Cell Cycle, Telomeres, and Telomerase in Leishmania spp.: What Do We Know So Far?

Abstract

Leishmaniases belong to the inglorious group of neglected tropical diseases, presenting different degrees of manifestations severity. It is caused by the transmission of more than 20 species of parasites of the Leishmania genus. Nevertheless, the disease remains on the priority list for developing new treatments, since it affects millions in a vast geographical area, especially low-income people. Molecular biology studies are pioneers in parasitic research with the aim of discovering potential targets for drug development. Among them are the telomeres, DNA–protein structures that play an important role in the long term in cell cycle/survival. Telomeres are the physical ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Due to their multiple interactions with different proteins that confer a likewise complex dynamic, they have emerged as objects of interest in many medical studies, including studies on leishmaniases. This review aims to gather information and elucidate what we know about the phenomena behind Leishmania spp. telomere maintenance and how it impacts the parasite’s cell cycle.

Ablation of telomerase reverse transcriptase inLeishmania majorresults in a senescent-like phenotype and loss of infectivity

“…In the presence of genomic perturbations, cells activate checkpoints to ensure that the integrity of their genome is uncompromised. In addition, cell cycle checkpoints guarantee that the next generation of cells has the necessary cellular supplies to survive, grow, and reproduce [20,48,67]. Our data indicate that Lm TERT-/-and Lm N420 are challenging in synthesizing DNA.…”

“…Considering the importance of the surveillance system in cell growth [20,47–49], it was necessary to see how much of an influence the ablation of Lm TERT has on the cell-cycle progression of the parasites, which may also explain the observed growth and replication impairments. We processed promastigote forms with propidium iodide.…”

Polymeric nanoparticles containing kojic acid induce structural alterations and apoptosis-like death in Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

“…These results were similar to, or higher than, those obtained for miltefosine, an apoptosis-inducing drug, which induced apoptosis in 79% of the promastigote population ( Paris et al, 2004 ). Additionally, it is important to identify novel targets that can disrupt the parasite’s cell cycle, for its consequent elimination ( Assis et al, 2021 ). Accordingly, NanoFKA inhibited the cell cycle of L .…”

Editorial to Summarize the Papers Published in the Special Issue “10th Anniversary of Cells—Advances in Cell Cycle”

“…This Special Issue also published six comprehensive high quality review articles. These reviews covered a broad range of topics: the impact of 5-Bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) on the proliferative behavior of cerebellar neuroblasts [ 6 ], the regulation of the cell cycle by telomerase [ 7 ], growth factors [ 8 ], heat shock transcription factors [ 9 ], Cyclin-Dependent Kinases and CTD Phosphatases [ 10 ], and the effects of low-dose radiation on the cell cycle [ 11 ].These reviews focused on various model organisms, including mammalian cells, plant cells, yeast, and parasites of the Leishmania genus .…”

“…Among these studies, trypanosomatid telomere biology has generated great interest in the scientific community, as telomeres are essential for genome stability and cell cycle progression. In this comprehensive review, Dr. Cano and her colleagues aim to shed light on what we know about the phenomena behind telomere maintenance and how it impacts the parasites’ cell cycle and survival [ 7 ]. Their review covers the knowledge available so far on the Leishmania spp.…”