Schistosoma mansoni: The IMP4 gene is involved in DNA repair/tolerance after treatment with alkylating agent methyl methane sulfonate

• Published in: Experimental parasitology 2007-05, Vol.116 (1), p.25-34
• Main Authors: Furtado, Carolina, Regis-da-Silva, Carlos Gustavo, Passos-Silva, Danielle Gomes, Franco, Glória Regina, Macedo, Andréa Mara, Junho Pena, Sérgio Danilo, Machado, Carlos Renato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 6-methyl guanine methyl transferase; Alkylating Agents - pharmacology; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; base excision repair; Base Sequence; BER; Biological and medical sciences; cDNA; complementary DNA; deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA repair; DNA Repair - genetics; DNA, Complementary - chemistry; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - radiation effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Library; Genetic Complementation Test; Hydroxyurea - pharmacology; IMP4; Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; Luria-Bertani; methyl methane sulfonate; Methyl Methanesulfonate - pharmacology; MGMT; MMS; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; open reading frame; ORF; PCR; PEG; Phenotype; polyethylene glycol; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Protozoa; ribonucleic acid; ribonucleic protein; Ribosomal Proteins - chemistry; Ribosomal Proteins - genetics; Ribosomal Proteins - physiology; ribosomal RNA; RNA; RNA metabolism; RNP; rRNA; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - drug effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - radiation effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - chemistry; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - physiology; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosoma mansoni - drug effects; Schistosoma mansoni - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; single-stranded DNA; small nucleolar RNA; small nucleolar RNP; snoRNA; snoRNP; ssDNA; ultraviolet; yeast extract/peptone/dextrose; yeast nitrogen base; YNB; YPD
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2006.11.001

Using a functional complementation strategy, we have isolated a Schistosoma mansoni cDNA that complemented Escherichia coli mutant strains which are defective in the DNA base excision repair pathway. This cDNA partially complemented the MMS-sensitive phenotype of these strains. The sequence of the isolated cDNA was homologous to genes involved in the RNA metabolism pathway, especially ScIMP4 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To establish whether the S. mansoni cDNA clone could complement yeast ScIMP4-defective mutants, we constructed a yeast haploid strain that coded for a truncated Imp4p protein. This mutant strain was treated with different DNA damaging agents, but showed only MMS sensitivity. The functional homology between the ScIMP4 gene and the cDNA from S. mansoni was verified by partial complementation of the mutant yeast with the worm’s gene. This gene appears to be involved in DNA repair and RNA metabolism in both S. mansoni and S. cerevisiae.