Genetics, Biochemistry, and “Simple” Organisms Converge to Unlock Secrets in Histone Biology

Grunstein, Michael; Allis, C. David

doi:10.1001/jama.2018.12437

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila (Tt), a free-living genetically tractable Alveolate, has been a beneficial model for early studies of the fundamental biology of histone acetylation due to its unique nuclear biology (Grunstein and Allis, 2018). Tt is suitable to study apicomplexan biology as well as that of other protozoan parasites due to their evolutionary relationship.…”

Section: Tetrahymena Thermophila As a Model For The Study Of The Histmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Histone Acetylation Cycle in the Protozoan Model Tetrahymena thermophila

Wahab

Saettone

Nabeel‐Shah

et al. 2020

Front. Cell Dev. Biol.

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The eukaryotic histone acetylation cycle is composed of three classes of proteins, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that add acetyl groups to lysine amino acids, bromodomain (BRD) containing proteins that are one of the most characterized of several protein domains that recognize acetyl-lysine (Kac) and effect downstream function, and histone deacetylases (HDACs) that catalyze the reverse reaction. Dysfunction of selected proteins of these three classes is associated with human disease such as cancer. Additionally, the HATs, BRDs, and HDACs of fungi and parasitic protozoa present potential drug targets. Despite their importance, the function and mechanisms of HATs, BRDs, and HDACs and how they relate to chromatin remodeling (CR) remain incompletely understood. Tetrahymena thermophila (Tt) provides a highly tractable single-celled free-living protozoan model for studying histone acetylation, featuring a massively acetylated somatic genome, a property that was exploited in the identification of the first nuclear/type A HAT Gcn5 in the 1990s. Since then, Tetrahymena remains an under-explored model for the molecular analysis of HATs, BRDs, and HDACs. Studies of HATs, BRDs, and HDACs in Tetrahymena have the potential to reveal the function of HATs and BRDs relevant to both fundamental eukaryotic biology and to the study of disease mechanisms in parasitic protozoa.

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Section: Tetrahymena Thermophila As a Model For The Study Of The Histmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Histone Acetylation Cycle in the Protozoan Model Tetrahymena thermophila

Wahab

Saettone

Nabeel‐Shah

et al. 2020

Front. Cell Dev. Biol.

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Tetrahymena

Cole¹

2022

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

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The Tetrahymena genus is composed of mostly free‐living ciliated protozoa that have helped researchers gain insight into fundamental problems of cell biology. As all ciliates, Tetrahymena contain separate germline and somatic nuclei known as the micronucleus and macronucleus, respectively. The macronucleus is derived from a copy of the micronucleus through a process that involves extensive whole‐genome rearrangement and that is under intensive study. Tetrahymena thermophila can be readily manipulated using the tools of genetics, molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry. Recently, next‐generation, whole‐genome sequencing has made possible the identification of previously unidentified genes responsible for a rich gallery of mutant phenotypes. Notable discoveries made using Tetrahymena include the structure of telomeres and telomerase, self‐splicing RNA, the first microtubular motor, and the link between histone acetylation and gene regulation. The approximately 104 Megabase macronuclear genome of T. thermophila has been sequenced and annotated; the micronuclear genome has been sequenced as well. Key Concepts Tetrahymena are large, complex eukaryotic cells well‐suited both for university research and for the undergraduate teaching‐laboratory. Tetrahymena, have been studied for nearly a century and have been the source of numerous ground‐breaking discoveries. Applying modern tools of genomics, proteomics, and next‐generation, whole‐genome sequencing has ushered in a new era of research to such topics as the assembly of basal bodies and cilia, pattern formation, novel roles for small ribonucleic acids ( RNAs ), membrane trafficking, secretion, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, cytoskeletal motility and chromosome dynamics including studies on the origins of deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA ) replication, telomere synthesis, meiosis, recombination, apoptosis and the regulation of gene expression through epigenetic chromatin marking. Tetrahymena offer special insights into cell biological processes due to their many original and extraordinary capabilities including the use of a unique genetic code, novel twists on metabolism and protein trafficking, self‐splicing RNA, programmed genome rearrangement involved in genome surveillance, cortical patterning and cellular regeneration. Tetrahymena exhibit both conserved and evolutionarily divergent solutions to fundamental cell biological problems.

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Genetics and epigenetics

Pfaff¹

2021

Origins of Human Socialization

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Genetics, Biochemistry, and “Simple” Organisms Converge to Unlock Secrets in Histone Biology

Cited by 4 publications

References 9 publications

Exploring the Histone Acetylation Cycle in the Protozoan Model Tetrahymena thermophila

Exploring the Histone Acetylation Cycle in the Protozoan Model Tetrahymena thermophila

Tetrahymena

Genetics and epigenetics

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