Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Parasitology. 2010 Mar;137(3):497-520. doi: 10.1017/S0031182010000053. Epub 2010 Feb 18.
Among the topics of considerable interest concerning our understanding of the unusual biology of schistosomes is the sexual maturation of the female. The identification of genes coding for signal transduction proteins controlling essential steps of the pairing-dependent differentiation of the reproductive organs, vitellarium and ovary will help to substantiate our knowledge about this unique parasite. Furthermore, such signalling proteins could be potential targets to interfere with the development of this parasite to combat schistosomiasis since its pathology is caused by the eggs. This review summarises first post-genomic steps to elucidate the function of gonad-specific signalling molecules which were identified by homology-based cloning strategies, by in silico identification or by yeast two-hybrid interaction analyses, using a combination of novel techniques. These include the in vitro culture of adult schistosomes, their treatment with chemical inhibitors to block enzyme activity, the use of RNAi to silence gene function post-transcriptionally, and confocal laser scanning microscopy to study the morphological consequences of these experimental approaches. Finally, we propose a first model of protein networks that are active in the ovary regulating mitogenic activity and differentiation. Some of these molecules are also active in the testes of males, probably fulfilling similar roles as in the ovary.
在我们对血吸虫不同寻常的生物学的理解中,有许多备受关注的主题,其中包括雌性的性成熟。鉴定出编码信号转导蛋白的基因,这些蛋白控制生殖器官、卵黄腺和卵巢配对依赖性分化的基本步骤,将有助于我们充实有关这种独特寄生虫的知识。此外,由于这种寄生虫的病理学是由其卵引起的,因此,这类信号蛋白可能是潜在的靶点,可以干扰寄生虫的发育,以对抗血吸虫病。本综述首先总结了阐明性腺特异性信号分子功能的后基因组步骤,这些信号分子是通过基于同源性的克隆策略、计算机鉴定或酵母双杂交相互作用分析,结合新的技术来识别的。这些技术包括成年血吸虫的体外培养、用化学抑制剂处理以阻断酶活性、使用 RNAi 进行转录后基因功能沉默,以及利用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜研究这些实验方法的形态学后果。最后,我们提出了一个在卵巢中调节有丝分裂活性和分化的活性蛋白网络的初步模型。这些分子中的一些也在雄性的睾丸中活跃,可能在卵巢中发挥类似的作用。