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Scheckhuber CQ, Damián Ferrara R, Gómez-Montalvo J, Maciver SK, de Obeso Fernández Del Valle A. Oxidase enzyme genes are differentially expressed during Acanthamoeba castellanii encystment. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:116. [PMID: 38289423 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08138-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba castellanii, a ubiquitous protozoan, is responsible for significant diseases such as Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. A crucial survival strategy of A. castellanii involves the formation of highly resistant cysts during adverse conditions. This study delves into the cellular processes underpinning encystment, focusing on gene expression changes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance, with a particular emphasis on mitochondrial processes. Our findings reveal a dynamic response within the mitochondria during encystment, with the downregulation of key enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (COX, AOX, and NADHalt) during the initial 48 h, followed by their overexpression at 72 h. This orchestrated response likely creates a pro-oxidative environment, facilitating encystment. Analysis of other ROS processing enzymes across the cell reveals differential expression patterns. Notably, antioxidant enzymes, such as catalases, glutaredoxins, glutathione S-transferases, peroxiredoxins, and thioredoxins, mirror the mitochondrial trend of downregulation followed by upregulation. Additionally, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis are downregulated during the early stages in order to potentially balance the metabolic requirement of the cyst. Our study underscores the importance of ROS regulation in Acanthamoeba encystment. Understanding these mechanisms offers insights into infection control and identifies potential therapeutic targets. This work contributes to unraveling the complex biology of A. castellanii and may aid in combatting Acanthamoeba-related infections. Further research into ROS and oxidase enzymes is warranted, given the organism's remarkable respiratory versatility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Q Scheckhuber
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, N.L, Mexico
| | - Rebeca Damián Ferrara
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, N.L, Mexico
| | - Jesús Gómez-Montalvo
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, N.L, Mexico
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK
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Siddiqui R, Akbar N, Maciver SK, Alharbi AM, Alfahemi H, Khan NA. Gut microbiome of Crocodylus porosus and cellular stress: inhibition of nitric oxide, interleukin 1-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and prostaglandin E2 in cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:344. [PMID: 37768360 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03680-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Crocodiles are renowned for their resilience and capacity to withstand environmental stressors, likely influenced by their unique gut microbiome. In this study, we determined whether selected gut bacteria of Crocodylus porosus exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in response to stress, by measuring nitric oxide release, interleukin 1-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and prostaglandin E2 in cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Using the Griess assay, the findings revealed that among several C. porosus gut bacterial isolates, the conditioned media containing the metabolites of two bacterial strains (CP27 and CP36) inhibited nitric oxide production significantly, in response to the positive control, i.e., taxol-treatment. Notably, CP27 and CP36 were more potent at reducing nitric oxide production than senloytic compounds (fisetin, quercetin). Using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, PGE2), was markedly reduced by treatment with CP27 and CP36, in response to stress. Both CP27 and CP36 contain a plethora of metabolites to exact their effects [(3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, 5-methoxytryptophan, nifedipine, 4-chlorotestosterone-17-acetate, 3-phenoxypropionic acid, lactic acid, f-Honaucin A, l,l-Cyclo(leucylprolyl), 3-hydroxy-decanoic acid etc.], indicative of their potential in providing protection against cellular stress. Further high-throughput bioassay-guided testing of gut microbial metabolites from crocodiles, individually as well as in combination, together with the underlying molecular mechanisms, in vitro and in vivo will elucidate their value in the rational development of innovative therapies against cellular stress/gut dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Microbiota Research Center, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey
| | - Noor Akbar
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ahmad M Alharbi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, 21944, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hasan Alfahemi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, 65799, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Microbiota Research Center, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey.
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Lisulo M, Namangala B, Mweempwa C, Banda M, Picozzi K, Maciver SK, MacLeod ET. Dogs' health and demographics in wildlife-populated and tsetse-infested villages of Mambwe district, eastern Zambia. Prev Vet Med 2023; 217:105969. [PMID: 37406502 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Good dog-keeping practices and access to veterinary care are essential for the well-being of dogs. As the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the rural canine population in Zambia are poorly understood, we followed a cohort of 162 indigenous dogs for six months in wildlife-populated and tsetse-infested villages of Mambwe district, eastern Zambia to gain deeper insights. Dogs lacked basic home and veterinary care, they were often starved and burdened with ticks, and some passed live adult worms in their stool. The frequent exposure of dogs to tsetse bites and consumption of fresh raw game meat and bones puts them at greater risk of acquiring African trypanosomiasis. Nearly 20 % of dogs were lost to follow-up, with the main causes being poor health (58.1 %), predation by wild carnivores (29 %), and owner culling or euthanasia (12.9 %). We observed that indigenous dogs' general well-being and survival were largely influenced by their environment, infectious diseases, injuries sustained during interaction with conspecifics and wildlife, and community attitudes and practices associated with dog ownership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malimba Lisulo
- Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, EH8 9JZ Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Central Veterinary Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, P.O. Box 33780, Lusaka, Zambia.
| | - Boniface Namangala
- Department of Veterinary Services, Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Control Section, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Cornelius Mweempwa
- Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Maxwell Banda
- Central Veterinary Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, P.O. Box 33780, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Kim Picozzi
- Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, EH8 9JZ Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, United Kingdom
| | - Ewan T MacLeod
- Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, EH8 9JZ Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Siddiqui R, Maciver SK, Anuar TS, Khan NA. Bacterial flora varies throughout the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) gastrointestinal tract. Am J Vet Res 2023:1-6. [PMID: 37353216 DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.23.03.0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine bacterial flora throughout the gastrointestinal tract of a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) using 16S rRNA gene analysis. ANIMALS A convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) of wild fauna and flora registered crocodile farm, provided a healthy male saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus for this study. PROCEDURES Three samples were taken from the oral cavity, 3 samples from the proximal region of the small intestine (jejunum), and 3 samples from the distal part of the large intestine of the gastrointestinal tract of C. porosus were obtained using sterile cotton swabs. Next, swabs were placed in 15 mL sterile centrifuge tubes, individually, and kept on ice for immediate transportation to the laboratory. This was followed by 16S rRNA gene analysis using specific primers (341F-CCTAYGGGRBGCASCAG, and 806R-GGACTACNNGGGTATCTAAT). Amplicons were sequenced on Illumina paired-end platform, and bacterial gastrointestinal communities, the relative abundance of taxa, and principal component and coordinate analysis were performed. RESULTS The findings revealed that bacterial community structures from differing regions exhibited several differences. The number of observed bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was 153 in the oral cavity, 239 in the small intestine, and 119 in the large intestine of C. porosus. The small intestine reflects the highest richness. In contrast, the large intestine exhibited the least richness of microbial communities. Relative abundance of taxa showed that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were dominant in all 3 sample sites. Pseudomonas differed in the oral cavity and the large intestine, with the latter exhibiting less distribution of Pseudomonas. Stenotrophomonas and Castellaniella were higher in the oral cavity, while the relative abundance of Comamonas and Salmonella was higher in the small intestine. Conversely, the relative abundance of Salmonella and Pannonibacter was augmented in the large intestine. CLINICAL RELEVANCE For the first time, this study demonstrates the bacterial diversity along the segments of the gastrointestinal tract of C. porosus. Bacterial flora varies throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Although further studies using large cohorts are warranted; however, our findings suggest that microbiome composition may have the potential as a biomarker in determining the overall health and well-being of C. porosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tengku Shahrul Anuar
- Centre for Medical Laboratory Technology Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Siddiqui R, Akbar N, Soares NC, Al-Hroub HM, Semreen MH, Maciver SK, Khan NA. Mass spectrometric analysis of bioactive conditioned media of bacteria isolated from reptilian gut. Future Sci OA 2023; 9:FSO861. [PMID: 37180607 PMCID: PMC10167718 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2023-0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim To determine whether selected gut bacteria of crocodile exhibit antibacterial properties. Materials & methods Two bacteria isolated from Crocodylus porosus gut were used, namely: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas dhakensis. Conditioned media were tested against pathogenic bacteria and metabolites were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results & conclusion Antibacterial assays revealed that conditioned media showed potent effects against pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. LC-MS revealed identity of 210 metabolites. The abundant metabolites were, N-Acetyl-L-tyrosine, Acetaminophen, Trans-Ferulic acid, N, N-Dimethylformamide, Pyrocatechol, Cyclohexanone, Diphenhydramine, Melatonin, Gamma-terpinene, Cysteamine, 3-phenoxypropionic acid, Indole-3-carbinol, Benzaldehyde, Benzocaine, 2-Aminobenzoic acid, 3-Methylindole. These findings suggest that crocodile gut bacteria are potential source of novel bioactive molecules that can be utilized as pre/post/antibiotics for the benefit of human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts & Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, 26666, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey
| | - Noor Akbar
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nelson Cruz Soares
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamza Mohammad Al-Hroub
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad Harb Semreen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
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de Obeso Fernández Del Valle A, Scheckhuber CQ, Chavaro-Pérez DA, Ortega-Barragán E, Maciver SK. mRNA Sequencing Reveals Upregulation of Glutathione S-Transferase Genes during Acanthamoeba Encystation. Microorganisms 2023; 11:992. [PMID: 37110414 PMCID: PMC10142586 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Some members of the genus Acanthamoeba are facultative pathogens typically with a biphasic lifestyle: trophozoites and cysts. Acanthamoeba is capable of infecting the cornea, resulting in Acanthamoeba keratitis. The cyst is one of the key components for the persistence of infection. Gene expression during Acanthamoeba encystation showed an upregulation of glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes and other closely related proteins. mRNA sequencing showed GST, and five genes with similar sequences were upregulated after 24 h of inducing encystation. GST overexpression was verified with qPCR using the HPRT and the cyst-specific protein 21 genes as controls. The GST inhibitor ethacrynic acid was found to decrease cell viability by 70%. These results indicate a role of GST in successful encystation, possibly by maintaining redox balance. GST and associated processes could be targets for potential treatments alongside regular therapies to reduce relapses of Acanthamoeba infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro de Obeso Fernández Del Valle
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Christian Quintus Scheckhuber
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - David Armando Chavaro-Pérez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Erandi Ortega-Barragán
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK
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de Obeso Fernández Del Valle A, Gómez-Montalvo J, Maciver SK. Acanthamoeba castellanii exhibits intron retention during encystment. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2615-2622. [PMID: 35776211 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07578-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Intron retention (IR) refers to the mechanism of alternative splicing in which an intron is not excised from the mature transcript. IR in the cosmopolitan free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii has not been studied. We performed an analysis of RNA sequencing data during encystment to identify genes that presented differentially retained introns during this process. We show that IR increases during cyst formation, indicating a potential mechanism of gene regulation that could help downregulate metabolism. We identify 69 introns from 67 genes that are differentially retained comparing the trophozoite stage and encystment after 24 and 48 h. These genes include several hypothetical proteins. We show different patterns of IR during encystment taking as examples a lipase, a peroxin-3 protein, an Fbox domain containing protein, a proteasome subunit, a polynucleotide adenylyltransferase, and a tetratricopeptide domain containing protein. A better understanding of IR in Acanthamoeba, and even other protists, could help elucidate changes in life cycle and combat disease such as Acanthamoeba keratitis in which the cyst is key for its persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro de Obeso Fernández Del Valle
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, Mexico.
| | - Jesús Gómez-Montalvo
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK
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Siddiqui R, Muhammad JS, Maciver SK, Khan NA. Crocodylus porosus Sera a Potential Source to Identify Novel Epigenetic Targets: In Silico Analysis. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9050210. [PMID: 35622738 PMCID: PMC9144183 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9050210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously found that sera from Crocodylus porosus contain anticancer agents and the treatment of MCF7 cells with this serum resulted in the differential expression of 51 genes. The purpose of this study was to use in silico analysis to identify genes that might be epigenetically modulated in cells treated with crocodile serum and to understand the role of potential genes as novel candidates with epigenetic therapeutic potential. The findings report five proto-oncogenes (TUBA1B, SLC2A1, PGK1, CCND1, and NCAPD2) and two tumor suppressor genes (RPLP2, RPL37) as novel therapeutic targets. Furthermore, we present a comprehensive overview of relevant studies on epigenetic regulation of these genes along with an insight into their clinical implications. Therefore, elucidating the molecules present in the serum and gut bacteria of reptiles such as crocodiles may offer insights into the role of these genes on longevity, health, disease, and life expectancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Jibran Sualeh Muhammad
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates;
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sutherland K. Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK;
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates;
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +971-65057722
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Siddiqui R, Maciver SK, Khan NA. Gut microbiome-immune system interaction in reptiles. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 132:2558-2571. [PMID: 34984778 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Reptiles are ectothermic amniotes in a world dominated by endotherms. Reptiles originated more than 300 million years ago and they often dwell in polluted environments which may expose them to pathogenic micro-organisms, radiation and/or heavy metals. Reptiles also possess greater longevity and may live much longer than similar-sized land mammals, for example, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles and tuatara are long-lived reptiles living up to 100 years or more. Many recent studies have emphasized the pivotal role of the gut microbiome on its host; thus, we postulated that reptilian gut microbiome and/or its metabolites and the interplay with their robust immune system may contribute to their longevity and overall hardiness. Herein, we discuss the composition of the reptilian gut microbiome, immune system-gut microbiome cross-talk, antimicrobial peptides, reptilian resistance to infectious diseases and cancer, ageing, as well the current knowledge of the genome and epigenome of these remarkable species. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that microbial gut flora of reptiles such as crocodiles, tortoises, water monitor lizard and python exhibit remarkable anticancer and antibacterial properties, as well as comprise novel gut bacterial metabolites and antimicrobial peptides. The underlying mechanisms between the gut microbiome and the immune system may hold clues to developing new therapies overall for health, and possible extrapolation to exploit the ancient defence systems of reptiles for Homo sapiens benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Mungroo MR, Tong T, Khan NA, Anuar TS, Maciver SK, Siddiqui R. Development of anti-acanthamoebic approaches. Int Microbiol 2021; 24:363-371. [PMID: 33754231 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-021-00171-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a sight-endangering eye infection, and causative organism Acanthamoeba presents a significant concern to public health, given escalation of contact lens wearers. Contemporary therapy is burdensome, necessitating prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment. None of the contact lens disinfectants (local and international) can eradicate Acanthamoeba effectively. Using a range of compounds targeting cellulose, ion channels, and biochemical pathways, we employed bioassay-guided testing to determine their anti-amoebic effects. The results indicated that acarbose, indaziflam, terbuthylazine, glimepiride, inositol, vildagliptin and repaglinide showed anti-amoebic effects. Compounds showed minimal toxicity on human cells. Therefore, effects of the evaluated compounds after conjugation with nanoparticles should certainly be the subject of future studies and will likely lead to promising leads for potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ridwane Mungroo
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tommy Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Tengku Shahrul Anuar
- Centre for Medical Laboratory Technology Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Maciver SK, McLaughlin PJ, Apps DK, Piñero JE, Lorenzo-Morales J. Opinion: Iron, Climate Change and the ‘Brain Eating Amoeba’ Naegleria fowleri. Protist 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2020.125791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Maciver SK, Piñero JE, Lorenzo-Morales J. Is Naegleria fowleri an Emerging Parasite? Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:19-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Maciver SK, Koutsogiannis Z, de Obeso Fernández Del Valle A. 'Meiotic genes' are constitutively expressed in an asexual amoeba and are not necessarily involved in sexual reproduction. Biol Lett 2019; 15:20180871. [PMID: 30836881 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The amoebae (and many other protists) have traditionally been considered as asexual organisms, but suspicion has been growing that these organisms are cryptically sexual or are at least related to sexual lineages. This contention is mainly based on genome studies in which the presence of 'meiotic genes' has been discovered. Using RNA-seq (next-generation shotgun sequencing, identifying and quantifying the RNA species in a sample), we have found that the entire repertoire of meiotic genes is expressed in exponentially growing Acanthamoeba and we argue that these so-called meiotic genes are involved in the related process of homologous recombination in this amoeba. We contend that they are only involved in meiosis in other organisms that indulge in sexual reproduction and that homologous recombination is important in asexual protists as a guard against the accumulation of mutations. We also suggest that asexual reproduction is the ancestral state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh , Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD , UK
| | - Zisis Koutsogiannis
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh , Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD , UK
| | - Alvaro de Obeso Fernández Del Valle
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh , Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD , UK
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14
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Maciver SK. Ancestral Eukaryotes Reproduced Asexually, Facilitated by Polyploidy: A Hypothesis. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1900152. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sutherland K. Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical SchoolBiomedical SciencesUniversity of Edinburgh Hugh Robson Building, George Square Edinburgh EH8 9XD Scotland UK
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15
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Lorenzo-Morales J, Sifaoui I, Reyes-Batlle M, Lares-Villa F, Lares-Jiménez LF, Omaña-Molina M, Khan NA, Maciver SK. Special issue on Free Living Amoebae (FLA): Recent advances presented at the XVII th International Meeting on the Biology and Pathogenicity of Free-Living Amoebae (FLAM, 2017), Zarzis, Tunisia. Exp Parasitol 2019; 200:36. [PMID: 30902622 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de la Laguna. Avda. Astrofísico Fco.Sánchez, S/N, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de la Laguna. Avda. Astrofísico Fco.Sánchez, S/N, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain; Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, University of Carthage, La Marsa, Tunisia
| | - María Reyes-Batlle
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de la Laguna. Avda. Astrofísico Fco.Sánchez, S/N, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Fernando Lares-Villa
- Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora (ITSON), 5 de Febrero 818 Sur Cd. Obregón, Sonora, 85000, Mexico
| | | | - Maritza Omaña-Molina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Avenida de los Barrios No. 1, Los Reyes Iztacala. 54090, Tlalnepantla Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Naveed A Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
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16
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Koutsogiannis Z, MacLeod ET, Maciver SK. G418 induces programmed cell death in Acanthamoeba through the elevation of intracellular calcium and cytochrome c translocation. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:641-651. [PMID: 30617503 PMCID: PMC6349814 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6192-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is a widely distributed opportunistic parasite which causes a vision-threatening keratitis and a life-threatening encephalitis. The cyst stage of this amoeba is especially resistant to currently used therapeutics and so alternative agents are urgently required. Growing evidence supports the existence of a programmed cell death system (PCD) in Acanthamoeba and while some features are shared by higher eukaryote cells, others differ. It is hoped that by understanding these differences we can exploit them as targets for novel drug intervention to activate PCD pathways in the amoebae but not the invaded human tissue. Here, we use the aminoglycoside G418 to activate PCD in Acanthamoeba. This drug caused a shape change in the treated amoebae. Cells rounded up and contracted, and after 6 h fragments of cells resembling the ‘apoptotic bodies’ of vertebrate cells were observed. G418 causes an increase in intracellular calcium from a resting level of 24 nM to 60 nM after 6 h of treatment. Mitochondrial function as assayed by the ΔΨm reporting dye JC-1 and CTC a redox dye becomes inhibited during treatment and we have found that cytochrome c is released from the mitochondria. Cells stained with Hoechst showed first an alteration in chromatin structure and then a vesiculation of the nucleus with G418 treatment, although we found no obvious breakdown in genomic DNA in the early stages of PCD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ewan T MacLeod
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9XD, UK
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17
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Sutherland L, Ruhe M, Gattegno-Ho D, Mann K, Greaves J, Koscielniak M, Meek S, Lu Z, Waterfall M, Taylor R, Tsakiridis A, Brown H, Maciver SK, Joshi A, Clinton M, Chamberlain LH, Smith A, Burdon T. LIF-dependent survival of embryonic stem cells is regulated by a novel palmitoylated Gab1 signalling protein. J Cell Sci 2018; 131:jcs.222257. [PMID: 30154213 PMCID: PMC6176924 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.222257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The cytokine leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promotes self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) through activation of the transcription factor Stat3. However, the contribution of other ancillary pathways stimulated by LIF in ESCs, such as the MAPK and PI3K pathways, is less well understood. We show here that naive-type mouse ESCs express high levels of a novel effector of the MAPK and PI3K pathways. This effector is an isoform of the Gab1 (Grb2-associated binder protein 1) adaptor protein that lacks the N-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) membrane-binding domain. Although not essential for rapid unrestricted growth of ESCs under optimal conditions, the novel Gab1 variant (Gab1β) is required for LIF-mediated cell survival under conditions of limited nutrient availability. This enhanced survival is absolutely dependent upon a latent palmitoylation site that targets Gab1β directly to ESC membranes. These results show that constitutive association of Gab1 with membranes through a novel mechanism promotes LIF-dependent survival of murine ESCs in nutrient-poor conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Sutherland
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Madeleine Ruhe
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Daniela Gattegno-Ho
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Karanjit Mann
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK,Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Jennifer Greaves
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Magdalena Koscielniak
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Stephen Meek
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Zen Lu
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Martin Waterfall
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Ryan Taylor
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Anestis Tsakiridis
- Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Helen Brown
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | | | - Anagha Joshi
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Michael Clinton
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Luke H. Chamberlain
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Austin Smith
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QT, UK
| | - Tom Burdon
- Division of Developmental Biology, The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
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18
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Baroni L, Pereira LM, Maciver SK, Yatsuda AP. Functional characterisation of the actin-depolymerising factor from the apicomplexan Neospora caninum (NcADF). Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 224:26-36. [PMID: 30040977 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite that causes infectious abortion in cows. As an obligate intracellular parasite, N. caninum requires a host cell environment to survive and replicate. The locomotion and invasion mechanisms of apicomplexan parasites are centred on the actin-myosin system to propel the parasite forwards and into the host cell. The functions of actin, an intrinsically dynamic protein, are modulated by actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Actin-depolymerising factor (ADF) is a ubiquitous ABP responsible for accelerating actin turnover in eukaryotic cells and is one of the few known conserved ABPs from apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan ADFs have nonconventional properties compared with ADF/cofilins from higher eukaryotes. In the present paper, we characterised the ADF from N. caninum (NcADF) using computational and in vitro biochemical approaches to investigate its function in rabbit muscle actin dynamics. Our predicted computational tertiary structure of NcADF demonstrated a conserved structure and phylogeny with respect to other ADF/cofilins, although certain differences in filamentous actin (F-actin) binding sites were present. The activity of recombinant NcADF on heterologous actin was regulated in part by pH and the presence of inorganic phosphate. In addition, our data suggest a comparatively weak disassembly of F-actin by NcADF. Taken together, the data presented herein represent a contribution to the field towards the understanding of the role of ADF in N. caninum and a comparative analysis of ABPs in the phylum Apicomplexa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Baroni
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-930, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiz M Pereira
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-930, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Ana P Yatsuda
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-930, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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19
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Kang AY, Park AY, Shin HJ, Khan NA, Maciver SK, Jung SY. Production of a monoclonal antibody against a mannose-binding protein of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and its localization. Exp Parasitol 2018; 192:19-24. [PMID: 30031120 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Amoebae from the genus Acanthamoeba are facultative pathogens of humans and other animals. In humans they most frequently infect the eye causing a sight threatening infection known as Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), and also cause an often fatal encephalitis (GAE). A mannose-binding protein (MBP) has been identified as being important for Acanthamoeba infection especially in AK. This lectin has previously been characterized from Acanthamoeba castellanii as consisting of multiple 130 kDa subunits. MBP expression correlates with pathogenic potential and is expressed in a number of Acanthamoeba species. Here we report the purification of a similar lectin from Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and the production of a monoclonal antibody to it. The A. culbertsoni MBP was isolated by affinity chromatography using α-D-mannose agarose and has an apparent molecular weight of 83 kDa. The monoclonal antibody is an IgM that is useful in both western blots and immunofluorescence. We expect that this antibody will be useful in the study of the pathology of A. culbertsoni and in its identification in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Young Kang
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Molecular Diagnostics Research Institute, Namseoul University, Cheonan 31020, Republic of Korea
| | - A-Young Park
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Molecular Diagnostics Research Institute, Namseoul University, Cheonan 31020, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Joon Shin
- Department of Microbiology, and Molecular Science & Technology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 443-721, Republic of Korea
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Malaysia
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK.
| | - Suk-Yul Jung
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Molecular Diagnostics Research Institute, Namseoul University, Cheonan 31020, Republic of Korea.
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20
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Huang B, Deng S, Loo SY, Datta A, Yap YL, Yan B, Ooi CH, Dinh TD, Zhuo J, Tochhawng L, Gopinadhan S, Jegadeesan T, Tan P, Salto-Tellez M, Yong WP, Soong R, Yeoh KG, Goh YC, Lobie PE, Yang H, Kumar AP, Maciver SK, So JBY, Yap CT. Gelsolin-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt pathway is crucial for hepatocyte growth factor-induced cell scattering in gastric carcinoma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:25391-407. [PMID: 27058427 PMCID: PMC5041912 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In gastric cancer (GC), the main subtypes (diffuse and intestinal types) differ in pathological characteristics, with diffuse GC exhibiting early disseminative and invasive behaviour. A distinctive feature of diffuse GC is loss of intercellular adhesion. Although widely attributed to mutations in the CDH1 gene encoding E-cadherin, a significant percentage of diffuse GC do not harbor CDH1 mutations. We found that the expression of the actin-modulating cytoskeletal protein, gelsolin, is significantly higher in diffuse-type compared to intestinal-type GCs, using immunohistochemical and microarray analysis. Furthermore, in GCs with wild-type CDH1, gelsolin expression correlated inversely with CDH1 gene expression. Downregulating gelsolin using siRNA in GC cells enhanced intercellular adhesion and E-cadherin expression, and reduced invasive capacity. Interestingly, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induced increased gelsolin expression, and gelsolin was essential for HGF-medicated cell scattering and E-cadherin transcriptional repression through Snail, Twist and Zeb2. The HGF-dependent effect on E-cadherin was found to be mediated by interactions between gelsolin and PI3K-Akt signaling. This study reveals for the first time a function of gelsolin in the HGF/cMet oncogenic pathway, which leads to E-cadherin repression and cell scattering in gastric cancer. Our study highlights gelsolin as an important pro-disseminative factor contributing to the aggressive phenotype of diffuse GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohua Huang
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore
| | - Shuo Deng
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore
| | - Ser Yue Loo
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.,Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Arpita Datta
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore
| | - Yan Lin Yap
- Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Benedict Yan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Thuy Duong Dinh
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore
| | - Jingli Zhuo
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lalchhandami Tochhawng
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Suma Gopinadhan
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore
| | | | - Patrick Tan
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.,Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Manuel Salto-Tellez
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Wei Peng Yong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Health System, Singapore.,National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
| | - Richie Soong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.,Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Khay Guan Yeoh
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yaw Chong Goh
- Department of General Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Peter E Lobie
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.,National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Henry Yang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.,National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Biosciences Research Precinct, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley WA, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | | | - Jimmy B Y So
- Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Celestial T Yap
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore.,National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
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21
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De Obeso Fernandez Del Valle A, Lorenzo-Morales J, Maciver SK. Leptomyxa valladaresi n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Tubulinea, Leptomyxida), from Mount Teide, Tenerife, Spain. Exp Parasitol 2017; 183:85-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2017.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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22
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Maciver SK, De Obeso Fernandez Del Valle A, Koutsogiannis Z. Vannella pentlandii n. sp., (Amoebozoa, Discosea, Vannellida) a small, cyst-forming soil amoeba. Exp Parasitol 2017; 183:109-116. [PMID: 28778744 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We describe a new species of cyst-producing soil amoeba Vannella pentlandii from course pasture in the Pentland Hills, Scotland. Analysis of the 18S rDNA gene reveals that it belongs to the sub-group within the genus, presently composed of V. placida, V. epipetala and V. fimicola (the PEF group). This group share features such as longitudinal folds/ridges on the lamella (the anterior hyaline region of the trophozoite), stubby floating forms and cyst production. While each PEF species contain cyst producing strains, not all strains within these species do so. V. fimicola produces cysts on stalks leading to its former classification as a slime mould, however no such stalks were evident in the V. pentlandii, instead groups of cysts become piled on top of each other forming clumps. The encysting amoebae crawl toward each other, pushing some off the surface to form these mounds. The V. pentlandii trophozoites are of typical size for the genus but the cysts at 6.9 μm in diameter, are the smallest so far described in genus Vannella. Other cyst producing species are found in various branches within the Vannella phylogenetic tree, probably meaning that this ability was ancestral but lost in many branches (particularly in marine species), and perhaps re-gained in others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK.
| | - Alvaro De Obeso Fernandez Del Valle
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK
| | - Zisis Koutsogiannis
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK
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23
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Nozawa RS, Boteva L, Soares DC, Naughton C, Dun AR, Buckle A, Ramsahoye B, Bruton PC, Saleeb RS, Arnedo M, Hill B, Duncan RR, Maciver SK, Gilbert N. SAF-A Regulates Interphase Chromosome Structure through Oligomerization with Chromatin-Associated RNAs. Cell 2017. [PMID: 28622508 PMCID: PMC5473940 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Higher eukaryotic chromosomes are organized into topologically constrained functional domains; however, the molecular mechanisms required to sustain these complex interphase chromatin structures are unknown. A stable matrix underpinning nuclear organization was hypothesized, but the idea was abandoned as more dynamic models of chromatin behavior became prevalent. Here, we report that scaffold attachment factor A (SAF-A), originally identified as a structural nuclear protein, interacts with chromatin-associated RNAs (caRNAs) via its RGG domain to regulate human interphase chromatin structures in a transcription-dependent manner. Mechanistically, this is dependent on SAF-A's AAA+ ATPase domain, which mediates cycles of protein oligomerization with caRNAs, in response to ATP binding and hydrolysis. SAF-A oligomerization decompacts large-scale chromatin structure while SAF-A loss or monomerization promotes aberrant chromosome folding and accumulation of genome damage. Our results show that SAF-A and caRNAs form a dynamic, transcriptionally responsive chromatin mesh that organizes large-scale chromosome structures and protects the genome from instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryu-Suke Nozawa
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Lora Boteva
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Dinesh C Soares
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Catherine Naughton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Alison R Dun
- Edinburgh Super-Resolution Imaging Consortium, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Adam Buckle
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Bernard Ramsahoye
- Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Peter C Bruton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Rebecca S Saleeb
- Edinburgh Super-Resolution Imaging Consortium, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Maria Arnedo
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Bill Hill
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Rory R Duncan
- Edinburgh Super-Resolution Imaging Consortium, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Nick Gilbert
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
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Wagner C, Vethencourt Ysea MA, Galindo MV, Guzmán de Rondón C, Nessi Paduani AJ, Reyes-Batlle M, López-Arencibia A, Sifaoui I, Pérez De Galindo MV, Martínez-Carretero E, Valladares B, Maciver SK, Piñero JE, Lorenzo-Morales J. Isolation of Naegleria fowleri from a domestic water tank associated with a fatal encephalitis in a 4 month-old Venezuelan child. Trop Biomed 2017; 34:332-337. [PMID: 33593013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study describes the association of household water system contamination with the pathogenic Free-Living Amoeba (FLA) Naegleria fowleri and a case of fatal Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) in a child from the state of Monagas in Venezuela. Amoebae were initially identified by microscopy from a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the child. Direct DNA extraction and specific PCR/sequencing for N. fowleri was also carried out from the same CSF sample. In order to determine a possible environmental source of infection, water samples from the water tank of the child's home and also water bodies recently visited by the child and his family, were examined for the presence of N. fowleri by culture and PCR/sequencing. The results obtained from the collected water samples revealed that only the water tank of the house was positive for N. fowleri. PCR/sequencing showed that the strains isolated from the patient and the water tanks were 100 % identical. Therefore, the house water tank was confirmed as the source of infection in this case, possibly as a result of the occasional immersion of the child´s head under the water while bathing. This case highlights a novel source of thermally polluted water and another threat of N. fowleri infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wagner
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- Laboratorio de Amibiasis-Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - M A Vethencourt Ysea
- Laboratorio de Amibiasis-Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - M V Galindo
- Laboratorio de Amibiasis-Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - C Guzmán de Rondón
- Laboratorio de Amibiasis-Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - A J Nessi Paduani
- Laboratorio de Amibiasis-Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - M Reyes-Batlle
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - A López-Arencibia
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - I Sifaoui
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, University of Carthage, La Marsa, Tunisia
| | - M V Pérez De Galindo
- Laboratorio de Amibiasis-Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - E Martínez-Carretero
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - B Valladares
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - S K Maciver
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - J E Piñero
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - J Lorenzo-Morales
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
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Valladares M, Reyes-Batlle M, Mora-Peces I, Martín-Navarro CM, López-Arencibia A, Dorta-Gorrín A, Comyn-Afonso E, Martínez-Carretero E, Maciver SK, Piñero JE, Valladares B, Lorenzo-Morales J. A multisystemic Acanthamoeba infection in a dog in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Vet Parasitol 2014; 205:707-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Cabello-Vílchez AM, Reyes-Batlle M, Montalbán-Sandoval E, Martín-Navarro CM, López-Arencibia A, Elias-Letts R, Guerra H, Gotuzzo E, Martínez-Carretero E, Piñero JE, Maciver SK, Valladares B, Lorenzo-Morales J. The isolation of Balamuthia mandrillaris from environmental sources from Peru. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:2509-13. [PMID: 24781021 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3900-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Balamuthia mandrillaris is an opportunistic free-living amoeba that has been reported to cause skin lesions and the fatal Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis (BAE) in humans and other animals. Currently, around 200 human BAE cases have been reported worldwide, although this number is considered to be underestimated. The highest number of BAE cases has been reported in the American continent, mainly in the southwest of the USA. Peru seems to be another hotspot for BAE with around 55 human cases having been identified, usually involving cutaneous infection, especially lesions in the central face area. The isolation of Balamuthia from environmental sources has been reported on only three prior occasions, twice from Californian soils and once from dust in Iran and so it seems that this amoeba is relatively rarely encountered in samples from the environment. We investigated that possibility of finding the amoebae in soil samples from different regions where clinical cases have been reported in Peru. Twenty-one samples were cultured in non-nutrient agar plates and were checked for the presence of B. mandrillaris-like trophozoites and/or cysts. Those samples that were positive for these amoebae by microscopic criteria were then confirmed by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene of B. mandrillaris. We have detected the presence of B. mandrillaris in four samples collected in the regions of Piura (3) and Lima (1) where infection cases have been previously reported. We hypothesize that B. mandrillaris is present in Peru in soil and dust which therefore constitutes a source of the infection for the BAE cases previously reported in this country. Further studies should be carried out in the area to confirm the generality of this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Martín Cabello-Vílchez
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez SN, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
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Maciver SK, Asif M, Simmen MW, Lorenzo-Morales J. A systematic analysis of Acanthamoeba genotype frequency correlated with source and pathogenicity: T4 is confirmed as a pathogen-rich genotype. Eur J Protistol 2013; 49:217-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2012.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Zhuo J, Tan EH, Yan B, Tochhawng L, Jayapal M, Koh S, Tay HK, Maciver SK, Hooi SC, Salto-Tellez M, Kumar AP, Goh YC, Lim YC, Yap CT. Gelsolin induces colorectal tumor cell invasion via modulation of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator cascade. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43594. [PMID: 22927998 PMCID: PMC3424201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gelsolin is a cytoskeletal protein which participates in actin filament dynamics and promotes cell motility and plasticity. Although initially regarded as a tumor suppressor, gelsolin expression in certain tumors correlates with poor prognosis and therapy-resistance. In vitro, gelsolin has anti-apoptotic and pro-migratory functions and is critical for invasion of some types of tumor cells. We found that gelsolin was highly expressed at tumor borders infiltrating into adjacent liver tissues, as examined by immunohistochemistry. Although gelsolin contributes to lamellipodia formation in migrating cells, the mechanisms by which it induces tumor invasion are unclear. Gelsolin's influence on the invasive activity of colorectal cancer cells was investigated using overexpression and small interfering RNA knockdown. We show that gelsolin is required for invasion of colorectal cancer cells through matrigel. Microarray analysis and quantitative PCR indicate that gelsolin overexpression induces the upregulation of invasion-promoting genes in colorectal cancer cells, including the matrix-degrading urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). Conversely, gelsolin knockdown reduces uPA levels, as well as uPA secretion. The enhanced invasiveness of gelsolin-overexpressing cells was attenuated by treatment with function-blocking antibodies to either uPA or its receptor uPAR, indicating that uPA/uPAR activity is crucial for gelsolin-dependent invasion. In summary, our data reveals novel functions of gelsolin in colorectal tumor cell invasion through its modulation of the uPA/uPAR cascade, with potentially important roles in colorectal tumor dissemination to metastatic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingli Zhuo
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ee Hong Tan
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Benedict Yan
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lalchhandami Tochhawng
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Manikandan Jayapal
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shiuan Koh
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hwee Kee Tay
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sutherland K. Maciver
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Shing Chuan Hooi
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Manuel Salto-Tellez
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yaw Chong Goh
- Department of Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yaw Chyn Lim
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail: (CTY); (YCL)
| | - Celestial T. Yap
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail: (CTY); (YCL)
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Prescott TAK, Kiapranis R, Maciver SK. Comparative ethnobotany and in-the-field antibacterial testing of medicinal plants used by the Bulu and inland Kaulong of Papua New Guinea. J Ethnopharmacol 2012; 139:497-503. [PMID: 22154578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Revised: 08/31/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea is an area of great floristic and cultural diversity that has received little attention from ethnobotanists. Here we present the results of a comparative medicinal ethnobotanical survey of the Bulu and inland Kaulong; two distinct people groups inhabiting lowland rainforest on different sides of the island. A high proportion of species are used in the treatment of bacterial infections and plants with antibacterial activity were identified in the field using a specially developed antibacterial assay kit. Follow up testing with human pathogens was used to evaluate active plant material in more detail. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rapid appraisal techniques were used to survey both people groups with all data corroborated by three or more separate sources. Plants from both groups were tested in-the-field with a portable antibacterial test kit based on the agar diffusion assay, using a pressure cooker to sterilise glassware and media. Follow up laboratory based tests were carried out using standardised agar dilution protocols for drug resistant and drug sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. RESULTS We find surprisingly little overlap in the plant species used by the two people groups with only 1 out of 70 species used for the same purpose. There is also a difference in emphasis in the conditions treated with 53% of Kaulong medicinal plants dedicated to treating tropical ulcers compared with only 8% of in the Bulu group. In-the-field testing identified Garcinia dulcis bark (a Kaulong tropical ulcer treatment) to have antibacterial activity and follow up tests against a drug resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (a pathogen implicated in tropical ulcer pathogenesis) revealed the crude bark extract to be potently active with an MIC of just 1 mg/ml. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate extreme differences in medicinal plant use between two people groups living a mere 100 km apart and suggests the two medicinal plant systems have developed in isolation from one another. In-the-field antibacterial testing of plant extracts was found to be a valuable technique that enabled early identification of active plant material.
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Lorenzo-Morales J, Morcillo-Laiz R, Martín-Navarro CM, López-Vélez R, López-Arencibia A, Arnalich-Montiel F, Maciver SK, Valladares B, Martínez-Carretero E. Corrigendum to “Acanthamoeba keratitis due to genotype T11 in a rigid gas permeable contact lens wearer in Spain” [Contact Lens Ant. Eye 34 (2) (2011) 83–86]. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2011.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Lorenzo-Morales J, Martín-Navarro CM, López-Arencibia A, Santana-Morales MA, Afonso-Lehmann RN, Maciver SK, Valladares B, Martínez-Carretero E. Therapeutic potential of a combination of two gene-specific small interfering RNAs against clinical strains of Acanthamoeba. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2010; 54:5151-5. [PMID: 20855732 PMCID: PMC2981231 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00329-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2010] [Revised: 05/13/2010] [Accepted: 09/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic strains of the genus Acanthamoeba are causative agents of severe infections, such as fatal encephalitis and a sight-threatening amoebic keratitis. Antimicrobial therapy for these infections is generally empirical, and patient recovery is often problematic, due to the existence of a highly resistant cyst stage in these amoebae. In previous studies, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against the catalytic domains of extracellular serine proteases and glycogen phosphorylase from Acanthamoeba were designed and evaluated for future therapeutic use. The silencing of proteases resulted in Acanthamoeba failing to degrade human corneal cells, and silencing of glycogen phosphorylase caused amoebae to be unable to form mature cysts. After the siRNA design and concentration were optimized in order to avoid toxicity problems, cultures of Acanthamoeba were treated with a combination of both siRNAs, and cells were evaluated under an inverted microscope. This siRNA-based treatment dramatically affected the growth rate and cellular survival of the amoebae. These results were observed less than 48 h after the initiation of the treatment. In order to check possible toxic effects of the siRNA combination, three eukaryotic cell lines (HeLa, murine macrophages, and osteosarcoma cells) were treated with the same molecules, and cytotoxicity was examined by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release. The future use of the combination of these siRNAs is proposed as a potential therapeutic approach against pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
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Ferjani I, Fattoum A, Manai M, Benyamin Y, Roustan C, Maciver SK. Two distinct regions of calponin share common binding sites on actin resulting in different modes of calponin-actin interaction. Biochim Biophys Acta 2010; 1804:1760-7. [PMID: 20595006 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2010.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2009] [Revised: 05/05/2010] [Accepted: 05/25/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Calponins are a small family of proteins that alter the interaction between actin and myosin II and mediate signal transduction. These proteins bind F-actin in a complex manner that depends on a variety of parameters such as stoichiometry and ionic strength. Calponin binds G-actin and F-actin, bundling the latter primarily through two distinct and adjacent binding sites (ABS1 and ABS2). Calponin binds other proteins that bind F-actin and considerable disagreements exist as to how calponin is located on the filament, especially in the presence of other proteins. A study (Galkin, V.E., Orlova, A., Fattoum, A., Walsh, M.P. and Egelman, E.H. (2006) J. Mol. Biol. 359, 478-485.), using EM single-particle reconstruction has shown that there may be four modes of interaction, but how these occur is not yet known. We report that two distinct regions of calponin are capable of binding some of the same sites on actin (such as 18-28 and 360-372 in subdomain 1). This accounts for the finding that calponin binds the filament with different apparent geometries. We suggest that the four modes of filament binding account for differences in stoichiometry and that these, in turn, arise from differential binding of the two calponin regions to actin. It is likely that the modes of binding are reciprocally influenced by other actin-binding proteins since members of the alpha-actinin group also adopt different actin-binding positions and bind actin principally through a domain that is similar to calponin's ABS1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Ferjani
- UMR 5539 (CNRS) Laboratoire de motilité cellulaire (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes) Université de Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, CC107, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
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Ferjani I, Fattoum A, Bettache N, Seantier B, Milhiet PE, Manai M, Benyamin Y, Roustan C, Maciver SK. The gelsolin:calponin complex nucleates actin filaments with distinct morphologies. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 392:118-23. [PMID: 20035726 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.12.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2009] [Accepted: 12/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Gelsolin and calponin are cytoskeletal and signalling proteins that form a tight 1:1 complex (GCC). We show that calponin within the GCC inhibits the rate of gelsolin mediated nucleation of actin polymerization. The actin-binding function of calponin is ablated within the GCC as the actin-binding site overlaps with one of the gelsolin binding sites. The structure of filaments that result from nucleation by GCC are different to those nucleated by gelsolin alone in that they are longer, loosely bundled and stain heterogeneously with phalloidin. GCC nucleated filaments appear contorted and wrap around each to form the loose bundles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Ferjani
- DIMNP, University of Montpellier 2 and 1, CNRS Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon CC107, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Prescott TA, Bramham J, Zompro O, Maciver SK. Actinidine and glucose from the defensive secretion of the stick insect Megacrania nigrosulfurea. BIOCHEM SYST ECOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bse.2009.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Lorenzo-Morales J, Coronado-Alvarez N, Martínez-Carretero E, Maciver SK, Valladares B. Detection of four adenovirus serotypes within water-isolated strains of Acanthamoeba in the Canary Islands, Spain. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007; 77:753-756. [PMID: 17978083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We surveyed 236 potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains, isolated from water sources in the Canary Islands, for the presence of human adenoviruses (HAdV) using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based typing assay. A total of 34 of these strains were found to be positive for adenovirus belonging to four different HAdV serotypes (HAdV-1, 2, 8, and 37). We found that HAdV-2 was the most frequently encountered serotype amongst the Acanthamoeba strains, and their identification was confirmed by a nested PCR specific for this serotype. We showed that Acanthamoeba genotype T4 was highly associated with serotype HAdV-2, whereas Acanthamoeba genotype T3 was most often associated with adenovirus serotypes related to ocular diseases. Based on these data, we suggest that Acanthamoeba should be considered as a potential reservoir and perhaps even a transmitter of adenoviruses to human and other secondary hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
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Lorenzo-Morales J, Valladares B, Martínez-Carretero E, Maciver SK, Coronado-Álvarez N. Detection of Four Adenovirus Serotypes within Water-Isolated Strains of Acanthamoeba in the Canary Islands, Spain. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007. [DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2007.77.753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Deeks MJ, Rodrigues C, Dimmock S, Ketelaar T, Maciver SK, Malhó R, Hussey PJ. Arabidopsis CAP1 – a key regulator of actin organisation and development. J Cell Sci 2007; 120:2609-18. [PMID: 17635992 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.007302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of F-actin turnover is essential for plant cell morphogenesis. Actin-binding protein mutants reveal that plants place emphasis on particular aspects of actin biochemistry distinct from animals and fungi. Here we show that mutants in CAP1, an A. thaliana member of the cyclase-associated protein family, display a phenotype that establishes CAP1 as a fundamental facilitator of actin dynamics over a wide range of plant tissues. Plants homozygous for cap1 alleles show a reduction in stature and morphogenetic disruption of multiple cell types. Pollen grains exhibit reduced germination efficiency, and cap1 pollen tubes and root hairs grow at a decreased rate and to a reduced length. Live cell imaging of growing root hairs reveals actin filament disruption and cytoplasmic disorganisation in the tip growth zone. Mutant cap1 alleles also show synthetic phenotypes when combined with mutants of the Arp2/3 complex pathway, which further suggests a contribution of CAP1 to in planta actin dynamics. In yeast, CAP interacts with adenylate cyclase in a Ras signalling cascade; but plants do not have Ras. Surprisingly, cap1 plants show disruption in plant signalling pathways required for co-ordinated organ expansion suggesting that plant CAP has evolved to attain plant-specific signalling functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Deeks
- The Integrative Cell Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
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Ferjani I, Fattoum A, Maciver SK, Manai M, Benyamin Y, Roustan C. Two distinct sites of interaction form the calponin: gelsolin complex and two calcium switches control its activity. Biochim Biophys Acta 2007; 1774:952-8. [PMID: 17556051 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2007.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2007] [Revised: 04/25/2007] [Accepted: 04/27/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Gelsolin and calponin are well characterized actin-binding proteins that form a tight gelsolin:calponin complex (GCC). We show here that the GCC is formed through two distinct interfaces. One of these is formed between 144-182 of calponin and 25-150 of gelsolin (G1). The second is a calcium-sensitive site centred on calponin's CH domain, and the C-terminal half of gelsolin (G4-6). The behaviour of this second interface is dependent on the presence of calcium and so it is possible that potential GCC-binding partners may be selected by calcium availability. Actin is one such GCC-binding partner and we show that a larger complex is formed with monomeric actin in calcium. The stoichiometry of this complex is determined to be 1 gelsolin/1 calponin/2 G-actins (GCA(2)). Both actin monomers bind the GCC through gelsolin. Both calponin and gelsolin are reported to play signaling roles in addition to their better-characterized actin-binding properties and it is possible that the GCC regulates both of these functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Ferjani
- DIMNP, University of Montpellier 2 and 1, CNRS Montpellier, Place E, Bataillon, CC107, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Roustan C, Ferjani I, Maciver SK, Fattoum A, Rebière B, Benyamin Y. Calcium-induced conformational changes in the amino-terminal half of gelsolin. FEBS Lett 2007; 581:681-6. [PMID: 17258204 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2006] [Revised: 12/05/2006] [Accepted: 01/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Gelsolin is an actin-binding protein that is regulated by the occupancy of multiple calcium-binding sites. We have studied calcium induced conformational changes in the G1-2 and G1-3 sub-domains, and report the binding affinities for the three type II sites. A new probe for G3 has been produced and a K(d) of 5 microM has been measured for calcium in the context of G1-3. The two halves of gelsolin, G1-3 and G4-6 bind weakly with or without calcium, suggesting that once separated by apoptotic proteolysis, G1-3 and G4-6 remain apart allowing G1-3 to sever actin in a calcium free manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Roustan
- UMR 5539 (CNRS) Laboratoire de motilité cellulaire (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes), Université de Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, CC107, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Prescott TAK, Sadler IH, Kiapranis R, Maciver SK. Lunacridine from Lunasia amara is a DNA intercalating topoisomerase II inhibitor. J Ethnopharmacol 2007; 109:289-94. [PMID: 16963212 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2006] [Revised: 06/29/2006] [Accepted: 07/27/2006] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
An ethnobotanical survey of plants used to treat tropical ulcers in Papua New Guinea identified Lunasia amara as possessing anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity. Activity-guided fractionation of the aqueous bark extract resulted in the identification of the quinoline alkaloid lunacridine as the active principle. Lunacridine tends to cyslise at room temperature but the 2'-O-trifluoroacetyl derivative was found to be stable and therefore more suitable for biological assays. The compound exhibited a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 64 micro g/ml against Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 and activity in the low micromolar range against HeLa and H226 cells; the latter showing signs of caspase-3/7 mediated apoptotic cell death. Experiments with drug resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae suggested topoisomerase as a likely target for the drug in bacteria whilst decatenation assays with human topoisomerase II showed the compound to be a potent inhibitor of this isoform (IC(50)<5 micro M) thus explaining the drug's activity against human cell lines. Both lunacridine and 2'-O-trifluoroacetyl lunacridine exhibited mild DNA intercalation activity giving 50% decrease in ethidium DNA fluorescence at 0.22 and 0.6 mM, respectively, placing the drug amongst the DNA intercalating class of topoisomerase II inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A K Prescott
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutherland K Maciver
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
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Agrawal PB, Greenleaf RS, Tomczak KK, Lehtokari VL, Wallgren-Pettersson C, Wallefeld W, Laing NG, Darras BT, Maciver SK, Dormitzer PR, Beggs AH. Nemaline myopathy with minicores caused by mutation of the CFL2 gene encoding the skeletal muscle actin-binding protein, cofilin-2. Am J Hum Genet 2007; 80:162-7. [PMID: 17160903 PMCID: PMC1785312 DOI: 10.1086/510402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2006] [Accepted: 10/23/2006] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Nemaline myopathy (NM) is a congenital myopathy characterized by muscle weakness and nemaline bodies in affected myofibers. Five NM genes, all encoding components of the sarcomeric thin filament, are known. We report identification of a sixth gene, CFL2, encoding the actin-binding protein muscle cofilin-2, which is mutated in two siblings with congenital myopathy. The proband's muscle contained characteristic nemaline bodies, as well as occasional fibers with minicores, concentric laminated bodies, and areas of F-actin accumulation. Her affected sister's muscle was reported to exhibit nonspecific myopathic changes. Cofilin-2 levels were significantly lower in the proband's muscle, and the mutant protein was less soluble when expressed in Escherichia coli, suggesting that deficiency of cofilin-2 may result in reduced depolymerization of actin filaments, causing their accumulation in nemaline bodies, minicores, and, possibly, concentric laminated bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj B Agrawal
- Genomics Program, the Divisions of Genetics and Neonatology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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Ferjani I, Fattoum A, Maciver SK, Manai M, Benyamin Y, Roustan C. Calponin binds G-actin and F-actin with similar affinity. FEBS Lett 2006; 580:4801-6. [PMID: 16901482 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.07.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2006] [Revised: 06/30/2006] [Accepted: 07/24/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Calponins are actin-binding proteins that are implicated in the regulation of actomyosin. Calponin binds filamentous actin (F-actin) through two distinct sites ABS1 and ABS2, with an affinity in the low micromolar range. We report that smooth muscle calponin binds monomeric actin with a similar affinity (K(d) of 0.15 microM). We show that the arrangement of binding is similar to that of F-actin by a number of criteria, most notably that the distance between Cys273 on calponin and Cys374 of actin is 29A when measured by fluorescent resonance energy transfer, the same distance as previously reported for F-actin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Ferjani
- UMR 5539 (CNRS) Laboratoire de motilité cellulaire (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes) Université de Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, CC107, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Abstract
A simple, low cost method is described for the long-term storage of the potential human pathogen Acanthamoeba. Amoebae are placed in dried, sterile clay pellets within which they form cysts that remain viable and pure for at least 5 years. This method compares favorably with other storage methods and requires no specialist equipment. We have demonstrated that amoeba stored by this method retain both their pathogenic potential and their small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
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Yap CT, Simpson TI, Pratt T, Price DJ, Maciver SK. The motility of glioblastoma tumour cells is modulated by intracellular cofilin expression in a concentration-dependent manner. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 60:153-65. [PMID: 15662725 DOI: 10.1002/cm.20053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The invasive behaviour of tumour cells has been attributed in part to dysregulated cell motility. Members of the ADF/Cofilin family of actin-binding proteins are known to increase microfilament dynamics by increasing the rate at which actin monomers leave the pointed end of the filament and by a filament-severing activity. As depolymerisation is a rate-limiting step in actin dynamics, ADF/Cofilins are suspected to facilitate the motility of cells. To test this, we investigated the influence of cofilin on tumour motility by transient and stably overexpressing cofilin in the human glioblastoma cell line, U373 MG. Several different methods were used to ascertain the level of cofilin in overexpressing clones and this was correlated with their rate of random locomotion. A biphasic relationship between cofilin level and locomotory rate was found. Clones that displayed a moderate amount of overproduction of cofilin were found to have increased rates of locomotion approximately linear to the overproduction of cofilin up to an optimal cofilin level of about 4.5 times that of wild type cells at which the cells were almost twice as fast. However, clones producing more than this optimal amount were found to locomote at progressively reduced speeds. Cells that overexpress cofilin have reduced stress fibres compared to control cells showing that the excess cofilin affects the actin cytoskeleton. We conclude that overexpression of cofilin enhances the motility of glioblastoma tumour cells in a concentration-dependent fashion, which is likely to contribute to their invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celestial T Yap
- Genes and Development Group, School of Biomedical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Gelsolin is a multidomain and multifunction protein that nucleates the assembly of filaments and severs them. The activation of gelsolin by calcium is a multistep process involving many calcium binding sites that act to unfold the molecule from a tight structure to a more loose form in which three actin-binding sites become exposed. Low pH is also known to activate gelsolin, in the absence of calcium and this too results in an unfolding of the molecule. Less is known how pH-activation occurs but we show that there are significant differences in the mechanisms that lead to activation. Crucially, while it is known that the bonds between G2 and G6 are broken by co-operative occupancy of calcium binding sites in both domains [Lagarrique, E., Maciver, S. K., Fattoum, A., Benyamin, Y. & Roustan, C. (2003) Eur. J. Biochem. 270, 2236-2243.], pH values that activate gelsolin do not result in a weakening of the G2-G6 bonds. We report the existence of pH-dependent conformational changes within G2 and in G4-6 that differ from those induced by calcium, and that low pH overrides the requirement for calcium for actin-binding within G4-6 to a modest extent so that a Kd of 1 micro m is measured, compared to 30-40 nm in the presence of calcium. Whereas the pH-dependent conformational change in G2 is possibly different from the change induced by calcium, the changes measured in G4-6 appear to be similar in both calcium and low pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Lagarrigue
- UMR 5539 (CNRS) Laboratoire de motilité cellulaire (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes), Université de Montpellier 2, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Lagarrigue E, Maciver SK, Fattoum A, Benyamin Y, Roustan C. Co-operation of domain-binding and calcium-binding sites in the activation of gelsolin. Eur J Biochem 2003; 270:2236-43. [PMID: 12752443 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1033.2003.03591.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Gelsolin is an abundant calcium dependent actin filament severing and capping protein. In the absence of calcium the molecule is compact but in the presence of calcium, as its six similar domains alter their relative position, a generally more open configuration is adopted to reveal the three actin binding sites. It is generally held that a 'helical-latch' at the C-terminus of gelsolin's domain 6 (G6), binds domain 2 (G2) to keep gelsolin in the calcium-free compact state, and that the crutial calcium binding site(s) reside in the C-terminal half of gelsolin perhaps involving the C-terminal helix itself has to be bound to release this latch. Here we provide evidence for a calcium dependent conformational change within G2 (Kd = approximately 15 micro m). We also report a calcium dependent binding site for the C-terminus (G4-6) within G2 and delimit this further to a specific region formed by residues 203-225 and 159-193. It is known that the activation of gelsolin involves multiple calcium binding events (around 6) the first of which (in G6) may release the latch. We propose that the calcium-dependent conformational change in G2 may be a subsequent step that is necessary for the dissociation of G2 from G4-6, and that this movement occurs in sympathy with calcium induced conformational changes within G6 by the physical coupling of the two calcium binding sites within G2 and G6. Additional calcium binding in other domains then result in the complete opening and activation of the gelsolin molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Lagarrigue
- UMR 5539 (CNRS), Laboratoire de motilité cellulaire (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes), Université de Montpellier 2, France
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Blondin L, Sapountzi V, Maciver SK, Lagarrigue E, Benyamin Y, Roustan C. A structural basis for the pH-dependence of cofilin. F-actin interactions. Eur J Biochem 2002; 269:4194-201. [PMID: 12199697 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.03101.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A marked pH-dependent interaction with F-actin is an important property of typical members of the actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin family of abundant actin-binding proteins. ADF/cofilins tend to bind to F-actin with a ratio of 1 : 1 at pH values around 6.5, and to G-actin at pH 8.0. We have investigated the mechanism for the pH-sensitivity. We found no evidence for pH-dependent changes in the structure of cofilin itself, nor for the interaction of cofilin with G-actin. None of the actin-derived, cofilin-binding peptides that we had previously identified [Renoult, C., Ternent, D., Maciver, S.K., Fattoum, A., Astier, C., Benyamin, Y. & Roustan, C. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 28893-28899] bound cofilin in a pH-sensitive manner. However, we have detected a conformational change in region 75-105 in the actin subdomain 1 by the use of a peptide-directed antibody. A pH-dependent conformational change has also been detected spectroscopically in a similar peptide (84-103) on binding to cofilin. These results are consistent with a model in which pH-dependent motion of subdomain 1 relative to subdomain 2 (through region 75-105) of actin reveals a second cofilin binding site on actin (centered around region 112-125) that allows ADF/cofilin association with the actin filament. This motion requires salt in addition to low pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Blondin
- Laboratoire de motilité cellulaire, Université de Montpellier, 2 Place E. Bataillon CC107, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Abstract
The ADF/cofilins are a family of actin-binding proteins expressed in all eukaryotic cells so far examined. Members of this family remodel the actin cytoskeleton, for example during cytokinesis, when the actin-rich contractile ring shrinks as it contracts through the interaction of ADF/cofilins with both monomeric and filamentous actin. The depolymerizing activity is twofold: ADF/cofilins sever actin filaments and also increase the rate at which monomers leave the filament's pointed end. The three-dimensional structure of ADF/cofilins is similar to a fold in members of the gelsolin family of actin-binding proteins in which this fold is typically repeated three or six times; although both families bind polyphosphoinositide lipids and actin in a pH-dependent manner, they share no obvious sequence similarity. Plants and animals have multiple ADF/cofilin genes, belonging in vertebrates to two types, ADF and cofilins. Other eukaryotes (such as yeast, Acanthamoeba and slime moulds) have a single ADF/cofilin gene. Phylogenetic analysis of the ADF/cofilins reveals that, with few exceptions, their relationships reflect conventional views of the relationships between the major groups of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutherland K Maciver
- Genes and Development Interdisciplinary Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK.
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