title: Molecular characterization of SjBIRP, another apoptosis inhibitor, from Schistosoma japonicum.
abstract: Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) play an important role in the regulation of apoptotic processes and are defined by the presence of baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domains. Here, we characterized a cDNA fragment (SjBIRP) synthesized from the RNA of Schistosoma japonicum, which was found to contain the BIR domain, suggesting that it could encode a potential IAP. Real-time PCR analyses indicated that SjBIRP transcription was detected at several stages of the schistosome's lifecycle, with increased levels present in schistosomula (7 days). In addition, the SjBIRP was highly expressed in adult females as compared to adult males. A functional assay showed that SjBIRP could inhibit caspase3/7 activity in both HeLa cells and schistosome lysates. Furthermore, SjBIRP expression profiles varied between different hosts of S. japonicum. Taken together, our preliminary studies suggest that SjBIRP may play a functional role in the regulation of apoptosis in schistosomes, and that it could be a potential drug target for schistosomiasis control.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, 518 Ziyue Road, 200241, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jinwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: Lihui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yuqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiaojiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Guofeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D020169:Caspases