Project description:Biosynthesis of mitochondrial genome-encoded proteins is carried out by the mitoribosome, a specialized apparatus that has evolved and diverged dramatically since its bacterial origin. Recent studies across various eukaryotes have demonstrated widespread structural and compositional diversity of mitoribosomes. We used affinity pulldown of four mitoribosomal proteins to carry out a detailed analysis of mitoribosomes in Diplonema papillatum, the type species of diplonemids, a widespread group of single-celled marine flagellates. Using as baits mitoribosomal proteins integrating at distinct sites and phases during subunit maturation also allowed us to sample populations of mitoribosome assembly intermediates.
Project description:Biosynthesis of mitochondrial genome-encoded proteins is carried out by the mitoribosome, a specialized apparatus that has evolved and diverged dramatically since its bacterial origin. Recent studies across various eukaryotes have demonstrated widespread structural and compositional diversity of mitoribosomes. We used affinity pulldown of four mitoribosomal proteins to carry out a detailed analysis of mitoribosomes in Diplonema papillatum, the type species of diplonemids, a widespread group of single-celled marine flagellates. Using as baits mitoribosomal proteins integrating at distinct sites and phases during subunit maturation also allowed us to sample populations of mitoribosome assembly intermediates.
Project description:Chinese and Philippine strains of the blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum present clear and distinctive phenotypes in areas of fecundity, pathology, drug sensitivity and immunology. Despite these differences large scale sequencing efforts have focused solely on Chinese mainland strain of the parasite. We have undertaken a comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) approach to highlight some of the structural differences in the genome of two of the major geographical isolates of S. japonicum. We identified seven distinct regions of the S. japonicum genome that present differential CGH between Chinese and Philippine strains of the blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum, representing either deletion or duplication regions in the Philippine strain. Within these regions, genes that may be related to phenotypical differences are identified and discussed.
