Project description:We have HA-tagged two nonsense-mediated decay proteins, UPF1 and UPF2, in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We then performed co-immunoprecipitation experiments to determine the protein-protein interactions of these nonsense-mediated decay components.
2021-04-16 | PXD023910 | Pride
Project description:Nonsense-mediated decay in Toxoplasma gondii
Project description:The rate of mRNA decay is an essential element of post-transcriptional regulation in all organisms. Previously, studies in several organisms found that the specific half-life of each mRNA is precisely related to its physiological role, and plays an important role in determining levels of gene expression. We have used a genome wide approach to characterize mRNA decay in Plasmodium falciparum. We found that globally, rates of mRNA decay increase dramatically during the asexual intraerythrocytic developmental cycle. During the ring stage of the cycle, the average mRNA half-life was 9.5 minutes, yet this was extended to an average of 65 minutes during the late schizont stage of development. Thus a major determinant of mRNA decay rate appears to be linked to the stage of intraerythrocytic development. Furthermore, we have found specific variations in decay patterns superimposed upon the dominant trend of progressive half-life lengthening. These variations in decay pattern were frequently enriched for genes with specific cellular functions or processes. Elucidation of Plasmodium mRNA decay rates provides a key element for deciphering mechanisms of genetic control in this parasite, by complementing and extending previous mRNA abundance studies. Our results indicate that progressive stage-dependent decreases in mRNA decay rate function are a major determinant of mRNA accumulation during the schizont stage of intraerythrocytic development. This type of genome wide change in mRNA decay rate has not been observed in any other organism to date, and indicates that post-transcriptional regulation may be the dominant mechanism of gene regulation in P. falciparum. Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum treated with actinomycin D
Project description:ChIP-seq experiments were performed for the putative telomere repeat-binding factor (PfTRF) in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7. The gene encoding this factor (PF3D7_1209300) was endogenously tagged with either a GFP- or a 3xHA-tag and these transgenic parasite lines were used in ChIP-sequencing experiments. Sequencing of the ChIP and input libraries showed enrichment of PfTRF at all telomere-repeat containing chromosome ends (reference genome Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 from PlasmoDB version 6.1) as well as in all upsB var promoters.In addition,PfTRF was enriched at seven additional, intra-chromosomal sites and called in the PfTRF-HA ChIP-seq only. Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 parasites were generated with -GFP or -3xHA C-terminal tagged TRF (PF3D7_1209300). Nuclei were isolated from formaldehyde cross-linked schizont-stage transgenic parasites and used to prepare chromatin. Chromatin immunoprecipitations were performed using mouse anti-GFP (Roche Diagnostics, #11814460001) or rat anti-HA 3F10 (Roche Diagnostics, #12158167001). Sequencing libraries were prepared according to a Plasmodium-optimized library preparation procedure including KAPA polymerase-mediated PCR amplification.
Project description:Recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is often caused by nonsense mutations that lead to low mRNA levels as a result of nonsense-mediated decay. Some RP genes are expressed at detectable levels in leukocytes as well as in the retina. We designed a microarray-based method to find recessive RP genes based on low lymphoblast mRNA expression levels Keywords: Recessive mutations; mRNA expression; nonsense mediated-decay; retinitis pigmentosa; lymphocyte; Affymetrix genechip Human Genome U133Plus2.0.