Helminth genome analysis reveals conservation of extracellular vesicle biogenesis pathways but divergence of RNA loading machinery between phyla

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.04.004

International Journal for Parasitology

Volume 50, Issue 9, August 2020, Pages 655-661

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.04.004 Get rights and content

Highlights:

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Extracellular vesicle (EV) biogenesis pathways are conserved in helminths.
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However, ESCRT proteins may operate in a non-canonical manner.
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Helminths display phylum-level divergence of EV RNA-loading machinery.

Abstract

A comparative genomics approach was used to determine whether established extracellular vesicle biogenesis pathways are conserved in helminths. This revealed conservation of membrane and cytoskeletal organising proteins as well as the endosomal sorting complex required for transport previously described in mammalian cells. Domain level analysis of this complex in helminths, however, indicated that some species may rely on atypical proteins to support subunit interactions and cargo recruitment. Interestingly, helminths displayed phylum level divergence of proteins associated with loading RNA into extracellular vesicles. These findings provide a framework for functional studies of helminth extracellular vesicle biogenesis and cargo sorting.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant to M.W.R. (BB/L019612/1) from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UK. A.P.S.B. was supported by a postgraduate studentship from the Department for the Economy (DfE), Northern Ireland.

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SuccinctusHelminth genome analysis reveals conservation of extracellular vesicle biogenesis pathways but divergence of RNA loading machinery between phyla

Highlights:

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

Trends Cell Biol.

Trends Biochem. Sci.

Mol. Cell. Proteomics

Trends Parasitol.

Adv. Parasitol.

Exp. Parasitol.

Cell

J. Biol. Chem.

Mol. Biochem. Parasitol.

J. Lipid Res.