The N-End rule in Leishmania major: Functional characterization and regulation of gene expression of the Leucyl, Phenylalanyl-tRNA-Protein transferase

• Grant number: 11/24086-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal researcher: Angela Kaysel Cruz
• Grantee: Rohit Sharma
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/50219-9 - Studying the control of gene expression in Leishmania: post-translational modification, non coding RNAs, cis-elements and gene amplification, AP.TEM

Abstract

Although the investigation of post transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in Leishmania is actively undertaken, there is little documentation available on particular roles of post-translational events such as protein stability and modification to the stress response. In many eukaryotes and prokaryotes "last minute" regulatory mechanisms at post-translational level in response to stress involve N-end rule pathway. The N-end rule pathway is considered to be an universal mechanism for triggering specific sets of protein, but it has not yet been characterized in Leishmania spp. In the laboratory of Prof. Angela K. Cruz recent investigation of a gene with uncommon features, named ODD3, revealed its regulatory role as a non-coding RNA candidate which has as its potential mRNA target a hypothetical protein-coding gene (LmjF21.0725) containing a conserved domain for a Leucyl/Phenylalanyl-t RNA transferase (L/F transferase). The key objective of this project is to provide evidence of the functional "N- end rule pathway" in Leishmania parasite by characterization of an important enzyme of this pathway, Leucyl/Phenylalanyl-tRNA transferase (L/F transferase) which has shown to be regulated by a novel non coding RNA ODD3 in promastigote stage. Further the molecular mechanism involved in the regulation of expression of this gene would be investigated in bigenic life cycle stages of this parasite.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SHARMA, ROHIT; TERRAO, MONICA CRISTINA; CASTRO, FELIPE FREITAS; BREITLING, REINHARD; FACA, VITOR; OLIVEIRA, EDUARDO BRANDT; CRUZ, ANGELA KAYSEL. Insights on a putative aminoacyl-tRNA-protein transferase of Leishmania major. PLoS One, v. 13, n. 9, SEP 12 2018. (13/50219-9, 11/24086-6)