title: Schistosoma japonicum: Tsunagi/Y14 protein plays a critical role in the development of the reproductive organs and eggs.
abstract: Tsunagi/Y14 is an evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding protein that is required for the maintenance of oogenesis and the masculinization of the germ-line in many animal models. We speculated that Tsunagi/Y14 might also regulate reproductive organ development in Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum, Sj). Sj Tsunagi/Y14 and control double-stranded RNAs were introduced into schistosomula by electroporation respectively. These transfected schistosomula were cultured in vitro for 1, 3 or 5 days. The mRNA and protein levels of the target gene in the cultured schistosomula were significantly suppressed compared with those of the control group. Furthermore, BALB/c mice were infected with the transfected schistosomula for 6 weeks and were sacrificed to harvest the adult worms. We found that the silencing of Sj Tsunagi/Y14 led to defects in reproductive organs development in both male and female worms. Moreover, it also affected the size, quantity and activity of the eggs in the mice liver. Our findings indicated that Tsunagi/Y14 plays a critical role in the development of reproductive organs and eggs in S. japonicum.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, 81# Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China.
authors: Cui-Ping
authors: CP
authors: Ren
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Zhang
authors: Wei-Na
authors: WN
authors: Zhang
authors: Da-Ke
authors: DK
authors: Huang
authors: Xue-Mei
authors: XM
authors: Jia
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Gui
authors: Miao
authors: M
authors: Liu
authors: Ji-Jia
authors: JJ
authors: Shen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D012908:Snails; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D018510:RNA, Helminth; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C440016:tsu protein, Drosophila
keywords: RNAi; Reproduction; Reproductive organs; Schistosoma japonicum; Tsunagi/Y14; dsRNA