G-protein-coupled receptor genes of Dirofilaria immitis. 2018

Thangadurai Mani, and Catherine Bourguinat, and Roger K Prichard
Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada.

The diversity and uniqueness of nematode heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) provides impetus for identifying ligands that can be used as therapeutics for treating diseases caused by parasitic nematode infections. In human medicine, GPCRs have represented the largest group of 'drugable' targets exploited in the market today. In the filarial nematode Dirofilaria immitis, which causes heartworm disease, the macrocyclic lactones (ML) have been used as the sole preventatives for more than 25 years and now there is confirmed ML resistance in this parasite. A novel anthelmintic emodepside, with antifilarial activity, can act on a GPCR. In view of the ML resistance, there is an urgent need to identify new drug targets and GPCRs of D. immitis may be promising receptors. Knowledge of polymorphism within the GPCR superfamily is of interest. A total of 127 GPCR genes have been identified, so far, in the genome of D. immitis. Whole genome sequencing data from four ML susceptible and four ML loss of efficacy populations was used to identify 393 polymorphic loci in 35 D. immitis GPCR genes. Out of 57 SNPs in exonic regions, 36 of them caused a change in an amino acid, out of which 2 changed the predicted secondary structure of the protein. Knowledge about GPCR genes and their polymorphism is valuable information for drug design processes. Further studies need to be carried out to more fully understand the implications of each of the SNPs identified by this study.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004183 Dirofilaria immitis A filarial parasite primarily of dogs but occurring also in foxes, wolves, and humans. The parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes. Dog Heartworm,Dirofilaria immitides,Dog Heartworms,Heartworm, Dog,Heartworms, Dog,immitis, Dirofilaria
D005810 Multigene Family A set of genes descended by duplication and variation from some ancestral gene. Such genes may be clustered together on the same chromosome or dispersed on different chromosomes. Examples of multigene families include those that encode the hemoglobins, immunoglobulins, histocompatibility antigens, actins, tubulins, keratins, collagens, heat shock proteins, salivary glue proteins, chorion proteins, cuticle proteins, yolk proteins, and phaseolins, as well as histones, ribosomal RNA, and transfer RNA genes. The latter three are examples of reiterated genes, where hundreds of identical genes are present in a tandem array. (King & Stanfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Gene Clusters,Genes, Reiterated,Cluster, Gene,Clusters, Gene,Families, Multigene,Family, Multigene,Gene Cluster,Gene, Reiterated,Multigene Families,Reiterated Gene,Reiterated Genes
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015801 Helminth Proteins Proteins found in any species of helminth. Helminth Protein,Protein, Helminth,Proteins, Helminth
D043562 Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled The largest family of cell surface receptors involved in SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION. They share a common structure and signal through HETEROTRIMERIC G-PROTEINS. G Protein Coupled Receptor,G-Protein-Coupled Receptor,G-Protein-Coupled Receptors,G Protein Coupled Receptors,Receptor, G-Protein-Coupled,Receptors, G Protein Coupled
D049751 Genome, Helminth The genetic complement of a helminth (HELMINTHS) as represented in its DNA. Helminth Genome,Genomes, Helminth,Helminth Genomes
D020641 Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide A single nucleotide variation in a genetic sequence that occurs at appreciable frequency in the population. SNPs,Single Nucleotide Polymorphism,Nucleotide Polymorphism, Single,Nucleotide Polymorphisms, Single,Polymorphisms, Single Nucleotide,Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

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