Project description:Microsporidia are eukaryotic parasites that infect essentially all animal species, including many of agricultural importance, and are significant opportunistic parasites of humans. They are characterized by having a specialized infection apparatus, an obligate intracellular lifestyle, rudimentary mitochondria and the smallest eukaryotic genomes. Extreme genome compaction has led to minimal gene sizes affecting even conserved ancient complexes such as the ribosome. Here we present the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of the microsporidian ribosome which illustrates how genome compaction has resulted in the smallest eukaryotic cytoplasmic ribosome. Selection pressure has led to the loss of two ribosomal proteins and removal of essentially all eukaryote-specific rRNA expansion segments reducing the ribosomal RNA to a functionally conserved core. The structure also highlights how one microsporidia-specific and several repurposed existing ribosomal proteins compensate for the extensive reduction of the rRNA. The microsporidian ribosome is kept in an inactive state by two previously uncharacterized dormancy factors that specifically target the functionally important E-site, P-site and polypeptide exit tunnel. This study visualizes the distinct effects of evolutionary pressure on RNA and protein coding genes, provides a new mechanism for ribosome inhibition and can serve as a structural basis for the development of small molecule inhibitors against microsporidian parasites.
Project description:Microsporidia are intracellular eukaryotic pathogens that pose a substantial threat to immunocompromised hosts. The way these pathogens manipulate host cells during infection remains poorly understood. Using a proximity biotinylation strategy we established that microsporidian EnP1 is a nucleus-targeted effector that modifies the host cell environment. EnP1's translocation to the host nucleus is meditated by nuclear localization signals (NLSs). In the nucleus, EnP1 interacts with host histone H2B. This interaction disrupts H2B monoubiquitination (H2Bub), subsequently impacting p53 expression. Crucially, this inhibition of p53 weakens its control over the downstream target gene SLC7A11, enhancing the host cell's resilience against ferroptosis during microsporidian infection. This favorable condition promotes the proliferation of microsporidia within the host cell. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms by which microsporidia modify their host cells to facilitate their survival.
2023-11-21 | GSE247835 | GEO
Project description:Aquatic eukaryotic microorganism in microcosm experiment
Project description:This study investigates transcriptomic responses of Pacific salmon lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, to infection with the microsporidian Facilispora margolisi and/or exposure to emamectin benzoate (EMB), an antiparasitic agent commonly used in salmon aquaculture.
Project description:Alternative splicing (AS) is an important regulatory mechanism that greatly contributes to eukaryotic transcriptome diversity. A substantial amount of evidence has demonstrated that AS complexity is relevant to eukaryotic evolution, development, adaptation, and complexity. In this study, six teosinte and ten maize transcriptomes were sequenced to analyze AS changes and signatures of selection in maize domestication and improvement.