Overexpression of Trypanosoma cruzi High Mobility Group B protein (TcHMGB) alters the nuclear structure, impairs cytokinesis and reduces the parasite infectivity

Autor(es)

Emilio Tavernelli, Luis ^[1] ; Motta, Maria Cristina M. ^[2] ; Silva Goncalves, Camila ^[2] ; da Silva, Marcelo Santos ^{[3, 4]} ; Elias, Maria Carolina ^{[3, 4]} ; Lucia Alonso, Victoria ^[5] ; Serra, Esteban ^{[1, 5]} ; Cribb, Pamela ^{[1, 5]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Inst Biol Mol & Celular Rosario IBR, Rosario - Argentina

^[2] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Biofis Carlos Chagas Filho, Lab Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[3] Inst Butantan, Lab Especial Ciclo Celular, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Inst Butantan, Ctr Toxins Immune Response & Cell Signaling CeTIC, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] UNR, Fac Ciencias Bioquim & Farmaceut, Catedra Parasitol, Rosario - Argentina

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 9, JAN 17 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

Kinetoplastid parasites, included Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, present a unique genome organization and gene expression. Although they control gene expression mainly post-transcriptionally, chromatin accessibility plays a fundamental role in transcription initiation control. We have previously shown that High Mobility Group B protein from Trypanosoma cruzi (TcHMGB) can bind DNA in vitro. Here, we show that TcHMGB also acts as an architectural protein in vivo, since the overexpression of this protein induces changes in the nuclear structure, mainly the reduction of the nucleolus and a decrease in the heterochromatin: euchromatin ratio. Epimastigote replication rate was markedly reduced presumably due to a delayed cell cycle progression with accumulation of parasites in G2/M phase and impaired cytokinesis. Some functions involved in pathogenesis were also altered in TcHMGB-overexpressing parasites, like the decreased efficiency of trypomastigotes to infect cells in vitro, the reduction of intracellular amastigotes replication and the number of released trypomastigotes. Taken together, our results suggest that the TcHMGB protein is a pleiotropic player that controls cell phenotype and it is involved in key cellular processes. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/07467-1 - CeTICS - Centro de Toxinas, Imuno-Resposta e Sinalização Celular
• Beneficiário: Hugo Aguirre Armelin
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs
• Processo FAPESP: 14/24170-5 - Dinâmica da replicação do DNA em Trypanosoma cruzi: caracterização do licenciamento e da taxa de replicação
• Beneficiário: Marcelo Santos da Silva
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado