Histone epigenetic marks in heterochromatin and euchromatin of the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma infestans

• Grant number: 16/09119-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Maria Luiza Silveira Mello
• Grantee: Maria Luiza Silveira Mello
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Triatoma infestans, a vector of Chagas disease, shows several particular cell biology characteristics, including the presence of conspicuous heterochromatic bodies where DNA methylation has not been previously detected. Whether histone modifications contribute to the condensed state of these bodies has not yet been studied. Here, we investigated epigenetic modifications of histones H3 and H4 and presence of the non-histone heterochromatin protein (HP1-alpha) in heterochromatin and euchromatin of T. infestans cell nuclei, using immunocytochemistry. The effect of different concentrations of HDAC inhibitors (valproic acid and NaBt) on chromocenter condensation was examined visually and after using image analysis. (AU)