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Transcriptional response of Tetrahymena thermophila to exogenous cholesterol

ABSTRACT: The model ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila satisfies its growth using triterpenoid alcohols, mainly tetrahymanol, as a surrogate of sterols. When sterols are present in the environment, T. thermophila efficiently incorporates and modifies them. T. thermophila can modify exogenous sterols by desaturation at positions C5(6), C7(8) and C22(23), and also by de-ethylation of C24. Three out of four of the enzymes involved in the sterol modification pathway were previously described by our group. However, identification of the sterol C22 desaturase remained elusive, as well as other basic aspects of this metabolism. To get more insights into this peculiar metabolism we here perform a whole transcriptome analysis of T. thermophila in response to exogenous cholesterol. We found 356 T. thermophila genes to be differentially expressed after supplementation with cholesterol for two hours. Among those genes that were upregulated under our experimental conditions, we identified two genes belonging to the long-spaced family of desaturases that we propose as putative sterol C22 desaturases. Moreover, we determined that the inhibition of tetrahymanol synthesis after sensing exogenous cholesterol occurs by a transcriptional downregulation of genes involved in squalene synthesis and cyclization. Finally, we also identified several uncharacterized genes that can be putatively involved in sterols transport and signaling.

ORGANISM(S): Tetrahymena thermophila

PROVIDER: GSE130336 | GEO | 2019/11/05

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Fungal infections are a serious health problem in clinics especially in the immune-compromised patient. Disease ranges from widespread superficial infections like vulvovaginal infections to life-threatening systemic candidiasis. Especially for systemic mycoses only a limited arsenal of antifungals is available. The most commonly used classes of antifungal compounds used include azoles, polyenes and echinocandines. Due to emerging resistance to standard therapy and significant side effects and high costs for several antifungals.,there is a medical need for new antifungals in the clinic and general practice. In order to expand the arsenal of compounds with antifungal activities we previously screened a compound library, using a new type of activity-selectivity (AS) assay analysing both the antifungal activity and the compatibility with human cells at the same time. One compound, ((S)-2-(1-aminoisobutyl)-1-(3-chlorobenzyl) benzimidazole (EMC120B12)), showed high antifungal activity against several species of pathogenic yeasts including C. glabrata and C. krusei, species which are highly refractory to antifungals, especially to the commonly used azoles. Here we could show by transcriptional profiling and sterol analysis that the target of this new antifungal compound is the ergosterol pathway. The effects of EMC120B12 on sterol biosynthesis mimic those of fluconazole, strongly indicating that EMC120B12 also targets ERG11 like the azols. But not only the marker sterol 14 methylergosta 8,24(28) dien 3β,6α diol accumulated in C. krusei under EMC120B12 treatment, but also hitherto unknown related sterols. The novel sterols have a 3β,6α diol structure. Furthermore, this is the first time that a benzimidazole structure has been shown to result in a block of the sterol pathway by accumulating marker sterols connected to ERG11 inactivation. In total, three biological replicates were performed. All experiments were performed as dye swaps. Thus, in total 18 arrays have been hybridzed. Hybridization experiments included an untreated reference sample and a sample of cells treated with either ((1S)-1-[1-(3-chlorobenzyl)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl]-2-methylpropyl-amine) (EMC120B12), Fluconazole or Nocodazole. The array included one technical replicate of each probe.

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Transcriptional response of Tetrahymena thermophila to exogenous cholesterol

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