Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
6-2012
Journal
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume
Volume 6, Issue 6
Inclusive Pages
Article number e1686
Keywords
DEAD-box RNA Helicases--genetics; Schistosoma mansoni--enzymology
Abstract
Genome sequences are available for the human blood flukes, Schistosoma japonicum, S. mansoni and S. haematobium. Functional genomic approaches could aid in identifying the role and importance of these newly described schistosome genes. Transgenesis is established for functional genomics in model species, which can lead to gain- or loss-of-functions, facilitate vector-based RNA interference, and represents an effective forward genetics tool for insertional mutagenesis screens. Progress toward routine transgenesis in schistosomes might be expedited if germ cells could be reliably localized in cultured schistosomes. Vasa, a member of the ATP-dependent DEAD-box RNA helicase family, is a prototypic marker of primordial germ cells and the germ line in the Metazoa. Using bioinformatics, 33 putative DEAD-box RNA helicases exhibiting conserved motifs that characterize helicases of this family were identified in the S. mansoni genome. Moreover, three of the helicases exhibited vasa-like sequences; phylogenetic analysis confirmed the three vasa-like genes—termed Smvlg1, Smvlg2, andSmvlg3—were members of the Vasa/PL10 DEAD-box subfamily. Transcripts encoding Smvlg1,Smvlg2, and Smvlg3 were cloned from cDNAs from mixed sex adult worms, and quantitative real time PCR revealed their presence in developmental stages of S. mansoni with elevated expression in sporocysts, adult females, eggs, and miracidia, with strikingly high expression in the undeveloped egg. Whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) analysis revealed that Smvlg1,Smvlg2 and Smvlg3 were transcribed in the posterior ovary where the oocytes mature. Germ cell specific expression of schistosome vasa-like genes should provide an informative landmark for germ line transgenesis of schistosomes, etiologic agents of major neglected tropical diseases.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
APA Citation
Skinner, D. E., Rinaldi, G., Suttiprapa, S., Mann, V. H., Smircich, P., Cogswell, A. A., Williams, D.L., Brindley, P. J. (2012). Vasa-like dead-box rna helicases of schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 6(6), e1686.
Peer Reviewed
1
Open Access
1
Included in
Medical Immunology Commons, Medical Microbiology Commons, Parasitic Diseases Commons, Parasitology Commons
Comments
Reproduced with permission of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases