Reduction of Tubulin Expression in Angomonas deanei by RNAi Modifies the Ultrastructure of the Trypanosomatid Protozoan and Impairs Division of Its Endosymbiotic Bacterium. (16th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Catta‐Preta, Carolina Moura Costa; dos Santos Pascoalino, Bruno; de Souza, Wanderley; Mottram, Jeremy C.; Motta, Maria Cristina M.; Schenkman, Sergio
• Is Part Of: Journal of eukaryotic microbiology. Volume 63:Number 6(2016:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 794
• Page End: 803
• Publication Date: 2016-06-16
• Subjects: Cell division -- cytoskeleton -- endosymbiont; Protista -- Periodicals; Eukaryotic cells -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.05
• DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12326
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1066-5234

Abstract

Abstract: In the last two decades, RNA interference pathways have been employed as a useful tool for reverse genetics in trypanosomatids. Angomonas deanei is a nonpathogenic trypanosomatid that maintains an obligatory endosymbiosis with a bacterium related to the Alcaligenaceae family. Studies of this symbiosis can help us to understand the origin of eukaryotic organelles. The recent elucidation of both the A. deanei and the bacterium symbiont genomes revealed that the host protozoan codes for the enzymes necessary for RNAi activity in trypanosomatids. Here, we tested the functionality of the RNAi machinery by transfecting cells with dsRNA to a reporter gene (green fluorescent protein), which had been previously expressed in the parasite and to α‐tubulin, an endogenous gene. In both cases, protein expression was reduced by the presence of specific dsRNA, inducing, respectively, a decreased GFP fluorescence and the formation of enlarged cells with modified arrangement of subpellicular microtubules. Furthermore, symbiont division was impaired. These results indicate that the RNAi system is active in A. deanei and can be used to further explore gene function in symbiont‐containing trypanosomatids and to clarify important aspects of symbiosis and cell evolution.