Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39277758›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2024

Identification and function characterization of NcAP2XII-4 in Neospora caninum.

Huizhu Nan, Xin Lu, Chao Zhang, Xin Yang, Zhu Ying, Lei Ma

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Microorganisms · 2026
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Huizhu Nan *Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China.
Xin Lu *Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China.
Chao ZhangMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China.
Xin YangMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China.
Zhu YingNational Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
Lei MaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China. lmahappy@hebtu.edu.cn.

Funding

Hebei Provincial Key Research Projects 22326703DNational Natural Science Foundation of China 31902292
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeospora caninum is a protozoan parasite in the Apicomplexa controlled by complex signaling pathways. Transcriptional control, an important way to regulate gene expression, has been almost absent in the N. caninum life process. However, to date, research on the transcriptional regulation of the AP2 family factors in N. caninum has been extremely limited. A prior study demonstrated that removing rhoptry protein 5 (ROP5), a significant virulence factor, resulted in abnormal expression levels of predicted NcAP2XII-4 in N. caninum, suggesting that the factor may regulate the function of ROP5. This study aimed to identify NcAP2XII-4 and its function in transcriptional regulation.

methodsThe NcAP2XII-4 gene was identified by analyzing the N. caninum genome. A polyclonal antibody against the protein was prepared and purified, and its expression and localization in the parasite were detected using western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The ΔNcAP2XII-4 strain was constructed from the Nc1 strain using CRISPR/Cas9 to study its effect on the growth and development of N. caninum, and DAP-Seq and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were used to verify the transcriptional regulatory functions of the gene.

resultsBioinformatic analysis showed that NcAP2XII-4 consists of 11,976 bp and encodes 3991 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass of 410 kDa. The protein has two AP2 domains, 1207aa-1251aa and 3453aa-3500aa, and is predicted to be located in the nucleus. The results of PCR, WB, and IFA were in accordance with the bioinformatics analysis. ΔNcAP2XII-4 was successfully constructed, but the strain could not be released and ultimately succumbed within parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs). Plaque assays demonstrated that parasites lacking this gene could not form plaques. One motif was successfully identified using DAP-Seq technique. Two prokaryotic expression vectors containing the AP2 domain of NcAP2XII-4 were successfully constructed, and two prokaryotic expression proteins, AP2-D1 and AP2-D2, and ROP5 biotinylated probes were prepared. Using EMSA, NcAP2XII-4 was shown to regulate ROP5 transcription by binding to its promoter.

conclusionsNcAP2XII-4 is an essential gene in N. caninum. This study provides a foundation for further research on transcriptional regulation in N. caninum and identifies a new candidate factor for the development of vaccines against N. caninum.

Indexed as

NeosporaProtozoan ProteinsAnimalsCoccidiosisGene Expression RegulationProtozoan ProteinsDAP-SeqNcAP2XII-4Neospora caninumTranscription factor

Identifiers

PMID39277758
PMCPMC11402202

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