Deep Sequencing (RNA-seq) to detect differentially expressed genes involved in the modulation of cell cycle of Plasmodium falciparum

• Grant number: 13/13361-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Célia Regina da Silva Garcia
• Grantee: Giulliana Tessarin e Almeida
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/51295-5 - Functional genomics in Plasmodium, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/26067-7 - Identification of proteins regulated by melatonin signal transduction that are involved in the celular cycle of Plasmodium falciparum, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Works of the last decade revealed that ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) has diverse roles in eukaryotes including cell-cycle control, transcription regulation and signal transduction. Unfortunately, for the Plasmodium parasites, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms and biological consequences of protein ubiquitination are still insufficient. In general, it is known that there is a significant change in the expression of genes related to the UPS when cells infected with Plasmodium falciparum are treated with melatonin. Interestingly, the response to melatonin treatment is completely abolished in knock-out PfPK7 kinase of the parasites, and the response is restored when the parasites are complemented with PfPK7 gene. In this project we will perform Deep sequencing (RNA-seq) polyA + extracted from trophozoites of Plasmodium falciparum treated with melatonin (strain 3D7) and trophozoites of Plasmodium falciparum from a strain knockout kinase PK7, to identify possible targets and evaluate the role of protein 7 kinase (PK7). We will make a detailed study of the possible involvement of pfpk7 in the expression of genes related to UPS. Furthermore we intend to identify new genes involved in the synchronization process of the parasites.