Juan Pedro Luna-Arias

Biochemical characterization of recombinant Candida albicans mannosyltransferases Mnt1, Mnt2 and Mnt5 reveals new functions in O- and N-mannan biosynthesis.

Highlights ► Mnt5 adds the second residues of lateral branches of the N-linked mannan outer chain. ► Mnt1 and Mnt2 participate in the addition of the 4° and 5° residues of O-linked mannan. ► Candida albicansO-linked mannans can be extended further than five mannose residues.

Identification of Polypeptides in Neurofibrillary Tangles and Total Homogenates of Brains with Alzheimer's Disease by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Alzheimers disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. AD brains are characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neuritic plaques. NFTs are constituted of paired helical filaments, which are structurally composed by assembled hyperphosphorylated and truncated tau polypeptides. To date, the integral constituents of NFTs remain unknown mainly due to the high insolubility of NFTs. The aim of this study was to identify by tandem mass spectrometry, the polypeptides contained in both isolated NFTs by laser capture microdissection and total homogenates, using tissue sections from paraformaldehyde-fixed AD brains. In the first case, we isolated 2,000 NFTs from tissue samples of hippocampus from each of the three Mexican AD brains used in our study. These were previously stained with anti-hyperphosphorylated tau AT-100 antibodies. After the removal of paraformaldehyde and delipidation with organic solvents, we tested three solubilization methods. We identified 102 polypeptides from total homogenates and 41 from isolated NFTs. We selected UCH-L1, transferrin, and GAPDH polypeptides to be studied by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Only UCH-L1 and GAPDH colocalized with hyperphosphorylated tau in NFTs.

Rab11 and Actin Cytoskeleton Participate in Giardia lamblia Encystation, Guiding the Specific Vesicles to the Cyst Wall

Background Giardia passes through two stages during its life cycle, the trophozoite and the cyst. Cyst formation involves the synthesis of cyst wall proteins (CWPs) and the transport of CWPs into encystation-specific vesicles (ESVs). Active vesicular trafficking is essential for encystation, but the molecular machinery driving vesicular trafficking remains unknown. The Rab proteins are involved in the targeting of vesicles to several intracellular compartments through their association with cytoskeletal motor proteins. Methodology and Principal Findings In this study, we found a relationship between Rab11 and the actin cytoskeleton in CWP1 transport. Confocal microscopy showed Rab11 was distributed throughout the entire trophozoite, while in cysts it was translocated to the periphery of the cell, where it colocalized with ESVs and microfilaments. Encystation was also accompanied by changes in rab11 mRNA expression. To evaluate the role of microfilaments in encystation, the cells were treated with latrunculin A. Scanning electron microscopy showed this treatment resulted in morphological damages to encysted parasites. The intensity of fluorescence-labeled Rab11 and CWP1 in ESVs and cyst walls was reduced, and rab11 and cwp1 mRNA levels were down-regulated. Furthermore, knocking down Rab11 with a hammerhead ribozyme resulted in an up to 80% down-regulation of rab11 mRNA. Although this knockdown did not appear lethal for trophozoites and did not affect cwp1 expression during the encystation, confocal images showed CWP1 was redistributed throughout the cytosol. Conclusions and Significance Our results indicate that Rab11 participates in the early and late encystation stages by regulating CWP1 localization and the actin-mediated transport of ESVs towards the periphery. In addition, alterations in the dynamics of actin affected rab11 and cwp1 expression. Our results provide new information about the molecules involved in Giardia encystation and suggest that Rab11 and actin may be useful as novel pharmacological targets.

Entamoeba histolytica EhDEAD1 is a conserved DEAD-box RNA helicase with ATPase and ATP-dependent RNA unwinding activities

RNA helicases are widely conserved key enzymes that perform multiple functions in RNA metabolism. Here, we present the cloning, expression and functional characterization of the EhDEAD1 RNA helicase in the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. According to its primary structure, EhDEAD1 is evolutionary related to yeast DED1 and human DDX3X RNA helicases, both involved in translation and cell cycle regulation. The EhDEAD1 predicted amino acid sequence exhibits the nine conserved motifs described for the DEAD-box SFII superfamily members reported in other organisms and it is evolutionary close to protozoan homologues. Purified recombinant EhDEAD1 protein presented ATPase activity and it was able to bind and unwind RNA in an ATPase-dependent manner in vitro. RT-PCR assays showed that EhDead1 gene is overtranscribed in the cell cycle S phase. Moreover, inhibition of EhDead1 gene expression by antisense RNA seemed to facilitate transition from S to G2/M phase. Intriguingly, our results showed that EhDEAD1 was unable to rescue two yeast Ded1 RNA helicase mutants affected in translation, in spite of the high sequence homology with yeast DED1.

Circular and linear DNA molecules in the Entamoeba histolytica complex molecular karyotype.

Entamoeba histolytica genome was analysed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis under conditions to separate linear chromosomes in the 170–1400 kb range. We identified linear DNA molecules of 227, 366, 631, 850, 1112 and 1361 kb (mean sizes obtained by three different methods) and we estimated their reorientation times and migration velocities at various experimental conditions. DNA shift mobility assays, using ethidium bromide, suggested that bands migrating at 227 and 631 kb contain linear and circular DNA, whereas a band at 436 kb has only circular DNA. We obtained a regression equation relating sizes of supercoiled DNA molecules with their migration velocities during a pulse at constant electric field and temperature. We also developed a computer program (EHPATTERNS) that predicts the migration per pulse and the resolution order of circular and linear E. histolytica DNA at different pulse times and constant driving and frictional forces. The simulation showed that linear DNA molecules frequently co-migrate with circular molecules, but circular molecules change when the pulse time varies. This molecular mixture generates broad bands and difficulties in the interpretation of the molecular karyotype of E. histolytica.

Entamoeba histolytica TATA‐box binding protein binds to different TATA variants in vitro

The ability of Entamoeba histolytica TATA binding protein (EhTBP) to interact with different TATA boxes in gene promoters may be one of the key factors to perform an efficient transcription in this human parasite. In this paper we used several TATA variants to study the in vitro EhTBP DNA‐binding activity and to determine the TATA‐EhTBP dissociation constants. The presence of EhTBP in complexes formed by nuclear extracts (NE) and the TATTTAAA oligonucleotide, which corresponds to the canonical TATA box for E. histolytica, was demonstrated by gel‐shift assays. In these experiments a single NE‐TATTTAAA oligonucleotide complex was detected. Complex was retarded by anti‐EhTBP Igs in supershift experiments and antibodies also recognized the cross‐linked complex in Western blot assays. Recombinant EhTBP formed specific complexes with TATA variants found in E. histolytica gene promoters and other TATA variants generated by mutation of TATTTAAA sequence. The dissociation constants of recombinant EhTBP for TATA variants ranged between 1.04 (±0.39) × 10−11 and 1.60 (±0.37) × 10−10 m. TATTTAAA and TAT_ _AAA motifs presented the lowest KD values. Intriguingly, the recombinant EhTBP affinity for TATA variants is stronger than other TBPs reported. In addition, EhTBP is more promiscuous than human and yeast TBPs, probably due to modifications in amino acids involved in TBP‐DNA binding.

Entamoeba histolytica: A unicellular organism containing two active genes encoding for members of the TBP family

Entamoeba histolytica is the protozoan parasite which causes human amoebiasis. In this parasite, few encoding genes for transcription factors have been cloned and characterized. The E. histolytica TATA-box binding protein (EhTBP) is the first basal transcription factor that has been studied. To continue with the identification of other members of the basal transcription machinery, we performed an in silico analysis of the E. histolytica genome and found three loci encoding for polypeptides with similarity to EhTBP. One locus has a 100% identity to the previously Ehtbp gene reported by our group. The second locus encodes for a 212 aa polypeptide that is 100% identical to residues 23-234 from EhTBP. The third one encodes for a 216 aa polypeptide of 24kDa that showed 42.6% identity and 73.7% similarity to EhTBP. This protein was named E. histolytica TBP-related factor 1 (EhTRF1). Ehtrf1 gene was expressed in bacteria and the purified 28kDa recombinant polypeptide showed the capacity to bind to TATTTAAA-box by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. K(D) values for rEhTBP and rEhTRF1 were (1.71+/-2.90)x10(-12)M and (1.12+/-0.160)x10(-11)M, respectively. Homology modeling of EhTRF1 and EhTBP revealed that, although they were very similar, they showed some differences on their surfaces. Thus, E. histolytica is a unicellular organism having two members of the TBP family.

The Vacuolar ATPase from Entamoeba histolytica: Molecular cloning of the gene encoding for the B subunit and subcellular localization of the protein

BackgroundEntamoeba histolytica is a professional phagocytic cell where the vacuolar ATPase plays a key role. This enzyme is a multisubunit complex that regulates pH in many subcellular compartments, even in those that are not measurably acidic. It participates in a wide variety of cellular processes such as endocytosis, intracellular transport and membrane fusion. The presence of a vacuolar type H+-ATPase in E. histolytica trophozoites has been inferred previously from inhibition assays of its activity, the isolation of the Ehvma1 and Ehvma3 genes, and by proteomic analysis of purified phagosomes.ResultsWe report the isolation and characterization of the Ehvma2 gene, which encodes for the subunit B of the vacuolar ATPase. This polypeptide is a 55.3 kDa highly conserved protein with 34 to 80% identity to orthologous proteins from other species. Particularly, in silico studies showed that EhV-ATPase subunit B displays 78% identity and 90% similarity to its Dictyostelium ortholog. A 462 bp DNA fragment of the Ehvma2 gene was expressed in bacteria and recombinant polypeptide was used to raise mouse polyclonal antibodies. EhV-ATPase subunit B antibodies detected a 55 kDa band in whole cell extracts and in an enriched fraction of DNA-containing organelles named EhkOs. The V-ATPase subunit B was located by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy in many vesicles, in phagosomes, plasma membrane and in EhkOs. We also identified the genes encoding for the majority of the V-ATPase subunits in the E. histolytica genome, and proposed a putative model for this proton pump.ConclusionWe have isolated the Ehvma2 gene which encodes for the V-ATPase subunit B from the E. histolytica clone A. This gene has a 154 bp intron and encodes for a highly conserved polypeptide. Specific antibodies localized EhV-ATPase subunit B in many vesicles, phagosomes, plasma membrane and in EhkOs. Most of the orthologous genes encoding for the EhV-ATPase subunits were found in the E. histolytica genome, indicating the conserved nature of V-ATPase in this parasite.

Identification of Four Entamoeba histolytica Organellar DNA Polymerases of the Family B and Cellular Localization of the Ehodp1 Gene and EhODP1 Protein

We report the identification of a family of four active genes (Ehodp1, Ehodp2, Ehodp3, and Ehodp4) encoding putative DNA polymerases in Entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan parasite responsible of human amoebiasis. The four Ehodp genes show similarity to DNA polymerases encoded in fungi and plant mitochondrial plasmids. EhODP polypeptides conserve the 3′-5′ exonuclease II and 5′-3′ polymerization domains, and they have the I, II, and III conserved boxes that characterize them as DNA polymerases of family B. Furthermore, we found in EhODP polymerases two novel A and B boxes, present also in DNA polymerases encoded in fungi mitochondrial plasmids. By in situ PCR, Ehodp1 gene was located in nuclei and in DNA-containing cytoplasmic structures. Additionally, using polyclonal antibodies against a recombinant rEhODP1-168 polypeptide, and confocal microscopy, EhODP1 was located in cytoplasmic DNA-containing structures.

An initial characterization of the 3' untranslated region of the EhPgp5 mRNA in Entamoeba histolytica.

In Entamoeba histolytica , the multidrug resistance phenotype (MDR) is given by the overexpression of the EhPgp1 and EhPgp5 genes. Transcriptional regulation plays an important role in the mechanisms underlying the expression of these genes (1). However, the relevance of postranscriptional events has not yet been explored. In cultured rat hepatocytes, Pgp2 gene overexpression is primarily due to postranscriptional mechanisms, in which changes in mRNA stability appear to be critical (2). In addition, in rat liver tumors the overexpression of the Pgp1 , Pgp2 , and Pgp3 genes seems to be caused by a mechanism involving mRNA stabilization (3). The 3 9 untranslated region (3 9 UTR) sequence affects mRNA stability and its polyadenylation and translation, nuclear export, and efficiency processing. Changes in rates of turnover and RNA cleavage are affected by the formation of 3 9 UTR secondary structure motifs and by proteins binding to these structures. Postranscriptional events of E. histolytica EhPgp genes may be also regulated by RNA structure. As an initial step to study the postranscriptional mechanisms involved in EhPgp5 gene expression, we analyze here the relevant sequence features and the secondary structure of the 3 9 UTR of EhPgp5 mRNA.