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Studies about the biogenesis and composition of the Leishmania spp. ribonucleoprotein complex and its regulation

Grant number: 18/04375-2
Support Opportunities:Research Projects - Thematic Grants
Duration: April 01, 2019 - March 31, 2025
Field of knowledge:Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
Principal Investigator:Maria Isabel Nogueira Cano
Grantee:Maria Isabel Nogueira Cano
Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
Associated researchers:Carlos Alexandre Henrique Fernandes ; Claus Azzalin ; Edna Gicela Ortiz Morea ; Elton José Rosas de Vasconcelos ; Helio Langoni ; Marcos Roberto de Mattos Fontes
Associated grant(s):19/08411-6 - Multi-User Equipment approved in grant 2018/04375-2: Flow citometer model BD Accuri C6TM plus system and Accuri C6 plus Dell Optiplex workstation bundle, AP.EMU
Associated scholarship(s):23/16161-5 - Characterization of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) component of Leishmania infantum and assessment of its role in telomere maintenance, genome integrity, cell cycle progression, and parasite infectivity, BP.DR
24/00995-7 - Composition of the telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex of Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum with different genetic backgrounds, BP.PD
21/14798-0 - Functional and structural studies of the PinX1 orthologue and its influence on Leishmania spp telomeres, BP.DD
+ associated scholarships 21/05523-8 - Composition of the telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex of Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum with different genetic backgrounds, BP.PD
21/04253-7 - Role of TERRA in telomere regulation and replicative senescence in Leishmania major, BP.PD
20/08162-3 - Endogenous tagging of Leishmania major META1 and META2 genes using CRISPR-CAS9, as a way to identify metacyclics in axenic culture, BP.IC
20/00316-1 - Studies about the function of L. major TERT component in telomere maintenance and cell proliferation, BP.DD
19/25985-6 - Studies about the effect of knocking out and overexpressing the Telomerase RNA component in L. major development and survival, BP.DD
19/11496-3 - Role of TERRA in telomere regulation and replicative senescence in Leishmania major, BP.PD
19/05239-8 - Comparative study between different biophysical techniques for further understanding of the nuclear importation mechanism, BP.DD - associated scholarships

Abstract

Leishmaniasis are tropical diseases transmitted by primitive parasites of the genus Leishmania, family Trypanosomatidae. For these diseases, which can be present in different clinical forms, there are no efficient control and treatment. The actual treatment protocols are highly toxic and expensive and can lead to the resistance of parasites and vectors. Knowledge about the parasite molecular machineries is crucial for recognizing new anti-Leishmania therapeutic targets. Telomeres are of great interest since they play fundamental roles in genome maintenance and cell proliferation. Telomeres are the physical ends of the chromosomes maintained by the action of telomerase ribonucleoprotein (RNP) minimally composed by, TERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase), and the long non coding RNA TER (Telomerase RNA), which contains the template sequence for telomere addition. The biogenesis and assemble of the telomerase RNP is well known in model organisms and is entirely due to a network of structural interactions between TERT, TER and accessory proteins. Once assemble, the telomerase RNP interacts dynamically with some telomeric proteins whose role is to recruit telomerase to telomere elongation. This interaction is strictly regulate and vital for telomere maintenance. We have already identified and partially characterized Leishmania spp. telomerase activity and the genes encoding both TERT and TER. However, we were not able to characterize the telomerase RNP complex, and to identify the proteins that act in its biogenesis and the partners that help in complex assemble and regulation. In this context, it is important to remind that our group has already described different components of parasite telomeric chromatin with emphasis to the proteins that bind double and single-strand telomeric DNA as well as the lncRNA TERRA, which in other eukaryotes can regulate telomerase activity and cell life span. The present work has the aim of: i) structurally characterize the interactions between TERT domains and the telomeric DNA using biochemical and biophysical approaches, ii) try to obtain the cristalographic structure of TERT domains, iii) to characterize the interactions between TERT and TER (LeishTER), iiiiv) to study the functional roles played by TERT e and TER in L. major and L. infantum telomere maintenance and parasite lifespan by inducing knockout (CRISPR), overexpression of TERT, TER and PINX1 and treating parasites with BIBR1532 (telomerase inhibitor), iv) to use proteomic analysis to compare the constitution of the telomerase RNP complex in L. major and L. infantum lineages with different genetic backgrounds (i.e. knockouts and overexpressors) e v) to study the role played by lncRNA TERRA in telomerase and telomere length regulation using transcriptomic analysis and TERRA knockout. Here is worth to mention that although the components of parasite telomeres share some structural or functional conservation with other eukaryotes, they present many features that are exclusive to the genus. In this way, to study the biogenesis of parasite telomerase RNP and its interactions with telomeric DNA, the telomeric chromatin and TERRA, may help us to understand telomere evolution and to disturb parasite homeostasis, and therefore to find new parasite-specific targets against leishmaniasis. (AU)

Articles published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the research grant:
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Scientific publications (5)
(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)
FERNANDES, CARLOS A. H.; MOREA, EDNA GICELA O.; DOS SANTOS, GABRIEL A.; DA SILVA, VITOR L.; VIEIRA, MARINA ROVERI; VIVIESCAS, MARIA ALEJANDRA; CHATAIN, JEAN; VADEL, AURELIE; SAINTOME, CAROLE; FONTES, MARCOS ROBERTO M.; et al. A multi-approach analysis highlights the relevance of RPA-1 as a telomere end-binding protein (TEBP) in Leishmania amazonensis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENERAL SUBJECTS, v. 1864, n. 7, . (15/17286-0, 18/04375-2, 19/11496-3)
ORTIZ MOREA, EDNA GICELA; VASCONCELOS, ELTON JOSE ROSAS; ALVES, CRISTIANE DE SANTIS; GIORGIO, SELMA; MYLER, PETER J.; LANGONI, HELIO; AZZALIN, CLAUS MARIA; NOGUEIRA CANO, MARIA ISABEL. Exploring TERRA during Leishmania major developmental cycle and continuous in vitro passages. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 174, p. 573-586, . (19/11496-3, 18/04375-2, 18/23302-6)
ASSIS, LUIZ H. C.; ANDRADE-SILVA, DEBORA; SHIBURAH, MARK E.; DE OLIVEIRA, BEATRIZ C. D.; PAIVA, STEPHANY C.; ABUCHERY, BRYAN E.; FERRI, YETE G.; FONTES, VERONICA S.; DE OLIVEIRA, LEILANE S.; DA SILVA, MARCELO S.; et al. Cell Cycle, Telomeres, and Telomerase in Leishmania spp.: What Do We Know So Far?. CELLS, v. 10, n. 11, . (19/10753-2, 20/08162-3, 21/04253-7, 20/00316-1, 20/16465-6, 18/04375-2, 21/05523-8, 20/10277-3, 19/25985-6, 20/16480-5)
ASSIS, LUIZ HENRIQUE DE CASTRO; DE PAIVA, STEPHANY CACETE; CANO, MARIA ISABEL NOGUEIRA. Behind Base J: The Roles of JBP1 and JBP2 on Trypanosomatids. PATHOGENS, v. 12, n. 3, p. 14-pg., . (21/04253-7, 21/14798-0, 18/04375-2)
ARAUJO, SARA A.; MARTINS, GUSTAVO H.; QUEL, NATALIA G.; ARAGAO, ANNELIZE Z. B.; MOREA, EDNA G. O.; BORGES, JULIO C.; HOURY, WALID A.; CANO, MARIA I. N.; RAMOS, I, CARLOS H.. Purification and characterization of a novel and conserved TPR-domain protein that binds both Hsp90 and Hsp70 and is expressed in all developmental stages of Leishmania major. Biochimie, v. 182, p. 51-60, . (14/25967-4, 12/50161-8, 19/11496-3, 18/04375-2, 17/26131-5)

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