MicroRNA-1 targets ribosomal protein genes to regulate the growth, development and reproduction of Schistosoma japonicum

Int J Parasitol. 2023 Jun 22:S0020-7519(23)00147-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.03.007. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTEggs laid by mature female schistosomes are primarily responsible for the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis and critical for transmission. Consequently, elucidating the mechanism of sexual maturation as well as egg production may lead to new strategies for the control of schistosomiasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in multiple biological processes including reproduction in many organisms, yet their roles have not been well characterized in schistosomes. Here, we investigated microRNA-1 (miR-1), which was downregulated gradually in both male and female Schistosoma japonicum after they reached sexually maturity. The expression of miR-1, as shown with quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), was lower in the reproductive organs of adult females compared with the somatic tissues. Overexpression of miR-1 in adult worms destroyed the morphological architecture of reproductive organs and reduced the subsequent oviposition, which may be due to the activation of apoptosis pathways. Through in silico analysis, 34 potential target genes of miR-1 were identified, including five ribosomal protein genes, called rp-s13, rp-l7ae, rp-l14, rp-l11 and rp-s24e. In vitro dual-luciferase reporter gene assays and miRNA overexpression experiments further validated that these ribosomal protein genes were directly regulated by miR-1. In contrast to the gene expression of miR-...
Source: International Journal for Parasitology - Category: Parasitology Authors: Source Type: research