Schistosoma mansoni: signal transduction processes during the development of the reproductive organs
Schistosoma mansoni: signal transduction processes during the development of the reproductive organs
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DOI：
10.1017/s0031182010000053
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发表时间：
2010-03-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.4
通讯作者：
Grevelding, C. G.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Beckmann, S.;Quack, T.;Grevelding, C. G.
在我们对血吸虫不寻常的生物学的理解中，有相当大的兴趣的话题是雌性的性成熟。识别控制生殖器官、卵黄和卵巢配对依赖性分化的关键步骤的信号转导蛋白编码基因将有助于证实我们对这种独特寄生虫的认识。此外，由于血吸虫病的病理是由虫卵引起的，因此这些信号蛋白可能是干扰这种寄生虫发育以对抗血吸虫病的潜在靶标。本文综述了通过同源克隆策略、计算机鉴定或酵母双杂交相互作用分析等新技术，阐明性腺特异性信号分子功能的首个后基因组步骤。其中包括成年血吸虫的体外培养，用化学抑制剂阻断酶活性，使用RNAi在转录后沉默基因功能，以及共聚焦激光扫描显微镜研究这些实验方法的形态学后果。最后，我们提出了在卵巢中调节有丝分裂活性和分化的蛋白质网络的第一个模型。其中一些分子在男性睾丸中也很活跃，可能和在卵巢中起着类似的作用。
Among the topics of considerable interest concerning our understanding of the unusual biology of schistosomes is the sexual maturation of the female. The identification of genes coding for signal transduction proteins controlling essential steps of the pairing-dependent differentiation of the reproductive organs, vitellarium and ovary will help to substantiate our knowledge about this unique parasite. Furthermore, such signalling proteins could be potential targets to interfere with the development of this parasite to combat schistosomiasis since its pathology is caused by the eggs. This review summarises first post-genomic steps to elucidate the function of gonad-specific signalling molecules which were identified by homology-based cloning strategies, by in silico identification or by yeast two-hybrid interaction analyses, using a combination of novel techniques. These include the in vitro culture of adult schistosomes, their treatment with chemical inhibitors to block enzyme activity, the use of RNAi to silence gene function post-transcriptionally, and confocal laser scanning microscopy to study the morphological consequences of these experimental approaches. Finally, we propose a first model of protein networks that are active in the ovary regulating mitogenic activity and differentiation. Some of these molecules are also active in the testes of males, probably fulfilling similar roles as in the ovary.