The Schistosoma mansoni nuclear receptor FTZ-F1 maintains esophageal gland function via transcriptional regulation of meg-8.3

Romero, Aracely A.; Cobb, Sarah A; Kliewer, Steven A.; Mangelsdorf, David J.; Collins, James J.

doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1010140

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…MEG-24, MEG-27 and MEG-2.1 could not be produced in a heterologous host and, given their short size, they were chemically synthesized to perform in vitro studies [ 37 , 38 ]. Chemical synthesis was also employed to use peptides of several MEG proteins as baits in search for host partners; this was the case, for example, of MEG-12 [ 32 ], MEG-8 [ 39 ], and twelve other MEG proteins expressed in the tegument and esophageal glands [ 40 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting Schistosoma mansoni Micro-Exon Gene (MEG) Protein Family: A Tour into Conserved Motifs and Annotation

Nedvědová,

De Stefano,

Walker

et al. 2023

Biomolecules

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Genome sequencing of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni revealed an interesting gene superfamily, called micro-exon gene (meg), that encodes secreted MEG proteins. The genes are composed of short exons (3–81 base pairs) regularly interspersed with long introns (up to 5 kbp). This article recollects 35 S. mansoni specific meg genes that are distributed over 7 autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes and that code for at least 87 verified MEG proteins. We used various bioinformatics tools to produce an optimal alignment and propose a phylogenetic analysis. This work highlighted intriguing conserved patterns/motifs in the sequences of the highly variable MEG proteins. Based on the analyses, we were able to classify the verified MEG proteins into two subfamilies and to hypothesize their duplication and colonization of all the chromosomes. Together with motif identification, we also proposed to revisit MEGs’ common names and annotation in order to avoid duplication, to help the reproducibility of research results and to avoid possible misunderstandings.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting Schistosoma mansoni Micro-Exon Gene (MEG) Protein Family: A Tour into Conserved Motifs and Annotation

Nedvědová,

De Stefano,

Walker

et al. 2023

Biomolecules

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“…Similarly, Meg-8 . 3 is only found in the esophageal gland and is required for its maintenance as well as the integrity of the head [ 108 ]. As expected, meg-8 .…”

Section: Emerging Potential Targetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in new target molecules against schistosomiasis: A comprehensive discussion of physiological structure and nutrient intake

Zhu,

Wu,

Zhang

et al. 2023

PLoS Pathog

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Schistosomiasis, a severe parasitic disease, is primarily caused by Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, or Schistosoma haematobium. Currently, praziquantel is the only recommended drug for human schistosome infection. However, the lack of efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile worms and concerns about the emergence of drug resistance are driving forces behind the research for an alternative medication. Schistosomes are obligatory parasites that survive on nutrients obtained from their host. The ability of nutrient uptake depends on their physiological structure. In short, the formation and maintenance of the structure and nutrient supply are mutually reinforcing and interdependent. In this review, we focus on the structural features of the tegument, esophagus, and intestine of schistosomes and their roles in nutrient acquisition. Moreover, we introduce the significance and modes of glucose, lipids, proteins, and amino acids intake in schistosomes. We linked the schistosome structure and nutrient supply, introduced the currently emerging targets, and analyzed the current bottlenecks in the research and development of drugs and vaccines, in the hope of providing new strategies for the prevention and control of schistosomiasis.

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“…Another example is a nuclear receptor, Ftz-F1 , which does not appear to be expressed in the oesophageal gland, that binds to the upstream region of an oesophageal gland-specific gene, meg-8.3 (microexon gene 8.3). Interestingly, Ftz-F1 and meg-8.3 knockdowns led to degeneration of head tissue and loss of parasites’ ability to attach to the culture dish (Romero et al , 2021), highlighting the importance of individual oesophageal gland proteins in parasite homeostasis. Recent biochemical, as well as bulk and single-cell transcriptomic studies have identified several genes enriched in the gland including multiple microexon genes ( meg s), some of which have been implicated as potential vaccine candidates (Figueiredo et al , 2015; Li et al , 2015; Wilson et al , 2015; Li et al , 2018, 2020; Diaz Soria et al , 2020; Neves et al , 2020; Wendt et al , 2020).…”

Section: Digestive Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Planarians to schistosomes: an overview of flatworm cell-types and regulators

Lee

2023

J. Helminthol.

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Schistosomiasis remains a major neglected tropical disease that afflicts over 200 million people globally. Schistosomes, the aetiological agent of schistosomiasis, are parasitic flatworms that propagate between molluscan and mammalian hosts. Inside the mammalian host, schistosomes rapidly grow over 100-fold in size and develop into a sexually mature male or female that thrives in the bloodstream for several decades. Recent work has identified schistosome stem cells as the source that drives parasite transmission, reproduction and longevity. Moreover, studies have begun to uncover molecular programmes deployed by stem cells that are essential for tissue development and maintenance, parasite survival and immune evasion. Such programmes are reminiscent of neoblast-driven development and regeneration of planarians, the free-living flatworm relative of schistosomes. Over the last few decades, research in planarians has employed modern functional genomic tools that significantly enhanced our understanding of stem cell-driven animal development and regeneration. In this review, we take a broad stroke overview of major flatworm organ systems at the cellular and molecular levels. We summarize recent advances on genetic regulators that play critical roles in differentiation and maintenance of flatworm cell types. Finally, we provide perspectives on how investigation of basic parasite biology is critical to discovering new approaches to battle schistosomiasis.

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The Schistosoma mansoni nuclear receptor FTZ-F1 maintains esophageal gland function via transcriptional regulation of meg-8.3

Cited by 9 publications

References 57 publications

Revisiting Schistosoma mansoni Micro-Exon Gene (MEG) Protein Family: A Tour into Conserved Motifs and Annotation

Revisiting Schistosoma mansoni Micro-Exon Gene (MEG) Protein Family: A Tour into Conserved Motifs and Annotation

Advances in new target molecules against schistosomiasis: A comprehensive discussion of physiological structure and nutrient intake

Planarians to schistosomes: an overview of flatworm cell-types and regulators

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