DNA Methylation of Gene Expression in Acanthamoeba castellanii Encystation.
10.3347/kjp.2017.55.2.115
- Author:
Eun Kyung MOON
1
;
Yeonchul HONG
;
Hae Ahm LEE
;
Fu Shi QUAN
;
Hyun Hee KONG
Author Information
1. Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul 02447, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Acanthamoeba castellanii;
encystation;
epigenetic regulation
- MeSH:
Acanthamoeba castellanii*;
Acanthamoeba*;
Computational Biology;
CpG Islands;
Cysteine Proteases;
DNA Methylation*;
DNA*;
Epigenomics;
Gene Expression Regulation;
Gene Expression*;
Methylation;
Negotiating;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Trophozoites
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2017;55(2):115-120
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Encystation mediating cyst specific cysteine proteinase (CSCP) of Acanthamoeba castellanii is expressed remarkably during encystation. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the regulation of CSCP gene expression remains unclear. In this study, we focused on epigenetic regulation of gene expression during encystation of Acanthamoeba. To evaluate methylation as a potential mechanism involved in the regulation of CSCP expression, we first investigated the correlation between promoter methylation status of CSCP gene and its expression. A 2,878 bp of promoter sequence of CSCP gene was amplified by PCR. Three CpG islands (island 1–3) were detected in this sequence using bioinformatics tools. Methylation of CpG island in trophozoites and cysts was measured by bisulfite sequence PCR. CSCP promoter methylation of CpG island 1 (1,633 bp) was found in 8.2% of trophozoites and 7.3% of cysts. Methylation of CpG island 2 (625 bp) was observed in 4.2% of trophozoites and 5.8% of cysts. Methylation of CpG island 3 (367 bp) in trophozoites and cysts was both 3.6%. These results suggest that DNA methylation system is present in CSCP gene expression of Acanthamoeba. In addition, the expression of encystation mediating CSCP is correlated with promoter CpG island 1 hypomethylation.
