Histone 4 lysine 8 acetylation regulates proliferation and host-pathogen interaction in Plasmodium falciparum

Background

The dynamics of histone modifications in Plasmodium falciparum indicates the existence of unique mechanisms that link epigenetic factors with transcription. Here, we studied the impact of acetylated histone code on transcriptional regulation during the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle (IDC) of P. falciparum.

Results

Using a dominant-negative transgenic approach, we showed that acetylations of histone H4 play a direct role in transcription. Specifically, these histone modifications mediate an inverse transcriptional relationship between the factors of cell proliferation and host–parasite interaction. Out of the four H4 acetylations, H4K8ac is likely the rate-limiting, regulatory step, which modulates the overall dynamics of H4 posttranslational modifications. H4K8ac exhibits maximum responsiveness to HDAC inhibitors and has a highly dynamic distribution pattern along the genome of P. falciparum during the IDC. Moreover, H4K8ac functions mainly in the euchromatin where its occupancy shifts from intergenic regions located upstream of 5′ end of open reading frame into the protein coding regions. This shift is directly or indirectly associated with transcriptional activities at the corresponding genes. H4K8ac is also active in the heterochromatin where it stimulates expression of the main antigenic gene family (var) by its presence in the promoter region.

Conclusions

Overall, we demonstrate that H4K8ac is a potential major regulator of chromatin-linked transcriptional changes during P. falciparum life cycle which is associated not only with euchromatin but also with heterochromatin environment. This is potentially a highly significant finding that suggests a regulatory connection between growth and parasite–host interaction both of which play a major role in malaria parasite virulence.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13072-017-0147-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Epigenetic landscapes underlining global patterns of gene expression in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

The dynamic chromatin landscape displaying combinatorial complexity of the epigenome impacts gene expression that underlies many events of differentiation and cell cycle progression. In the past few years, epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as important processes involved in the tight gene regulation in malaria parasites, Plasmodium spp. Focusing predominantly on Plasmodium falciparum, the species associated with the most severe form of the disease, many advances have been made in our understanding of the interaction between transcriptional regulation and epigenetic mechanisms as the pivotal processes in regulating life cycle progression, host parasite interactions and parasite adaptation to the host environment. This review focuses on the epigenome and its effect on transcriptional regulation in P. falciparum, highlighting its unique, evolutionary diverse features.

Hepatoprotective activity of LC-ESI-MS standardized Iris spuria rhizome extract on its main bioactive constituents

The study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Iris spuria against paracetamol induced toxicity at two different doses 100 and 200 mg/kg. The extract showed significant protective activity (p>0.01) at both the doses in dose dependent manner. Administration of the plant extract restored the paracetamol induced elevated levels of serum marker and distorted hepatic tissue architecture. The lipid peroxides (LPO) and glutathione (GSH) levels were also restored towards normal in liver tissue significantly. The main chemical constituents of the extract identified by the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MSMS) were found to be flavones and isoflavonoids. Tectoridin and iristectorigenin A were the principal compounds present in the methanolic extract of Iris spuria.

Volatile (As and Hg) and non-volatile (Pb and Cd) toxic heavy metals analysis in rhizome of Zingiber officinale collected from different locations of North Western Himalayas by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Ginger is an important ingredient of spice and herbals. The monitoring of toxic heavy metals in the rhizome of ginger is important for protecting public health against the hazards of metal toxicity. The concentration of volatile and non-volatile metals (As, Hg, Pb and Cd), in the soil and rhizome of Zingiber officinale were analyzed using AAS. Soil analysis profile showed uniformity in the metal contents, in active root zone and subsoil, except mercury, which was present in higher quantity in one, out of the four sectors, of the field. The infield metal content in the soil in increasing order was, cadmium < arsenic < lead < mercury. In ginger rhizome the volatile toxic heavy metals arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) varied from not detected to 0.13 μg/g and 0.01 to 0.42 μg/g, respectively. The non-volatile metals lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) ranged from 0.06 to 0.64 μg/g and 0.002 to 0.03 μg/g, respectively(.) The results illustrated the findings that soil is the major but not the only source of metal accumulation in the plants. In our study, the volatile metal content (As, Hg) was found more in rhizomes collected from Himachal Pradesh while the non-volatile metals were predominant in samples from Uttarakhand.

A new alkylated benzoquinone from rhizomes ofIris kumaonensis

A novel alkylated unsaturated p-benzoquinone designated as 3-[(z)-12'-heptadecenyl]-2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinone was isolated from hexane extract of the rhizomes of Iris kumaonensis and it's structure was confirmed by extensive spectroscopic analysis, IR, MS, HREIMS, 1D, 2D NMR and comparison with the literature data of known compounds.

Nitrogen use scenario in India

Nitrogen is one of the major plant nutrients without which the agricultural production is not possible. Nitrogen use in Indian agriculture was nearly 55000 tons in 1950-1951 that increased to 11.31 million tons in 2001-2002. The total food production of the country has also experienced the similar increase from 50.83 to 222 million tons in the respective years. Interestingly the N fertilizer consumption of India remained almost constant during the last six years indicating the possibility of reducing N consumption. The highest N consumption is in North zone owing to the introduction of rice-wheat cropping system followed by West, South and East. The N use efficiency has been reported to be varying between 30% to 50% depending on the crops and the management. But in most of the cases, N use efficiency has been calculated based on the total N removed by the crops (above ground part only) ignoring the N content left in the roots. It has been observed in controlled experiments that the total N uptake by roots varied from 18% to 44% of the total N removed by the above ground parts, i.e. grain and straw. If the root N is also accounted, the N use efficiency will be higher than reported. The management of other organic sources has to be improved so as to increase the fertilizer use efficiency as well as to check the direct release of N in the atmosphere. In this review all these issues will be dealt.

Presence of Dirofilaria repens and an insect immunocyte (plasmatocyte) in a human subcutaneous nodule, induced by a mosquito bite

It is well known that the nematode Dirofilaria repens is transmitted to humans by vector mosquito bite. Examination of a fine needle aspiration biopsy drawn from a month-old nodule on the chest of a woman, residing in Garlasco, province of Pavia, Northern Italy, revealed the presence of not only one immature female of D. repens, but also some scattered cells that we believe to be mosquito's blood cells, plasmatocytes (immunocytes). We presume that plasmatocytes were carried into the bite wound with the mosquito's hemolymph that had oozed from a rupture in its mouthparts during feeding. Because Aedes albopictus recently colonized certain areas in the above region, we suspect that the nodule resulted from the bite of this mosquito.

Localization of a putative inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor in the Limulus granulocyte

The horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) granulocyte (GR) degranulates upon contact with bacteria and release factors that mediate an immune response. Stimulated cells produce IP3, which binds to receptors (IP3R, M.W.240-300 kD) that function to release stored Ca2+ into the cytoplasm that mediates degranulation. This mechanism is believed to mediate exocytosis in the Limulus GR but IP3R in the GR has not been shown. The present study utilized monoclonal antibody 4C11 and a commercially available anti-IP3R antibody, both of which label amino acids of the N-terminal of all known isoforms. Electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, SDS-PAGE, and Western blot analysis, which employed the use of the two antibodies, demonstrates that a putative IP3R exists in the: plasma membrane, smooth surfaced vesicles, nucleus and nuclear membrane. We hypothesize that this putative IP3R is involved in mediating the immune response of the Limulus GR.

Cytoskeletal F-actin polymerization from cytosolic G-actin occurs in the phagocytosing immunocytes of arthropods (Limulus polyphemus and Gromphadorhina portentosa): does [cAMP]i play any role?

Phagocytosis is a major defense reaction in arthropods and is accomplished by two blood cells (hemocytes), the granulocyte (GRs) and plasmatocytes (PLs), collectively called immunocytes. Immunocytes (principally the GRs) from two arthropods, Limulus polyphemus (horseshoe crab) and Gromphadorhina portentosa (Madagascar hissing cockroach) effectively phagocytose fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated fluoresbrite microspheres (FITC-FM) and chicken (Gallus domesticus) erythrocytes within 1 hr of incubation. Although actin polymerization and changes in intracellular cAMP ([cAMP]i) levels occur during the early stages of phagocytosis in vertebrates, these two phenomena have not been studied in arthropod immunocytes. Using the DNase I inhibition assay, we found a decrease in cytosolic G-actin and an increase in the cytoskeletal F-actin in the phagocytosing immunocytes; the total actin in both resting and phagocytosing immunocytes remained constant. These results showed an 86% increase in F-actin in G. portentosa immunocytes and a 29% increase in those of L. polyphemus after 1 hr of initial incubation with FITC-FM. As in some vertebrates, the role of [cAMP]i in the early stages of phagocytosis in these two animals- and perhaps in arthropods in general-is variable; although we detected some negligible amounts of [cAMP]i (0.10-0.80 pmol/cell at different time intervals) in L. polyphemus immunocytes, it was inconclusive whether those in G. portentosa also contained [cAMP]i. Even in L. polyphemus, the difference in the amounts of [cAMP]i in resting and phagocytosing cells was insignificant (P > 0.05). It was also inconclusive whether [Ca2+]i and/or [Mg2+]i play any roles in the early stages of phagocytosis in the two arthropods in this study. These results suggest that the two phenomena (F-actin polymerization and levels of [cAMP]i in arthropods) are basically similar to those in vertebrate neutrophils and macrophages, which suggests that certain immunological mechanisms are conserved in nature.

Signal transduction during exocytosis in Limulus polyphemus granulocytes

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced exocytosis is one of the primary immune responses of the Limulus granulocyte (GR). Exocytosis can be mediated by guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein)-linked surface receptors that activate phospholipase C (PLC) to produce inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), which can lead to exocytosis. We used activators and inhibitors of known signal transduction pathways to investigate the signaling pathway responsible for LPS-induced exocytosis in the GR. These compounds have been shown to similarly effect pathways in vertebrate and invertebrate systems and this assumption is made here. Pretreatment of GRs with cholera and pertussis toxins, which modulate G-proteins, and U73122, which inhibits PLC, inhibited LPS-induced exocytosis, but pretreatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin did not. In contrast, exocytosis was induced with fluoride (a G-protein activator) and thapsigargin with Mg2+ (an inhibitor of endomembranous Ca(2+)-ATPase). Exocytosis was not induced by phorbol ester, which mimics DAG to activate protein kinase C (PKC) and it was not effected by ethanol or chelerythrine, which inhibit phospholipase D and PKC, respectively. Microinjection of GRs with different concentrations of IP3, an IP3 analog (DL-2,3,6,trideoxy-myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate), Mg2+, or Ca2+ induced different percentages of exocytosis in individual cells, while HEPES buffer did not. Microfluorometric analysis of intracellular Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i) and [Ca2+]i, using the dyes Mag Fura-2AM and Calcium Green 5N, respectively, revealed [Mg2+]i and [Ca2+]i fluxes during LPS-induced exocytosis. This study suggests that LPS induces exocytosis in the Limulus GR through activation of G-protein-coupled receptors, which stimulate the IP3 signaling pathway to induce both [Ca2+]i and [Mg2+]i fluxes to facilitate vesicular and plasma membrane fusion. This is the first demonstration of the signal transduction pathway responsible for the primary immune response of the GR.

Lectin-binding receptors, Na+,K(+)-ATPase, and acetylcholinesterase on immunocyte plasma membrane of Limulus polyphemus

Plasma membrane receptors are crucial for nonself tissue recognition. Using concanavalin A (Con A), wheat germ agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, soybean agglutinin (SBA), and winged pea agglutinin, five lectin-binding receptor molecules have been recognized on the plasma membrane of the granulocyte (immunocyte) of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. Only Con A and SBA caused capping of surface receptors. On the basis of the known functions of these lectin-binding receptor molecules in other invertebrates and vertebrates, their roles in phagocytosis, encapsulation, signaling, and possibly in complement pathway activation are postulated. In addition to lectin-binding receptors, Na+,K(+)-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase were detected on the plasma membrane. Because Limulus dates back to some 200 million years, the antiquity of these molecules is suggested. Furthermore, some of the lectin-binding surface receptors have the potential to be used as markers to separate different kinds of hemocytes in higher arthropods and to distinguish between normal and neoplastic cells in humans.

Arthropod immune system. V. Activated immunocytes (granulocytes) of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) show increased number of microtubules and nuclear pores during immune reaction to foreign tissue

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) has two major immunocytes (blood cells) (granulocytes (GRs) and plasmatocytes). The GRs participate both in encapsulation and phagocytosis of nonself tissue. Structurally, the GRs are flattened and discoid, and contain, among other organelles, microtubules that are arranged in the form of a bundle in their peripheral region in the plane of flattening. If one implants a foreign tissue in the cockroach's abdomen, the GRs become activated and begin to encapsulate the implant by flattening and wrapping around it. The activated GRs show considerable increase in the number of both the microtubules and the nuclear pores of the nuclear envelope. Such structural changes in an activated arthropod immunocyte and their functional significance in its immune reaction against a foreign tissue have not been previously reported. We believe that the large number of microtubules is necessary not only to maintain the flattened nature of the GRs, but also to ensure the formation of an effective capsule against the deforming and shearing forces of the foreign tissue. And to keep up with the rapid assembly of new microtubules during encapsulation, the nucleus apparently triggers the synthesis of tubulin via ribosomes, its nuclear pores serving as channels for molecular transport to and from the nucleus. A structural and functional analogy between GRs and human platelet has also been suggested.

Metoclopramide as a lactogogue

Thirty-two mothers with no or inadequate breast milk were treated with metoclopramide. Improved lactation occurred in 66.67 percent of mothers with no breast milk and 100 percent of those with inadequate milk output. Improvement persisted after discontinuing the treatment. No untoward effects were noticed in any of the mothers or their infants.

Stereochemical course of the 3'----5'-exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase I

(Sp)-2'-Deoxyadenosine 5'-O-[1-17O,1-18O,1,2-18O]triphosphate has been synthesized by desulfurization of (Sp)-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-O-(1-thio[1,1-18O2]diphosphate) with N-bromosuccinimide in [17O]water, followed by phosphorylation with phosphoenolpyruvate-pyruvate kinase. A careful characterization of the product using high-resolution 31P NMR revealed that the desulfurization reaction proceeded with approximately 88% direct in-line attack at the alpha-phosphorus and 12% participation by the beta-phosphate to form a cyclic alpha,beta-diphosphate. The latter intermediate underwent hydrolysis by a predominant nucleophilic attack on the beta-phosphate. This complexity of the desulfurization reaction, however, does not affect the stereochemical integrity of the product but rather causes a minor dilution with nonchiral species. The usefulness of the (Sp)-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-O-[1-17O,1-18O,1,2-18O]triphosphate in determining the stereochemical course of deoxyribonucleotidyl-transfer enzymes is demonstrated by using it to delineate the stereochemical course of the 3'----5'-exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase I. Upon incubation of this oxygen-chiral substrate with Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I in the presence of poly[d(A-T)] and Mg2+, a quantitative conversion into 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-O-[16O,17O,18O]monophosphate was observed. The stereochemistry of this product was determined to be Rp. Since the overall template-primer-dependent conversion of a deoxynucleoside triphosphate into the deoxynucleoside monophosphate involves incorporation into the polymer followed by excision by the 3'----5'-exonuclease activity and since the stereochemical course of the incorporation reaction is known to be inversion, it can be concluded that the stereochemical course of the 3'----5'-exonuclease is also inversion.

The effect of the 3',5' thiophosphoryl linkage on the exonuclease activities of T4 polymerase and the Klenow fragment

The 3'----5' exonuclease activities of T4 DNA polymerase and the Klenow fragment of Polymerase I towards the phosphoryl and thiophosphoryl 3',5' linkage were examined under comparable conditions of idling-turnover, duplex hydrolysis and turnover during polymerization. With the T4 enzyme there is a negligible effect of thiosubstitution on these activities; with the Klenow fragment there is a greater than one hundred-fold reduction in rate with the thiolinkage for the exonuclease but not polymerization activities. This inability to hydrolyze rapidly the thiophosphoryl linkage extends to the hydrolytic activity of Exonuclease III. The quantitation of the exonuclease activities of these three proteins under various conditions should aid in the successful employment of thiophosphoryl nucleoside triphosphates for their incorporation into DNA.