title: In silico analysis and developmental expression of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes in Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (Ub-E2) perform the second step of ubiquitination and, consequently, are essential for regulating proteolysis and for modulating protein function, interactions and trafficking. Previously, our group demonstrated the crucial role of ubiquitination and the Ub-proteasome pathway during the Schistosoma mansoni life cycle. In the present investigation, we used a homology-based genome-wide bioinformatics approach to identify and molecularly characterise the Ub-E2 enzymes in S. mansoni. The putative functions were further investigated through molecular phylogenetic and expression profile analyses using cercariae, adult worms, eggs and mechanically transformed schistosomula (MTS) cultured in vitro for 3.5 h or 1 or 3 days. We identified, via in silico analysis, 17 Ub-E2 enzymes with conserved structural characteristics: the beta-sheet and the helix-2 form a central core bordered by helix-1 at one side and helix-3 and helix-4 at the other. The observed quantitative differences in the steady-state transcript levels between the cercariae and adult worms may contribute to the differential protein ubiquitination observed during the parasite's life cycle. This study is the first to identify and characterise the E2 ubiquitin conjugation family in S. mansoni and provides fundamental information regarding their molecular phylogenetics and developmental expression during intra-mammalian stages.
authors: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Sala 045, Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors: Marcela P
authors: MP
authors: Costa
authors: Victor F
authors: VF
authors: Oliveira
authors: Roberta V
authors: RV
authors: Pereira
authors: Fabiano C P
authors: FC
authors: de Abreu
authors: Liana K
authors: LK
authors: Jannotti-Passos
authors: William C
authors: WC
authors: Borges
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Guerra-Sá
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058487:Cercaria / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000235:genetics; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054875:Ubiquitination
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D025801:Ubiquitin; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex