Toxoplasma gondii ROP16 kinase silences the cyclin B1 gene promoter by hijacking host cell UHRF1-dependent epigenetic pathways.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasmosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common infections in the world due to the lifelong persistence of this parasite in a latent stage. This parasite hijacks host signaling pathways through epigenetic mechanisms which converge on key nuclear proteins. Here, we report a new parasite persistence strategy involving T. gondii rhoptry protein ROP16 secreted early during invasion, which targets the transcription factor UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING fingers domain 1), and leads to host cell cycle arrest. This is mediated by DNMT activity and chromatin remodeling at the cyclin B1 gene promoter through recruitment of phosphorylated UHRF1 associated with a repressive multienzymatic protein complex. This leads to deacetylation and me

SUBMITTER: Sabou M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7256068 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature