibodies, providing important insights into the construction of a multistage chimeric recombinant protein and the use of naturally acquired antibodies to validate the construction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ada da Silva Matos
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ferreira Soares
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Barbara de Oliveira Baptista
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Hugo Amorim Dos Santos de Souza
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lana Bitencourt Chaves
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daiana de Souza Perce-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Centro Universitário Arthur Sá Earp Neto/Faculdade de Medicina de Petrópolis (UNIFASE/FMP), Petrópolis 25680-120, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Evelyn Kety Pratt Riccio
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Letusa Albrecht
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Apicomplexa, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil
| | - Paulo Renato Rivas Totino
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Nunes Rodrigues-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Imunológica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos (Bio-Manguinhos), Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz e Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lilian Rose Pratt-Riccio
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Fiocruz e Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Josué da Costa Lima-Junior
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sharma I, Fang J, Lewallen EA, Deitsch KW, McCutchan TF. Identification of a long noncoding RNA required for temperature induced expression of stage-specific rRNA in malaria parasites. Gene 2023:147516. [PMID: 37286021 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium cause malaria, a mosquito borne disease responsible for substantial health and economic costs throughout the developing world. During transition from human host to insect vector, the parasites undergo profound changes in morphology, host cell tropism and gene expression. Unique among eukaryotes, Plasmodium differentiation through each stage of development includes differential expression of singular, stage-specific ribosomal RNAs, permitting real-time adaptability to major environmental changes. In the mosquito vector, these Plasmodium parasites respond to changes in temperature by modulating transcriptional activities, allowing real-time responses to environmental cues. Here, we identify a novel form of long noncoding RNA: a temperature-regulated untranslated lncRNA (tru-lncRNA) that influences the Plasmodium parasite's ability to respond to changes in its local environment. Expression of this tru-lncRNA is specifically induced by shifts in temperature from 37°C to ambient temperature that parallels the transition from mammalian host to insect vector. Interestingly, deletion of tru-lncRNA from the genome may prevent processing of S-type rRNA thereby affecting the protein synthesis machinery. Malaria prevention and mitigation strategies aimed at disrupting the Plasmodium life cycle will benefit from the characterization of ancillary biomolecules (including tru-lncRNAs) that are constitutively sensitive to micro- environmental parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indu Sharma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton Virginia, USA.
| | - Jun Fang
- Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric A Lewallen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton Virginia, USA
| | - Kirk W Deitsch
- Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY
| | - Thomas F McCutchan
- Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sidorova TV, Kutyrev IA, Khabudaev KV, Sukhanova LV, Zheng Y, Dugarov ZN, Mazur OE. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of the larval and adult stages of Dibothriocephalus dendriticus (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea). Parasitol Res 2023; 122:145-156. [PMID: 36370234 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07708-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Tapeworms of the genus Dibothriocephalus are widely distributed throughout the world, some of which are agents of human diphyllobothriasis, one of the most important fish-borne zoonoses caused by a cestode parasite. Genomic and transcriptomic data can be used to develop future diagnostic tools and epidemiological studies. The present work focuses on a comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of adult and plerocercoid D. dendriticus and the identification of their differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Transcriptome assembly and analysis yielded and annotated 35,129 unigenes, noting that 16,568 (47%) unigenes were not annotated in known databases, which may indicate a unique set of expressed transcripts for D. dendriticus. A total of 8022 differentially expressed transcripts were identified, including 3225 upregulated and 4797 downregulated differentially expressed transcripts from the plerocercoid and adult animals. The analysis of DEGs has shown that among the most differentially expressed genes, there are important genes characteristic of each stage. Thus, several genes are characteristic of D. dendriticus plerocercoids, including fatty acid-binding protein and ferritin. Among the most highly expressed DEGs of the adult stage of D. dendriticus is the Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor, in two putative isoforms. The analyses of GO and KEGG metabolic pathways revealed that a large number of the DEGs of D. dendriticus are associated with the biosynthesis of various substances such as arginine and folate, as well as with various metabolic pathways such as galactose metabolism, selenocompound metabolism, and phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism. This will contribute to further research aimed at identifying targets for new generation drugs and the development of specific vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tuyana Valeryevna Sidorova
- Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047, Ulan-Ude, Russia.,Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia
| | - Ivan Alexandrovich Kutyrev
- Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047, Ulan-Ude, Russia.
| | | | | | - Yadong Zheng
- Zhejiang A&F University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhargal Nimaevich Dugarov
- Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047, Ulan-Ude, Russia
| | - Olga Evgenievna Mazur
- Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 670047, Ulan-Ude, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Functional characterization of 5' UTR cis-acting sequence elements that modulate translational efficiency in Plasmodium falciparum and humans. Malar J 2022; 21:15. [PMID: 34991611 PMCID: PMC8739713 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-04024-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The eukaryotic parasite Plasmodium falciparum causes millions of malarial infections annually while drug resistance to common anti-malarials is further confounding eradication efforts. Translation is an attractive therapeutic target that will benefit from a deeper mechanistic understanding. As the rate limiting step of translation, initiation is a primary driver of translational efficiency. It is a complex process regulated by both cis and trans acting factors, providing numerous potential targets. Relative to model organisms and humans, P. falciparum mRNAs feature unusual 5′ untranslated regions suggesting cis-acting sequence complexity in this parasite may act to tune levels of protein synthesis through their effects on translational efficiency. Methods Here, in vitro translation is deployed to compare the role of cis-acting regulatory sequences in P. falciparum and humans. Using parasite mRNAs with high or low translational efficiency, the presence, position, and termination status of upstream “AUG”s, in addition to the base composition of the 5′ untranslated regions, were characterized. Results The density of upstream “AUG”s differed significantly among the most and least efficiently translated genes in P. falciparum, as did the average “GC” content of the 5′ untranslated regions. Using exemplars from highly translated and poorly translated mRNAs, multiple putative upstream elements were interrogated for impact on translational efficiency. Upstream “AUG”s were found to repress translation to varying degrees, depending on their position and context, while combinations of upstream “AUG”s had non-additive effects. The base composition of the 5′ untranslated regions also impacted translation, but to a lesser degree. Surprisingly, the effects of cis-acting sequences were remarkably conserved between P. falciparum and humans. Conclusions While translational regulation is inherently complex, this work contributes toward a more comprehensive understanding of parasite and human translational regulation by examining the impact of discrete cis-acting features, acting alone or in context. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-021-04024-2.
Collapse
|
6
|
Ngwa CJ, Farrukh A, Pradel G. Zinc finger proteins of Plasmodium falciparum. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13387. [PMID: 34418264 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are a large diverse family of proteins with one or more zinc finger domains in which zinc is important in stabilising the domain. ZFPs can interact with DNA, RNA, lipids or even other proteins and therefore contribute to diverse cellular processes including transcriptional regulation, ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, mRNA decay and stability. In this review, we provide the first comprehensive classification of ZFPs of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and provide a state of knowledge on the main ZFPs in the parasite, which include the C2H2, CCCH, RING finger and the PHD finger proteins. TAKE AWAYS: The Plasmodium falciparum genome encodes 170 putative Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs). The C2H2, CCCH, RING finger and PHD finger subfamilies of ZFPs are most represented. Known ZFP functions include the regulation of mRNA metabolism and proteostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Che Julius Ngwa
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Afia Farrukh
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, Institute of Zoology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ueti MW, Johnson WC, Kappmeyer LS, Herndon DR, Mousel MR, Reif KE, Taus NS, Ifeonu OO, Silva JC, Suarez CE, Brayton KA. Comparative analysis of gene expression between Babesia bovis blood stages and kinetes allowed by improved genome annotation. Int J Parasitol 2020; 51:123-136. [PMID: 33069745 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.08.006] [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: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Throughout their life cycle, Babesia parasites alternate between a mammalian host, where they cause babesiosis, and the tick vector. Transition between hosts results in distinct environmental signals that influence patterns of gene expression, consistent with the morphological and functional changes operating in the parasites during their life stages. In addition, comparing differential patterns of gene expression among mammalian and tick parasite stages can provide clues for developing improved methods of control. Hereby, we upgraded the genome assembly of Babesia bovis, a bovine hemoparasite, closing a 139 kbp gap, and used RNA-Seq datasets derived from mammalian blood and tick kinete stages to update the genome annotation. Of the originally annotated genes, 1,254 required structural changes, and 326 new genes were identified, leading to a different predicted proteome compared to the original annotation. Next, the RNA-Seq data was used to identify B. bovis genes that were differentially expressed in the vertebrate and arthropod hosts. In blood stages, 28% of the genes were upregulated up to 300 fold, whereas 26% of the genes in kinetes, a tick stage, were upregulated up to >19,000 fold. We thus discovered differentially expressed genes that may play key biological roles and serve as suitable targets for the development of vaccines to control bovine babesiosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Massaro W Ueti
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, USA; Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
| | | | | | - David R Herndon
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Michelle R Mousel
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, USA; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Kathryn E Reif
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, USA; Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Naomi S Taus
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, USA; Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Olukemi O Ifeonu
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joana C Silva
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carlos E Suarez
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, USA; Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Kelly A Brayton
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gonadal transcriptomic analysis of the mud crab Scylla olivacea infected with rhizocephalan parasite Sacculina beauforti. Genomics 2020; 112:2959-2969. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
9
|
Pavlovic Djuranovic S, Erath J, Andrews RJ, Bayguinov PO, Chung JJ, Chalker DL, Fitzpatrick JAJ, Moss WN, Szczesny P, Djuranovic S. Plasmodium falciparum translational machinery condones polyadenosine repeats. eLife 2020; 9:e57799. [PMID: 32469313 PMCID: PMC7295572 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is a causative agent of human malaria. Sixty percent of mRNAs from its extremely AT-rich (81%) genome harbor long polyadenosine (polyA) runs within their ORFs, distinguishing the parasite from its hosts and other sequenced organisms. Recent studies indicate polyA runs cause ribosome stalling and frameshifting, triggering mRNA surveillance pathways and attenuating protein synthesis. Here, we show that P. falciparum is an exception to this rule. We demonstrate that both endogenous genes and reporter sequences containing long polyA runs are efficiently and accurately translated in P. falciparum cells. We show that polyA runs do not elicit any response from No Go Decay (NGD) or result in the production of frameshifted proteins. This is in stark contrast to what we observe in human cells or T. thermophila, an organism with similar AT-content. Finally, using stalling reporters we show that Plasmodium cells evolved not to have a fully functional NGD pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessey Erath
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Ryan J Andrews
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State UniversityAmesUnited States
| | - Peter O Bayguinov
- Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisUnited States
| | - Joyce J Chung
- Department of Biology, Washington UniversitySt LouisUnited States
| | | | - James AJ Fitzpatrick
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisUnited States
- Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington UniversitySt LouisUnited States
| | - Walter N Moss
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State UniversityAmesUnited States
| | - Pawel Szczesny
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of BioinformaticsWarsawPoland
| | - Sergej Djuranovic
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of MedicineSt. LouisUnited States
| |
Collapse
|