Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i>
<i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> is a ubiquitous free-living amoeba. Pathogenic strains are causative agents of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. In response to adverse conditions, <i>A. castellanii</i> differentiate into cysts,...
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/5/321 |
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| author | Steven Rolland Luce Mengue Cyril Noël Stéphanie Crapart Anne Mercier Willy Aucher Yann Héchard Ascel Samba-Louaka |
| author_facet | Steven Rolland Luce Mengue Cyril Noël Stéphanie Crapart Anne Mercier Willy Aucher Yann Héchard Ascel Samba-Louaka |
| author_sort | Steven Rolland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> is a ubiquitous free-living amoeba. Pathogenic strains are causative agents of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. In response to adverse conditions, <i>A. castellanii</i> differentiate into cysts, which are metabolically inactive and resistant cells. This process, also named encystment, involves biochemical and genetic modifications that remain largely unknown. This study characterizes the role of the <i>ACA1_384820</i> <i>Acanthamoeba</i> gene during encystment. This gene encodes a putative N-acetyltransferase, belonging to the Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) family. We showed that expression of the <i>ACA1_384820</i> gene was down-regulated as early as two hours after induction of encystment in <i>A. castellanii</i>. Interestingly, overexpression of the <i>ACA1_384820</i> gene affects formation of cysts. Unexpectedly, the search of homologs of <i>ACA1_384820</i> in the Eukaryota gene datasets failed, except for some species in the <i>Acanthamoeba</i> genus. Bioinformatics analysis suggested a possible lateral acquisition of this gene from prokaryotic cells. This study enabled us to describe a new <i>Acanthamoeba</i> gene that is down-regulated during encystment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:13:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4bd18cd007e04e409f13d4781af67608 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:13:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-4bd18cd007e04e409f13d4781af676082023-11-19T22:46:46ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172020-04-019532110.3390/pathogens9050321Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i>Steven Rolland0Luce Mengue1Cyril Noël2Stéphanie Crapart3Anne Mercier4Willy Aucher5Yann Héchard6Ascel Samba-Louaka7UMR CNRS 7267 Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Pôle Biologie-Santé, Bât. B36/B37, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, FranceUMR CNRS 7267 Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Pôle Biologie-Santé, Bât. B36/B37, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, FranceIFREMER-IRSI-Service de Bioinformatique (SeBiMER), Centre Bretagne, 1625 Route de Sainte-Anne, 29280 Plouzane, FranceUMR CNRS 7267 Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Pôle Biologie-Santé, Bât. B36/B37, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, FranceUMR CNRS 7267 Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Pôle Biologie-Santé, Bât. B36/B37, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, FranceUMR CNRS 7267 Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Pôle Biologie-Santé, Bât. B36/B37, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, FranceUMR CNRS 7267 Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Pôle Biologie-Santé, Bât. B36/B37, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, FranceUMR CNRS 7267 Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Pôle Biologie-Santé, Bât. B36/B37, 1 rue Georges Bonnet, TSA 51106 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, France<i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> is a ubiquitous free-living amoeba. Pathogenic strains are causative agents of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. In response to adverse conditions, <i>A. castellanii</i> differentiate into cysts, which are metabolically inactive and resistant cells. This process, also named encystment, involves biochemical and genetic modifications that remain largely unknown. This study characterizes the role of the <i>ACA1_384820</i> <i>Acanthamoeba</i> gene during encystment. This gene encodes a putative N-acetyltransferase, belonging to the Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) family. We showed that expression of the <i>ACA1_384820</i> gene was down-regulated as early as two hours after induction of encystment in <i>A. castellanii</i>. Interestingly, overexpression of the <i>ACA1_384820</i> gene affects formation of cysts. Unexpectedly, the search of homologs of <i>ACA1_384820</i> in the Eukaryota gene datasets failed, except for some species in the <i>Acanthamoeba</i> genus. Bioinformatics analysis suggested a possible lateral acquisition of this gene from prokaryotic cells. This study enabled us to describe a new <i>Acanthamoeba</i> gene that is down-regulated during encystment.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/5/321<i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i>encystmentN-acetyltransferaselateral gene transferfree-living amoebae |
| spellingShingle | Steven Rolland Luce Mengue Cyril Noël Stéphanie Crapart Anne Mercier Willy Aucher Yann Héchard Ascel Samba-Louaka Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> Pathogens <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> encystment N-acetyltransferase lateral gene transfer free-living amoebae |
| title | Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> |
| title_full | Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> |
| title_fullStr | Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> |
| title_short | Encystment Induces Down-Regulation of an Acetyltransferase-Like Gene in <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> |
| title_sort | encystment induces down regulation of an acetyltransferase like gene in i acanthamoeba castellanii i |
| topic | <i>Acanthamoeba castellanii</i> encystment N-acetyltransferase lateral gene transfer free-living amoebae |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/5/321 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stevenrolland encystmentinducesdownregulationofanacetyltransferaselikegeneiniacanthamoebacastellaniii AT lucemengue encystmentinducesdownregulationofanacetyltransferaselikegeneiniacanthamoebacastellaniii AT cyrilnoel encystmentinducesdownregulationofanacetyltransferaselikegeneiniacanthamoebacastellaniii AT stephaniecrapart encystmentinducesdownregulationofanacetyltransferaselikegeneiniacanthamoebacastellaniii AT annemercier encystmentinducesdownregulationofanacetyltransferaselikegeneiniacanthamoebacastellaniii AT willyaucher encystmentinducesdownregulationofanacetyltransferaselikegeneiniacanthamoebacastellaniii AT yannhechard encystmentinducesdownregulationofanacetyltransferaselikegeneiniacanthamoebacastellaniii AT ascelsambalouaka encystmentinducesdownregulationofanacetyltransferaselikegeneiniacanthamoebacastellaniii |