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Tsarkova E, Filippova K, Afanasyeva V, Ermakova O, Kolotova A, Blagodatski A, Ermakov A. A Study on the Planarian Model Confirms the Antioxidant Properties of Tameron against X-ray- and Menadione-Induced Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12040953. [PMID: 37107327 PMCID: PMC10136237 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12040953] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ionizing radiation and radiation-related oxidative stress are two important factors responsible for the death of actively proliferating cells, thus drastically reducing the regeneration capacity of living organisms. Planarian flatworms are freshwater invertebrates that are rich in stem cells called neoblasts and, therefore, present a well-established model for studies on regeneration and the testing of novel antioxidant and radioprotective substances. In this work, we tested an antiviral and antioxidant drug Tameron (Monosodium α-Luminol or 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione sodium salt) for its ability to reduce the harm of X-ray- and chemically induced oxidative stress on a planarian model. Our study has revealed the ability of Tameron to effectively protect planarians from oxidative stress while enhancing their regenerative capacity by modulating the expression of neoblast marker genes and NRF-2-controlled oxidative stress response genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tsarkova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
- ANO Engineering Physics Institute, Bolshoi Udarny Pereulok, 142210 Serpukhov, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Kristina Filippova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
- ANO Engineering Physics Institute, Bolshoi Udarny Pereulok, 142210 Serpukhov, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Vera Afanasyeva
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
- ANO Engineering Physics Institute, Bolshoi Udarny Pereulok, 142210 Serpukhov, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Olga Ermakova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
- ANO Engineering Physics Institute, Bolshoi Udarny Pereulok, 142210 Serpukhov, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Anastasia Kolotova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Artem Blagodatski
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Artem Ermakov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
- ANO Engineering Physics Institute, Bolshoi Udarny Pereulok, 142210 Serpukhov, Moscow Region, Russia
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Rohweder PJ, Jiang Z, Hurysz BM, O'Donoghue AJ, Craik CS. Multiplex substrate profiling by mass spectrometry for proteases. Methods Enzymol 2022; 682:375-411. [PMID: 36948708 PMCID: PMC10201391 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.09.009] [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] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis is a central regulator of many biological pathways and the study of proteases has had a significant impact on our understanding of both native biology and disease. Proteases are key regulators of infectious disease and misregulated proteolysis in humans contributes to a variety of maladies, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Central to understanding a protease's biological role, is characterizing its substrate specificity. This chapter will facilitate the characterization of individual proteases and complex, heterogeneous proteolytic mixtures and provide examples of the breadth of applications that leverage the characterization of misregulated proteolysis. Here we present the protocol of Multiplex Substrate Profiling by Mass Spectrometry (MSP-MS), a functional assay that quantitatively characterizes proteolysis using a synthetic library of physiochemically diverse, model peptide substrates, and mass spectrometry. We present a detailed protocol as well as examples of the use of MSP-MS for the study of disease states, for the development of diagnostic and prognostic tests, for the generation of tool compounds, and for the development of protease-targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Rohweder
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Zhenze Jiang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Brianna M Hurysz
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Anthony J O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.
| | - Charles S Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of peptidase expression in Fasciola hepatica eggs developing at host's body temperature. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10308. [PMID: 35725898 PMCID: PMC9209485 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14419-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica is a global parasite of livestock which also causes a neglected zoonosis in humans. The parasite’s communication with the host during its complicated lifecycle is based on an ingenious enzymatic apparatus which includes a variety of peptidases. These enzymes are implicated in parasite migration, pathogenesis of the disease, and modification of host immune response. Although the dynamics of proteolytic machinery produced by intra-mammalian F. hepatica life stages has been previously investigated in great detail, peptidases of the eggs so far received little scientific attention. In this study, we performed a comparative RNA-seq analysis aimed at identification of peptidases expressed in F. hepatica eggs, cultured at 37 °C to represent gall bladder retained eggs, for different time periods and employed mass spectrometry in order to identify and quantify peptidases translated in F. hepatica egg lysates. We demonstrated that F. hepatica eggs undergo significant molecular changes when cultured at the physiological temperature of the definitive host. Egg transcriptome is subject to numerous subtle changes while their proteome is even more variable. The peptidase profile is considerably modified on both transcriptome and proteome level. Finally, we measured and classified proteolytic activities in extracts from F. hepatica eggs using a library of fluorogenic substrates and peptidase class-selective inhibitors. Activities of threonine peptidases were detected constantly, while the cysteine peptidases prevailing in freshly laid eggs are substituted by aspartic peptidase and metallopeptidase activities in the later stages of egg development.
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Silva PV, Pinheiro C, Morgado RG, Verweij RA, van Gestel CAM, Loureiro S. Bioaccumulation but no biomagnification of silver sulfide nanoparticles in freshwater snails and planarians. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 808:151956. [PMID: 34843767 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bioaccumulation studies are critical in regulatory decision making on the potential environmental risks of engineered nanoparticles (NPs). The present study evaluated the toxicokinetics of silver, taken up from sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S NPs; simulating an aged Ag NP form) and AgNO3 (ionic counterpart), in the pulmonate snail Physa acuta and the planarian Girardia tigrina. The snails were first exposed for 7 days to Ag-spiked water, along with the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata upon which they fed setting up a double route exposure, and subsequently provided as pre-exposed food to the planarians. Ag toxicokinetics and bioaccumulation were assessed in planarians and snails, and potential biomagnification from snail to planarian was evaluated. Gut depuration was also explored to understand whether it constitutes a factor likely to influence Ag toxicokinetics and internal concentrations in the test species. Both species revealed Ag uptake in Ag2S NP and AgNO3 treatments, with higher uptake from the latter. Uptake by the snails was probably via a combination of water exposure and ingested algae provided as food, but ingestion of algae possibly had higher relevance for Ag uptake from the Ag2S NPs compared to AgNO3. For planarians, diet probably was the most important exposure route since no Ag uptake was observed in previous waterborne exposures to Ag2S NPs. Kinetics and internal Ag concentrations did not significantly differ between depurated and non-depurated snails or planarians. The planarians fed on snails revealed no biomagnification. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study investigating the toxicokinetics and biomagnification of NPs in planarians, and with that providing important data on the kinetics and bioaccumulation of NPs in a relevant benthic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia V Silva
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Pinheiro
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rui G Morgado
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rudo A Verweij
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cornelis A M van Gestel
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Susana Loureiro
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Ermakov AM, Kamenskikh KA, Ermakova ON, Blagodatsky AS, Popov AL, Ivanov VK. Planarians as an In Vivo Experimental Model for the Study of New Radioprotective Substances. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10111763. [PMID: 34829634 PMCID: PMC8615267 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10111763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ionising radiation causes the death of the most actively dividing cells, thus leading to depletion of the stem cell pool. Planarians are invertebrate flatworms that are unique in that their stem cells, called neoblasts, constantly replace old, damaged, or dying cells. Amenability to efficient RNAi treatments, the rapid development of clear phenotypes, and sensitivity to ionising radiation, combined with new genomic technologies, make planarians an outstanding tool for the discovery of potential radioprotective agents. In this work, using the well-known antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, planarians are, for the first time, shown to be an excellent model system for the fast and effective screening of novel radioprotective and radio-sensitising substances. In addition, a panel of measurable parameters that can be used for the study of radioprotective effects on this model is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem M. Ermakov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.M.E.); (K.A.K.); (O.N.E.); (A.S.B.); (A.L.P.)
| | - Kristina A. Kamenskikh
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.M.E.); (K.A.K.); (O.N.E.); (A.S.B.); (A.L.P.)
| | - Olga N. Ermakova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.M.E.); (K.A.K.); (O.N.E.); (A.S.B.); (A.L.P.)
| | - Artem S. Blagodatsky
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.M.E.); (K.A.K.); (O.N.E.); (A.S.B.); (A.L.P.)
| | - Anton L. Popov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.M.E.); (K.A.K.); (O.N.E.); (A.S.B.); (A.L.P.)
| | - Vladimir K. Ivanov
- Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence:
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Qiu ZX, Li Y, Li MM, Wang WY, Zhang TT, Liu JZ. Investigation of three enzymes and their roles in the embryonic development of parthenogenetic Haemaphysalis longicornis. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:46. [PMID: 32005284 PMCID: PMC6995198 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3916-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tick Haemaphysalis longicornis exhibits two separate reproductive populations: bisexual and parthenogenetic, which have diploid and triploid karyotypes, respectively. The parthenogenetic population can undergo engorgement without copulation and produce viable female-only offspring with a longer incubation period than the bisexual population. Three enzymes, cathepsin B, cathepsin D and acid phosphatase, were found to be involved in vitellin degradation during the embryonic development of bisexual H. longicornis. However, the expression and activity profiles of these enzymes during the embryonic development of parthenogenetic ticks remain unknown. In the present study, the transcriptional expression profile, enzyme activity and roles in embryogenesis of the three enzymes during the embryonic development of parthenogenetic H. longicornis were investigated. METHODS Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and fluorescence detection were used to analyze the dynamic changes in the three enzymes during embryogenesis. The roles of the three enzymes during embryogenesis were also explored using RNA interference (RNAi). RESULTS The three enzymes were all expressed during embryonic development in parthenogenetic H. longicornis. The expression of cathepsin B was highest on day 15, whereas that of cathepsin D was highest on day 3 and the peak of acid phosphatase expression occurred on day 9. The activity of cathepsin B was highest on day 3 and lowest on day 5, then gradually increased and remained stable. Cathepsin D activity was highest on day 1 and showed a gradually decreasing trend, whereas acid phosphatase showed the opposite trend and reached a peak on day 23. RNA interference experiments in engorged female ticks revealed that there was no significant difference in the number of eggs laid, but the hatching rate of the eggs was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION The three enzymes all play important roles in embryonic development of H. longicornis, but the expression patterns and changes in the activity of the enzymes in the bisexual and parthenogenetic populations are different. The results will help a better understanding of the similarities and differences underlying embryonic development in the bisexual and parthenogenetic populations and contribute to the future exploration of the development of the parthenogenetic population of H. longicornis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Xi Qiu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Meng-Meng Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Wen-Ying Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Tian-Tian Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Jing-Ze Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
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Meddeb E, Charni M, Ben Abdallah R, Raboudi F, Fattouch S. A molecular study of Tunisian populations of Dugesia sicula (Plathelminthes, Tricladida) through an identification of a set of genes. C R Biol 2019; 342:291-298. [PMID: 31786144 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2019.10.005] [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: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cell regeneration is a natural repair of different types of tissue after an injury or a lesion, and is associated with asexual reproduction in some animals such as planarians. Its understanding and improvement could have repercussions for tissue repair and regeneration as far as humans are concerned. In this context, we have proceeded to an essential step, which is the identification of the genes involved in planarian regeneration in the model species. Dugesia sicula Lepori (D. sicula) is distributed around the Mediterranean Sea, and this population is found in most of Tunisian dams. The collection of identified genes is already known in other species. DjFoxG, DjPC2, DjotxA, and Cathepsin-D were identified by the PCR technique and their expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. DjFoxG gene, the FoxG1 homolog, is expressed throughout the planarian body, abundantly on stem cells. Consecutively, we choose a central nervous system (CNS) marker; the prohormone convertase 2 (DjPC2) gene. DjotxA was observed in the brain and especially in the region surrounding the eyes (visual cells). The regenerative cells of the gut of D. sicula were scored by the Cathepsin-D gene expression, which belongs to the aspartyl protease family. We found significant results through RT-PCR and In Situ Hybridization (ISH) techniques, confirming the expression of DjFoxG, DjPC2, DjotxA and Cathepsin-D genes in our specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emna Meddeb
- Laboratory of Food and Molecular Biochemistry, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), University of Carthage, Zone Urbaine Nord, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia; Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Mohamed Charni
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; College of Sciences and Humanities of Dawadmi, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rim Ben Abdallah
- Laboratory of Food and Molecular Biochemistry, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), University of Carthage, Zone Urbaine Nord, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia; Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Faten Raboudi
- ISAJC, Bir El Bey, University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sami Fattouch
- Laboratory of Food and Molecular Biochemistry, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), University of Carthage, Zone Urbaine Nord, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia
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Ma KX, Song GG, Wu M, Zhang HC, Chen GW, Liu DZ. Identification of a potential tissue-specific biomarker cathepsin L-like gene from the planarian Dugesia japonica: Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression in response to heavy metal exposure. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 180:73-79. [PMID: 31075718 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution is a global health issue affecting people worldwide, and the exploration of sensitive biomarkers to assess the toxicity of heavy metals is an important work for researchers. Cathepsin L, role as a tissue-specific biomarker to assess the biological effects of environmental pollutants, has not received much attention. In this work, the full-length cDNA of cathepsin L gene from the planarian Dugesia japonica (designated DjCatL) was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. The cDNA sequence of DjCatL is 1161 bp, which encodes a protein of 346 amino acids with a molecular weight of 39.03 kDa. Sequence analysis revealed that DjCatL contains highly conserved ERF/WNIN, GNFD, and GCXGG motifs, which are the features of the cathepsin L protein family. Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) results revealed that the transcripts of DjCatL are specifically distributed in the intestinal system, suggesting that this gene is related to food digestion in planarians. Both quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and WISH results revealed that the transcriptional levels of DjCatL are inhibited significantly by heavy metal (Cd2+, Hg2+, and Cu2+) exposure in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, we proposed that cathepsin L can be used as a tissue-specific biomarker to assess the heavy metal pollution in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Xue Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Ge-Ge Song
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Meng Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - He-Cai Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Guang-Wen Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - De-Zeng Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
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Cote LE, Simental E, Reddien PW. Muscle functions as a connective tissue and source of extracellular matrix in planarians. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1592. [PMID: 30962434 PMCID: PMC6453901 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09539-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Regeneration and tissue turnover require new cell production and positional information. Planarians are flatworms capable of regenerating all body parts using a population of stem cells called neoblasts. The positional information required for tissue patterning is primarily harbored by muscle cells, which also control body contraction. Here we produce an in silico planarian matrisome and use recent whole-animal single-cell-transcriptome data to determine that muscle is a major source of extracellular matrix (ECM). No other ECM-secreting, fibroblast-like cell type was detected. Instead, muscle cells express core ECM components, including all 19 collagen-encoding genes. Inhibition of muscle-expressed hemicentin-1 (hmcn-1), which encodes a highly conserved ECM glycoprotein, results in ectopic peripheral localization of cells, including neoblasts, outside of the muscle layer. ECM secretion and hmcn-1-dependent maintenance of tissue separation indicate that muscle functions as a planarian connective tissue, raising the possibility of broad roles for connective tissue in adult positional information. How the cellular source of positional information compares across regenerative animals is unclear. Here, the authors find that planarian muscle, which harbours positional information, acts as a connective tissue by being a major site of matrisome gene expression and by maintaining tissue architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Cote
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main St, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Eric Simental
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main St, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,University of California San Francisco, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Peter W Reddien
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main St, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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Chemosynthetic symbiont with a drastically reduced genome serves as primary energy storage in the marine flatworm Paracatenula. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:8505-8514. [PMID: 30962361 PMCID: PMC6486704 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1818995116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals typically store their primary energy reserves in specialized cells. Here, we show that in the small marine flatworm Paracatenula, this function is performed by its bacterial chemosynthetic symbiont. The intracellular symbiont occupies half of the biomass in the symbiosis and has a highly reduced genome but efficiently stocks up and maintains carbon and energy, particularly sugars. The host rarely digests the symbiont cells to access these stocks. Instead, the symbionts appear to provide the bulk nutrition by secreting outer-membrane vesicles. This is in contrast to all other described chemosynthetic symbioses, where the hosts continuously digest full cells of a small and ideally growing symbiont population that cannot provide a long-term buffering capacity during nutrient limitation. Hosts of chemoautotrophic bacteria typically have much higher biomass than their symbionts and consume symbiont cells for nutrition. In contrast to this, chemoautotrophic Candidatus Riegeria symbionts in mouthless Paracatenula flatworms comprise up to half of the biomass of the consortium. Each species of Paracatenula harbors a specific Ca. Riegeria, and the endosymbionts have been vertically transmitted for at least 500 million years. Such prolonged strict vertical transmission leads to streamlining of symbiont genomes, and the retained physiological capacities reveal the functions the symbionts provide to their hosts. Here, we studied a species of Paracatenula from Sant’Andrea, Elba, Italy, using genomics, gene expression, imaging analyses, as well as targeted and untargeted MS. We show that its symbiont, Ca. R. santandreae has a drastically smaller genome (1.34 Mb) than the symbiont´s free-living relatives (4.29–4.97 Mb) but retains a versatile and energy-efficient metabolism. It encodes and expresses a complete intermediary carbon metabolism and enhanced carbon fixation through anaplerosis and accumulates massive intracellular inclusions such as sulfur, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and carbohydrates. Compared with symbiotic and free-living chemoautotrophs, Ca. R. santandreae’s versatility in energy storage is unparalleled in chemoautotrophs with such compact genomes. Transmission EM as well as host and symbiont expression data suggest that Ca. R. santandreae largely provisions its host via outer-membrane vesicle secretion. With its high share of biomass in the symbiosis and large standing stocks of carbon and energy reserves, it has a unique role for bacterial symbionts—serving as the primary energy storage for its animal host.
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Leynen N, Van Belleghem FG, Wouters A, Bove H, Ploem JP, Thijssen E, Langie SA, Carleer R, Ameloot M, Artois T, Smeets K. In vivo Toxicity Assessment of Silver Nanoparticles in Homeostatic versus Regenerating Planarians. Nanotoxicology 2019; 13:476-491. [DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2018.1553252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Leynen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Frank G.A.J Van Belleghem
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Annelies Wouters
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Hannelore Bove
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Jan-Pieter Ploem
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Elsy Thijssen
- Applied and Analytical Chemistry, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Sabine A.S. Langie
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- VITO NV, Mol, Belgium
| | - Robert Carleer
- Applied and Analytical Chemistry, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Marcel Ameloot
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tom Artois
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Karen Smeets
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
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Arutyunova E, Jiang Z, Yang J, Kulepa AN, Young HS, Verhelst S, O’Donoghue AJ, Lemieux MJ. An internally quenched peptide as a new model substrate for rhomboid intramembrane proteases. Biol Chem 2018; 399:1389-1397. [DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2018-0255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AbstractRhomboids are ubiquitous intramembrane serine proteases that cleave transmembrane substrates. Their functions include growth factor signaling, mitochondrial homeostasis, and parasite invasion. A recent study revealed that theEscherichia colirhomboid protease EcGlpG is essential for its extraintestinal pathogenic colonization within the gut. Crystal structures of EcGlpG and theHaemophilus influenzaerhomboid protease HiGlpG have deciphered an active site that is buried within the lipid bilayer but exposed to the aqueous environment via a cavity at the periplasmic face. A lack of physiological transmembrane substrates has hampered progression for understanding their catalytic mechanism and screening inhibitor libraries. To identify a soluble substrate for use in the study of rhomboid proteases, an array of internally quenched peptides were assayed with HiGlpG, EcGlpG and PsAarA fromProvidencia stuartti. One substrate was identified that was cleaved by all three rhomboid proteases, with HiGlpG having the highest cleavage efficiency. Mass spectrometry analysis determined that all enzymes hydrolyze this substrate between norvaline and tryptophan. Kinetic analysis in both detergent and bicellular systems demonstrated that this substrate can be cleaved in solution and in the lipid environment. The substrate was subsequently used to screen a panel of benzoxazin-4-one inhibitors to validate its use in inhibitor discovery.
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A metalloprotease produced by larval Schistosoma mansoni facilitates infection establishment and maintenance in the snail host by interfering with immune cell function. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007393. [PMID: 30372490 PMCID: PMC6224180 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Metalloproteases (MPs) have demonstrated roles in immune modulation. In some cases, these enzymes are produced by parasites to influence host immune responses such that parasite infection is facilitated. One of the best examples of parasite-mediated immune modulation is the matrix metalloprotease (MMP) leishmanolysin (Gp63), which is produced by species of the genus Leishmania to evade killing by host macrophages. Leishmanolysin-like proteins appear to be quite common in many invertebrates, however our understanding of the functions of these non-leishmania enzymes is limited. Numerous proteomic and transcriptomic screens of schistosomes, at all life cycle stages of the parasite, have identified leishmanolysin-like MPs as being present in abundance; with the highest levels being found during the intramolluscan larval stages and being produced by cercaria. This study aims to functionally characterize a Schistosoma mansoni variant of leishmanolysin that most resembles the enzyme produced by Leishmania, termed SmLeish. We demonstrate that SmLeish is an important component of S. mansoni excretory/secretory (ES) products and is produced by the sporocyst during infection. The presence of SmLeish interferes with the migration of Biomphalaria glabrata haemocytes, and causes them to present a phenotype that is less capable of sporocyst encapsulation. Knockdown of SmLeish in S. mansoni miracidia prior to exposure to susceptible B. glabrata reduces miracidia penetration success, causes a delay in reaching patent infection, and lowers cercaria output from infected snails. Parasitic flatworms, or digenetic trematodes, cause a wide range of diseases of both medical and agricultural importance. Nearly all species of digenea require specific species of snail for their larval development and transmission. The factors underpinning snail host specificity and how they dictate infection establishment and maintenance are interesting areas of research, both from the perspective of evolutionary immunology and potential application in the design of tools that aim to prevent trematode transmission. Currently, our understanding of snail-trematode associations is one-sided, being predominantly derived from studies that have focused on the snail immune response, with almost nothing known about how the parasite facilitates infection. Metalloproteases, such as leishmanolysin, are proteolytic enzymes; some of which are produced by parasites to influence host immune responses and facilitate parasite success upon encountering the host defense response. Here, we have functionally characterized a leishmanolysin-like metalloprotease (SmLeish) from Schistosoma mansoni, a causative agent of human schistosomiasis, which afflicts over 260 million people globally. We demonstrate that SmLeish is associated with developing sporocysts and is also located in S. mansoni excretory/secretory products and interferes with snail haemocyte morphology and migration. Knockdown of SmLeish in S. mansoni miracidia prior to exposure to Biomphalaria glabrata snails reduces miracidia penetration success, delays attainment of patent infections, and lowers cercaria output from infected snails.
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Rebello KM, McKerrow JH, Mota EM, O´Donoghue AJ, Neves-Ferreira AGC. Activity profiling of peptidases in Angiostrongylus costaricensis first-stage larvae and adult worms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006923. [PMID: 30379807 PMCID: PMC6231675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a relatively uncharacterized nematode that causes abdominal angiostrongyliasis in Latin America, a human parasitic disease. Currently, no effective pharmacological treatment for angiostrongyliasis exists. Peptidases are known to be druggable targets for a variety of diseases and are essential for several biological processes in parasites. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically characterize the peptidase activity of A. costaricensis in different developmental stages of this parasitic nematode. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A library of diverse tetradecapeptides was incubated with cellular lysates from adult worms and from first-stage larvae (L1) and cleaved peptide products were identified by mass spectrometry. Lysates were also treated with class specific peptidase inhibitors to determine which enzyme class was responsible for the proteolytic activity. Peptidase activity from the four major mechanistic classes (aspartic, metallo, serine and cysteine) were detected in adult worm lysate, whereas aspartic, metallo and serine-peptidases were found in the larval lysates. In addition, the substrate specificity profile was found to vary at different pH values. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The proteolytic activities in adult worm and L1 lysates were characterized using a highly diversified library of peptide substrates and the activity was validated using a selection of fluorescent substrates. Taken together, peptidase signatures for different developmental stages of this parasite has improved our understanding of the disease pathogenesis and may be useful as potential drug targets or vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina M. Rebello
- Laboratory of Toxinology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ester M. Mota
- Laboratory of Pathology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anthony J. O´Donoghue
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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Caffrey CR, Goupil L, Rebello KM, Dalton JP, Smith D. Cysteine proteases as digestive enzymes in parasitic helminths. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0005840. [PMID: 30138310 PMCID: PMC6107103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We briefly review cysteine proteases (orthologs of mammalian cathepsins B, L, F, and C) that are expressed in flatworm and nematode parasites. Emphasis is placed on enzyme activities that have been functionally characterized, are associated with the parasite gut, and putatively contribute to degrading host proteins to absorbable nutrients [1–4]. Often, gut proteases are expressed as multigene families, as is the case with Fasciola [5] and Haemonchus [6], presumably expanding the range of substrates that can be degraded, not least during parasite migration through host tissues [5]. The application of the free-living planarian and Caenorhabditis elegans as investigative models for parasite cysteine proteases is discussed. Finally, because of their central nutritive contribution, targeting the component gut proteases with small-molecule chemical inhibitors and understanding their utility as vaccine candidates are active areas of research [7].
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Louise Goupil
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Karina M. Rebello
- Laboratório de Toxinologia and Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - John P. Dalton
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen´s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - David Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen´s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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Benns HJ, Tate EW, Child MA. Activity-Based Protein Profiling for the Study of Parasite Biology. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2018; 420:155-174. [PMID: 30105424 DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Parasites exist within most ecological niches, often transitioning through biologically and chemically complex host environments over the course of their parasitic life cycles. While the development of technologies for genetic engineering has revolutionised the field of functional genomics, parasites have historically been less amenable to such modification. In light of this, parasitologists have often been at the forefront of adopting new small-molecule technologies, repurposing drugs into biological tools and probes. Over the last decade, activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) has evolved into a powerful and versatile chemical proteomic platform for characterising the function of enzymes. Central to ABPP is the use of activity-based probes (ABPs), which covalently modify the active sites of enzyme classes ranging from serine hydrolases to glycosidases. The application of ABPP to cellular systems has contributed vastly to our knowledge on the fundamental biology of a diverse range of organisms and has facilitated the identification of potential drug targets in many pathogens. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive review on the different forms of ABPP that have been successfully applied to parasite systems, and highlight key biological insights that have been enabled through their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry J Benns
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Edward W Tate
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Matthew A Child
- Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
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Astacin gene family of metalloproteinases in planarians: Structural organization and tissue distribution. Gene Expr Patterns 2018; 28:77-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Ivry SL, Meyer NO, Winter MB, Bohn MF, Knudsen GM, O'Donoghue AJ, Craik CS. Global substrate specificity profiling of post-translational modifying enzymes. Protein Sci 2018; 27:584-594. [PMID: 29168252 PMCID: PMC5818756 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Enzymes that modify the proteome, referred to as post-translational modifying (PTM) enzymes, are central regulators of cellular signaling. Determining the substrate specificity of PTM enzymes is a critical step in unraveling their biological functions both in normal physiological processes and in disease states. Advances in peptide chemistry over the last century have enabled the rapid generation of peptide libraries for querying substrate recognition by PTM enzymes. In this article, we highlight various peptide-based approaches for analysis of PTM enzyme substrate specificity. We focus on the application of these technologies to proteases and also discuss specific examples in which they have been used to uncover the substrate specificity of other types of PTM enzymes, such as kinases. In particular, we highlight our multiplex substrate profiling by mass spectrometry (MSP-MS) assay, which uses a rationally designed, physicochemically diverse library of tetradecapeptides. We show how this method has been applied to PTM enzymes to uncover biological function, and guide substrate and inhibitor design. We also briefly discuss how this technique can be combined with other methods to gain a systems-level understanding of PTM enzyme regulation and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam L. Ivry
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCalifornia
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate ProgramUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Nicole O. Meyer
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Michael B. Winter
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Markus F. Bohn
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Giselle M. Knudsen
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Anthony J. O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCalifornia
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