Cell Cycle, Telomeres, and Telomerase in Leishmania spp.: What Do We Know So Far?

Author(s):Show less -

Assis, Luiz H. C. ^[1] ; Andrade-Silva, Debora ^[1] ; Shiburah, Mark E. ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Beatriz C. D. ^[1] ; Paiva, Stephany C. ^[1] ; Abuchery, Bryan E. ^[2] ; Ferri, Yete G. ^[2] ; Fontes, Veronica S. ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Leilane S. ^[1] ; da Silva, Marcelo S. ^[2] ; Cano, Maria Isabel N. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, Biosci Inst, Dept Chem & Biol Sci, Telomeres Lab, UNESP, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ, Biosci Inst, Dept Chem & Biol Sci, DNA Replicat & Repair Lab DRRL, UNESP, BR-18618689 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: CELLS; v. 10, n. 11 NOV 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Leishmaniases belong to the inglorious group of neglected tropical diseases, presenting different degrees of manifestations severity. It is caused by the transmission of more than 20 species of parasites of the Leishmania genus. Nevertheless, the disease remains on the priority list for developing new treatments, since it affects millions in a vast geographical area, especially low-income people. Molecular biology studies are pioneers in parasitic research with the aim of discovering potential targets for drug development. Among them are the telomeres, DNA-protein structures that play an important role in the long term in cell cycle/survival. Telomeres are the physical ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Due to their multiple interactions with different proteins that confer a likewise complex dynamic, they have emerged as objects of interest in many medical studies, including studies on leishmaniases. This review aims to gather information and elucidate what we know about the phenomena behind Leishmania spp. telomere maintenance and how it impacts the parasite's cell cycle. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/10753-2 - Investigation on the role of inositol pyrophosphates (PP-IPs) in DNA repair pathways and telomere dynamics using trypanosomatids as a model
• Grantee: Marcelo Santos da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/08162-3 - Endogenous tagging of Leishmania major META1 and META2 genes using CRISPR-CAS9, as a way to identify metacyclics in axenic culture
• Grantee: Veronica Silva Fontes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 21/04253-7 - Role of TERRA in telomere regulation and replicative senescence in Leishmania major
• Grantee: Luiz Henrique de Castro Assis
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 20/00316-1 - Studies about the function of L. major TERT component in telomere maintenance and cell proliferation
• Grantee: Mark Ewusi Shiburah
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 20/16465-6 - Identification of the target-proteins of the inositol pyrophosphates PP-IP4 and IP7 in Leishmania braziliensis
• Grantee: Yete Gambarini Ferri
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 18/04375-2 - Studies about the biogenesis and composition of the Leishmania spp. ribonucleoprotein complex and its regulation
• Grantee: Maria Isabel Nogueira Cano
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/05523-8 - Composition of the telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex of Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum with different genetic backgrounds
• Grantee: Débora Andrade Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 20/10277-3 - Investigation of the role of inositol pyrophosphates (PP-IPs) in DNA repair pathways and telomere dynamics using trypanosomatids as a model
• Grantee: Marcelo Santos da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 19/25985-6 - Studies about the effect of knocking out and overexpressing the Telomerase RNA component in L. major development and survival
• Grantee: Beatriz Cristina Dias de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 20/16480-5 - Generation of T. cruzi (CL Brener) strains knockout for IP6K and evaluation of homologous recombination (HR) repair capacity
• Grantee: Bryan Etindi Abuchery
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master