Isokpehi Raphael D, Mahmud Ousman, Mbah Andreas N, Simmons Shaneka S, Avelar Lívia, Rajnarayanan Rajendram V, Udensi Udensi K, Ayensu Wellington K, Cohly Hari H, Brown Shyretha D, Dates Centdrika R, Hentz Sonya D, Hughes Shawntae J, Smith-McInnis Dominique R, Patterson Carvey O, Sims Jennifer N, Turner Kelisha T, Williams Baraka S, Johnson Matilda O, Adubi Taiwo, Mbuh Judith V, Anumudu Chiaka I, Adeoye Grace O, Thomas Bolaji N, Nashiru Oyekanmi, Oliveira Guilherme
Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
Gene Regul Syst Bio. 2011;5:61-74. doi: 10.4137/GRSB.S7491. Epub 2011 Sep 19.
The draft nuclear genome sequence of the snail-transmitted, dimorphic, parasitic, platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni revealed eight genes encoding proteins that contain the Universal Stress Protein (USP) domain. Schistosoma mansoni is a causative agent of human schistosomiasis, a severe and debilitating Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) of poverty, which is endemic in at least 76 countries. The availability of the genome sequences of Schistosoma species presents opportunities for bioinformatics and genomics analyses of associated gene families that could be targets for understanding schistosomiasis ecology, intervention, prevention and control. Proteins with the USP domain are known to provide bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists and plants with the ability to respond to diverse environmental stresses. In this research investigation, the functional annotations of the USP genes and predicted nucleotide and protein sequences were initially verified. Subsequently, sequence clusters and distinctive features of the sequences were determined. A total of twelve ligand binding sites were predicted based on alignment to the ATP-binding universal stress protein from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. In addition, six USP sequences showed the presence of ATP-binding motif residues indicating that they may be regulated by ATP. Public domain gene expression data and RT-PCR assays confirmed that all the S. mansoni USP genes were transcribed in at least one of the developmental life cycle stages of the helminth. Six of these genes were up-regulated in the miracidium, a free-swimming stage that is critical for transmission to the snail intermediate host. It is possible that during the intra-snail stages, S. mansoni gene transcripts for universal stress proteins are low abundant and are induced to perform specialized functions triggered by environmental stressors such as oxidative stress due to hydrogen peroxide that is present in the snail hemocytes. This report serves to catalyze the formation of a network of researchers to understand the function and regulation of the universal stress proteins encoded in genomes of schistosomes and their snail intermediate hosts.
由蜗牛传播的双态寄生扁形虫曼氏血吸虫的核基因组序列草图显示，有八个基因编码含有通用应激蛋白（USP）结构域的蛋白质。曼氏血吸虫是人类血吸虫病的病原体，血吸虫病是一种严重且使人衰弱的、与贫困相关的被忽视热带病，在至少76个国家流行。血吸虫物种基因组序列的可得性为相关基因家族的生物信息学和基因组学分析提供了机会，这些基因家族可能是理解血吸虫病生态学、干预、预防和控制的靶点。已知具有USP结构域的蛋白质能使细菌、古细菌、真菌、原生生物和植物具备应对各种环境应激的能力。在本研究中，最初对USP基因的功能注释以及预测的核苷酸和蛋白质序列进行了验证。随后，确定了序列簇和序列的独特特征。基于与詹氏甲烷球菌的ATP结合通用应激蛋白的比对，共预测出12个配体结合位点。此外，六个USP序列显示存在ATP结合基序残基，表明它们可能受ATP调节。公共领域基因表达数据和逆转录聚合酶链反应分析证实，所有曼氏血吸虫USP基因在该蠕虫发育生命周期的至少一个阶段转录。其中六个基因在毛蚴（对传播至蜗牛中间宿主至关重要的自由游动阶段）中上调。在蜗牛体内阶段，曼氏血吸虫通用应激蛋白的基因转录本可能丰度较低，并在诸如蜗牛血细胞中存在的过氧化氢引起的氧化应激等环境应激源触发下被诱导执行特定功能。本报告有助于促成一个研究人员网络的形成，以了解血吸虫及其蜗牛中间宿主基因组中编码的通用应激蛋白的功能和调控。
