MJD and OTU deubiquitinating enzymes in Schistosoma mansoni

Parasitol Res. 2015 Aug;114(8):2835-43. doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4484-1. Epub 2015 May 1.

Abstract

The ubiquitination and deubiquitination of proteins can alter diverse cellular processes, such as proteolysis, trafficking, subcellular localisation, DNA repair, apoptosis and signal transduction. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are responsible for removing ubiquitin from their target proteins. Previous reports have shown the presence of two subfamilies of DUBs in Schistosoma mansoni: Ub carboxyl-terminal hydrolase (UCH) and Ub-specific protease (USP). In this study, we analysed the ovarian tumour (OTU) and Machado-Joseph disease protein domain (MJD) proteases found in the Schistosoma mansoni genome database. An in silico analysis identified two different MJD subfamily members, SmAtaxin-3 and SmJosephin, and five distinct OTU proteases, SmOTU1, SmOTU3, SmOTU5a, SmOTU6b and SmOtubain. The phylogenetic analysis showed the evolutionary conservation of these proteins. Furthermore, the 3D structures confirmed the similarity of these proteins with human proteins. In addition, we performed quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and observed distinct expression profiles for all of the investigated transcripts between the cercariae, schistosomula and adult worm stages. Taken together, our data suggest that MJD and OTU subfamily members contribute to regulating the activity of the Ub-proteasome system during the life cycle of this parasite.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cercaria
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
  • Helminth Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Life Cycle Stages
  • Phylogeny
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Schistosoma mansoni / enzymology*
  • Schistosoma mansoni / genetics
  • Schistosoma mansoni / growth & development
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Helminth Proteins
  • Endopeptidases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex