Dissect signalling pathways in Plasmodium-host interaction: role of PfNF-YB transcription fator

• Grant number: 14/14347-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Célia Regina da Silva Garcia
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Scarpelli Pereira
• 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

Abstract

Malaria is a potentially serious infectious disease caused by parasites (protozoa of the genus Plasmodium) that are transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Little is known about the signal transduction mechanisms used by the pathogen responsible for malaria infection in humans. Specifically in P. falciparum, Ca2 + and cAMP appear to be important in cell signaling effectors of Plasmodium. Previous results from our group indicate the involvement of transcription factor PfNF-YB in regulating the expression of genes and/or interacting with other proteins during cell division. Experiments showed that expression of PfNF-YB is modulated by an analogue of cAMP. Thus, in this project we propose to study the molecular basis of the transcriptional regulation of intraeritrocitic cycle of Plasmodium falciparum expanding our knowledge about the function of PfNF-YB in regulating the cell cycle of the parasite. The objective of this project is to identify genes regulated by YB-PfNF and infer details of the biochemical pathways that are regulated by this transcription factor. Another goal, through reporter gene assay, is to clone the promoter regions and determine the type of regulation that makes PfNF-YB. Of key importance will also dissect which signaling pathways that PfNF-YB participates in response to activation by second messenger, calcium. (AU)

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)

SCARPELLI, PEDRO H.; TESSARIN-ALMEIDA, GIULLIANA; VICOSO, KENIA LOPES; LIMA, WANIA REZENDE; BORGES-PEREIRA, LUCAS; MEISSNER, KAMILA ANNA; WRENGER, CARSTEN; RAFAELLO, ANNA; RIZZUTO, ROSARIO; POZZAN, TULLIO; et al. Melatonin activates FIS1, DYN1, and DYN2 Plasmodium falciparum related-genes for mitochondria fission: Mitoemerald-GFP as a tool to visualize mitochondria structure. Journal of Pineal Research, v. 66, n. 2, MAR 2019. (12/12807-3, 11/51295-5, 14/14347-5, 15/26722-8)