Cora Burmeister

Oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans: protective effects of the Omega class glutathione transferase (GSTO-1)

To elucidate the function of Omega class glutathione transferases (GSTs) (EC 2.5.1.18) in multicellular organisms, the GSTO‐1 from Caenorhabditis elegans (GSTO‐1; C29E4.7) was investigated. Disc diffusion assays using Escherichia coli overexpressing GSTO‐1 provided a test of resistance to long‐term exposure under oxidative stress. After affinity purification, the recombinant GSTO‐1 had minimal catalytic activity toward classic GST substrates but displayed significant thiol oxidoreductase and dehydroascorbate reductase activity. Microinjection of the GSTO‐1‐promoter green fluorescent protein construct and immunolocalization by electron microscopy localized the protein exclusively in the intestine of all postembryonic stages of C. elegans. Deletion analysis identified an ~300‐nucleotide sequence upstream of the ATG start site necessary for GSTO‐1 expression. Site‐specific mutagenesis of a GATA transcription factor binding motif in the minimal promoter led to the loss of reporter expression. Similarly, RNA interference (RNAi) of Elt‐2 indicated the involvement of this gut‐specific transcription factor in GSTO‐1 expression. Transcriptional up‐regulation under stress conditions of GSTO‐1 was confirmed by analyzing promoter‐reporter constructs in transgenic C. elegans strains. To investigate the function of GSTO‐1 in vivo, transgenic animals overexpressing GSTO‐1 were generated exhibiting an increased resistance to juglone‐, paraquat‐, and cumene hydroperoxide‐induced oxidative stress. Specific silencing of the GSTO‐1 by RNAi created worms with an increased sensitivity to several prooxidants, arsenite, and heat shock. We conclude that the stress‐responsive GSTO‐1 plays a key role in counteracting environmental stress.—Burmeister, C., Lüersen, K., Heinick, A., Hussein, A., Domagalski, M., Walter, R. D., Liebau, E. Oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans: protective effects of the Omega class glutathione transferase (GSTO‐1). FASEB J. 22, 343–354 (2008)

Schistosoma mansoni: signal transduction processes during the development of the reproductive organs.

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.

Functional analysis of the methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase from Caenorhabditis elegans.

Methylmalonyl‐CoA epimerase (MCE) is an enzyme involved in the propionyl‐CoA metabolism that is responsible for the degradation of branched amino acids and odd‐chain fatty acids. This pathway typically functions in the reversible conversion of propionyl‐CoA to succinyl‐CoA. The Caenorhabditis elegans genome contains a single gene encoding MCE (mce‐1) corresponding to a 15 kDa protein. This was expressed in Escherichia coli and the enzymatic activity was determined. Analysis of the protein expression pattern at both the tissue and subcellular level by microinjection of green fluorescent protein constructs revealed expression in the pharynx, hypodermis and, most prominently in body wall muscles. The subcellular pattern agrees with predictions of mitochondrial localization. The sequence similarity to an MCE of known structure was high enough to permit a three‐dimensional model to be built, suggesting conservation of ligand and metal binding sites. Comparison with corresponding sequences from a variety of organisms shows more than 1/6 of the sequence is completely conserved. Mutants allelic to mce‐1 showed no obvious phenotypic alterations, demonstrating that the enzyme is not essential for normal worm development under laboratory conditions. However, survival of the knockout mutants was altered when exposed to stress conditions, with mutants surprisingly showing an increased resistance to oxidative stress.

The secretory omega‐class glutathione transferase OvGST3 from the human pathogenic parasite Onchocerca volvulus

Onchocerciasis or river blindness, caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, is the second leading cause of blindness due to infectious diseases. The protective role of the omega‐class glutathione transferase 3 from O. volvulus (OvGST3) against intracellular and environmental reactive oxygen species has been described previously. In the present study, we continue our investigation of the highly stress‐responsive OvGST3. Alternative splicing of two exons and one intron retention generates five different transcript isoforms that possess a spliced leader at their 5′‐end, indicating that the mechanism of mature mRNA production involves alternative‐, cis‐ and trans‐splicing processes. Interestingly, the first two exons of the ovgst3 gene encode a signal peptide before sequence identity to other omega‐class glutathione transferases begins. Only the recombinant expression of the isoform that encodes the longest deduced amino acid sequence (OvGST3/5) was successful, with the purified enzyme displaying modest thiol oxidoreductase activity. Significant IgG1 and IgG4 responses against recombinantly expressed OvGST3/5 were detected in sera from patients with the generalized as well as the chronic hyperreactive form of onchocerciasis, indicating exposure of the secreted protein to the human host’s immune system and its immunogenicity. Immunohistological localization studies performed at light and electron microscopy levels support the extracellular localization of the protein. Intensive labeling of the OvGST3 was observed in the egg shell at the morula stage of the embryo, indicating extremely defined, stage‐specific expression for a short transient period only.

Structure of the extracellular glutathione S-transferase OvGST1 from the human pathogenic parasite Onchocerca volvulus.

Onchocerciasis or river blindness, caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus, is the worlds second leading infectious cause of blindness. In order to chronically infect the host, O. volvulus has evolved molecular strategies that influence and direct immune responses away from the modes most damaging to it. The O. volvulus GST1 (OvGST1) is a unique glutathione S-transferase (GST) in that it is a glycoprotein and possesses a signal peptide that is cleaved off in the process of maturation. The mature protein starts with a 25-amino-acid extension not present in other GSTs. In all life stages of the filarial worm, it is located directly at the parasite-host interface. Here, the OvGST1 functions as a highly specific glutathione-dependent prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS). The enzyme therefore has the potential to participate in the modulation of immune responses by contributing to the production of parasite-derived prostanoids and restraining the hosts effector responses, making it a tempting target for chemotherapy and vaccine development. Here, we report the crystal structure of the OvGST1 bound to its cofactor glutathione at 2.0 A resolution. The structure reveals an overall structural homology to the haematopoietic PGDS from vertebrates but, surprisingly, also a large conformational change in the prostaglandin binding pocket. The observed differences reveal a different vicinity of the prostaglandin H(2) binding pocket that demands another prostaglandin H(2) binding mode to that proposed for the vertebrate PGDS. Finally, a putative substrate binding mode for prostaglandin H(2) is postulated based on the observed structural insights.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the glutathione S-transferase from Plasmodium falciparum.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) belong to a family of detoxification enzymes that conjugate glutathione to various xenobiotics, thus facilitating their expulsion from the cells. For high-resolution crystallographic investigations, GST from the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum was overexpressed in bacterial cells and crystallized using hanging-drop vapour diffusion. X-ray intensity data to 2.8 A resolution were collected from an orthorhombic crystal form with unit-cell parameters a = 62.2, b = 88.3, c = 75.3 A. A search for heavy-atom derivatives has been initiated, along with phase-determination efforts by molecular replacement.

Sex in Schistosomes – Signaling Mechanisms in the Female Gonads

Besides their great medical importance as causative agents of schistosomiasis, an infectious disease affecting humans and animals in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, schistosomes exhibit distinctive biological features. Living in the blood vessels of infected hosts, these blood flukes survive permanent attacks of the immune system over many years. Furthermore, schistosomes represent the only genus of the class trematoda which live doeciously. Their most remarkable attribute, however, is the continuous pairing-contact which is both obligatory for the development of the female reproductive organs and prerequisite for egg production