title: Identification of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 as a Regulator for Encystation of Acanthamoeba.
abstract: Encystation is an essential process for Acanthamoeba survival under nutrient-limiting conditions and exposure to drugs. The expression of several genes has been observed to increase or decrease during encystation. Epigenetic processes involved in regulation of gene expression have been shown to play a role in several pathogenic parasites. In the present study, we identified the protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), a known epigenetic regulator, in Acanthamoeba castellanii. PRMT5 of A. castellanii (AcPRMT5) contained domains found in S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferases and in PRMT5 arginine-N-methyltransferase. Expression levels of AcPRMT5 were increased during encystation of A. castellanii. The EGFP-PRMT5 fusion protein was mainly localized in the nucleus of trophozoites. A. castellanii transfected with siRNA designed against AcPRMT5 failed to form mature cysts. The findings of this study lead to a better understanding of epigenetic mechanisms behind the regulation of encystation in cyst-forming pathogenic protozoa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul 02447, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu 41944, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeonchul
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu 41944, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu 41944, Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Goo
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 49201, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Hee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000069289:Parasite Encystment / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011484:Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D011484:Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases
keywords: Acanthamoeba; cellulose synthase; encystation; endocyst