Project description:The purpose of this research is to identify and evaluate the global gene expression of the rodent malaria parasites Plasmodium yoelii, Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium chabaudi blood-stage parasites and specifically compare the blood stage gene expression profiles of samples derived from previous studies on Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi
Project description:Little is known about the role of the three Jumonji C (JmjC) enzymes in Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Here, we show that JIB-04 and other established inhibitors of mammalian JmjC histone demethylases kill asexual blood stage parasites and are even more potent at blocking gametocyte development and gamete formation. In late stage parasites, JIB-04 increased levels of trimethylated lysine residues on histones, suggesting the inhibition of P. falciparum Jumonji demethylase activity. These epigenetic defects coincide with deregulation of invasion, cell motor, and sexual development gene programs, including gene targets coregulated by the PfAP2-I transcription factor and chromatin-binding factor, PfBDP1. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that PfJmj3 converts 2-oxoglutarate to succinate in an iron-dependent manner consistent with mammalian Jumonji enzymes, and this catalytic activity is inhibited by JIB-04 and other Jumonji inhibitors. Our pharmacological studies of Jumonji activity in the malaria parasite provide evidence that inhibition of these enzymatic activities is detrimental to the parasite.
Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes in Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 delta-PfPuf2 mutant, compared to the wild-type strain 3D7. The mutation engineered into this strain render tanslational control. The mutants analyzed in this study are further described in Miao J, Li J, Fan Q, Li X, Li X, Cui L.2010. The Puf-family RNA-binding protein PfPuf2 regulates sexual development and sex differentiation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. J Cell Sci. 123(7):1039-49 (PMID 20197405). A 12 chip study using total RNA recovered from six separate wild-type cultures of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 at gametocyte stage III (three cultures) and stage V (three cultures) and six separate cultures of dalta PfPuf2 mutant at gametocyte stage III (three cultures) and stage V (three cultures). Each chip measures the expression level of 5,367 genes from Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 with 45-60 mer probes with two replicates on final array of 71618 probes.
Project description:Calcium is a universal second messenger molecule which plays a significant role in several biological processes. Presence of calcium sensors (calmodulins) and calcium-dependent protein kinases in Plasmodium species suggests an important role of calcium-dependent signaling pathways in the regulation of cellular processes in the malaria parasites. Evidence for the transcriptional response of Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages to the well-known calcium ionophore A23187 has been presented here. P. falciparum 3D7 strain was cultured as described by Bozdech Z, Llinas M, Pulliam BL, Wong ED, Zhu J, DeRisi JL: The transcriptome of the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Biol 2003, 1(1):E5. Calcium ionophore treatment was done as follows. Parasites at schizont stage were treated with 5 μM of calcium ionophore, A23187 for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours and 6 hours. Total RNA from each of the time points was isolated and aminoallyl-cDNA was synthesized using reverse transcriptase system (Fermentas). cDNA made from the treated parasites were labeled with Cy5 (GE-Amersham). A reference pool was made by mixing equal amount of cDNA from the parasites collected at 6 hours interval throughout the 48 hours life cycle and was labeled with Cy3 (GE-Amersham). The samples were then hybridized on a spotted cDNA chip platform comprising 10166 MOEs representing 5363 coding sequences as described in Hu G, Cabrera A, Kono M, Mok S, Chaal BK, Haase S, Engelberg K, Cheemadan S, Spielmann T, Preiser PR, Gilberger TW, Bozdech Z: Transcriptional profiling of growth perturbations of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Biotechnol, 2009. 28(1): p. 91-8. The data was normalized and filtered with the condition, signal intensity>background intensity + 2 SD of background intensity) using NOMAD.
Project description:Calcium is a universal second messenger molecule which plays a significant role in several biological processes. Presence of calcium sensors (calmodulins) and calcium-dependent protein kinases in Plasmodium species suggests an important role of calcium-dependent signaling pathways in the regulation of cellular processes in the malaria parasites. Evidence for the transcriptional response of Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages to the well-known calcium ionophore ionomycin has been presented here. P. falciparum 3D7 strain was cultured as described by Bozdech Z, Llinas M, Pulliam BL, Wong ED, Zhu J, DeRisi JL: The transcriptome of the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Biol 2003, 1(1):E5. Calcium ionophore treatment was done as follows. Parasites at schizont stage were treated with 5 μM of calcium ionophore, ionomycin for 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours and 6 hours. Total RNA from each of the time points was isolated and aminoallyl-cDNA was synthesized using reverse transcriptase system (Fermentas). cDNA made from the treated parasites were labeled with Cy5 (GE-Amersham). A reference pool was made by mixing equal amount of cDNA from the parasites collected at 6 hours interval throughout the 48 hours life cycle and was labeled with Cy3 (GE-Amersham). The samples were then hybridized on a spotted cDNA chip platform comprising 10166 MOEs representing 5363 coding sequences as described in Hu G, Cabrera A, Kono M, Mok S, Chaal BK, Haase S, Engelberg K, Cheemadan S, Spielmann T, Preiser PR, Gilberger TW, Bozdech Z: Transcriptional profiling of growth perturbations of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Biotechnol, 2009. 28(1): p. 91-8. The data was normalized and filtered with the condition, signal intensity>background intensity + 2 SD of background intensity) using NOMAD.
Project description:Calcium is a universal second messenger molecule which plays a significant role in several biological processes. Presence of calcium sensors (calmodulins) and calcium-dependent protein kinases in Plasmodium species suggests an important role of calcium-dependent signaling pathways in the regulation of cellular processes in the malaria parasites. Evidence for the transcriptional response of Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages to the well-known calcium ionophore ionomycin has been presented here.
Project description:Calcium is a universal second messenger molecule which plays a significant role in several biological processes. Presence of calcium sensors (calmodulins) and calcium-dependent protein kinases in Plasmodium species suggests an important role of calcium-dependent signaling pathways in the regulation of cellular processes in the malaria parasites. Evidence for the transcriptional response of Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages to the well-known calcium ionophore A23187 has been presented here.
Project description:Calcium is a universal second messenger molecule which plays a significant role in several biological processes. Presence of calcium sensors (calmodulins) and calcium-dependent protein kinases in Plasmodium species suggests an important role of calcium-dependent signaling pathways in the regulation of cellular processes in the malaria parasites. Evidence for the transcriptional response of control Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages not treated with the calcium ionophores, A23187 and ionomycin has been presented here.
Project description:Calcium is a universal second messenger molecule which plays a significant role in several biological processes. Presence of calcium sensors (calmodulins) and calcium-dependent protein kinases in Plasmodium species suggests an important role of calcium-dependent signaling pathways in the regulation of cellular processes in the malaria parasites. Evidence for the transcriptional response of control Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages not treated with the calcium ionophores, A23187 and ionomycin has been presented here. P. falciparum 3D7 strain was cultured as described by Bozdech Z, Llinas M, Pulliam BL, Wong ED, Zhu J, DeRisi JL: The transcriptome of the intraerythrocytic developmental cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Biol 2003, 1(1):E5. Total RNA from each of the time points was isolated and aminoallyl-cDNA was synthesized using reverse transcriptase system (Fermentas). cDNA made from the untreated parasites were labeled with Cy5 (GE-Amersham). A reference pool was made by mixing equal amount of cDNA from the parasites collected at 6 hours interval throughout the 48 hours life cycle and was labeled with Cy3 (GE-Amersham). The samples were then hybridized on a spotted cDNA chip platform comprising 10166 MOEs representing 5363 coding sequences as described in Hu G, Cabrera A, Kono M, Mok S, Chaal BK, Haase S, Engelberg K, Cheemadan S, Spielmann T, Preiser PR, Gilberger TW, Bozdech Z: Transcriptional profiling of growth perturbations of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Nat Biotechnol, 2009. 28(1): p. 91-8. The data was normalized and filtered with the condition, signal intensity>background intensity + 2 SD of background intensity) using NOMAD.