Trichomonas vaginalis Cysteine Proteinases: Iron Response in Gene Expression and Proteolytic Activity

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:946787. doi: 10.1155/2015/946787. Epub 2015 May 18.

Abstract

We focus on the iron response of Trichomonas vaginalis to gene family products such as the cysteine proteinases (CPs) involved in virulence properties. In particular, we examined the effect of iron on the gene expression regulation and function of cathepsin L-like and asparaginyl endopeptidase-like CPs as virulence factors. We addressed some important aspects about CPs genomic organization and we offer possible explanations to the fact that only few members of this large gene family are expressed at the RNA and protein levels and the way to control their proteolytic activity. We also summarized all known iron regulations of CPs at transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational levels along with new insights into the possible epigenetic and miRNA processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cysteine Proteases / biosynthesis
  • Cysteine Proteases / genetics*
  • Cysteine Proteases / metabolism
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • RNA / genetics
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / enzymology*
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / pathogenicity

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA
  • Iron
  • Cysteine Proteases