Hsp-90 and the biology of nematodes

Him, N.A.I.I.N., Gillan, V., Emes, R.D., Maitland, K. and Devaney, E. (2009) Hsp-90 and the biology of nematodes. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 9(254), pp. 1-13. (doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-9-254) (PMID:19849843) (PMCID:PMC2771018)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hsp-90 from the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is unique in that it fails to bind to the specific Hsp-90 inhibitor, geldanamycin (GA). Here we surveyed 24 different free-living or parasitic nematodes with the aim of determining whether C. elegans Hsp-90 was the exception or the norm amongst the nematodes. We combined these data with codon evolution models in an attempt to identify whether hsp-90 from GA-binding and non-binding species has evolved under different evolutionary constraints.<BR/>RESULTS: We show that GA-binding is associated with life history: free-living nematodes and those parasitic species with free-living larval stages failed to bind GA. In contrast, obligate parasites and those worms in which the free-living stage in the environment is enclosed within a resistant egg, possess a GA-binding Hsp-90. We analysed Hsp-90 sequences from fifteen nematode species to determine whether nematode hsp-90s have undergone adaptive evolution that influences GA-binding. Our data provide evidence of rapid diversifying selection in the evolution of the hsp-90 gene along three separate lineages, and identified a number of residues showing significant evidence of adaptive evolution. However, we were unable to prove that the selection observed is correlated with the ability to bind geldanamycin or not.<BR/>CONCLUSION: Hsp-90 is a multi-functional protein and the rapid evolution of the hsp-90 gene presumably correlates with other key cellular functions. Factors other than primary amino acid sequence may influence the ability of Hsp-90 to bind to geldanamycin.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Devaney, Professor Eileen and Gillan, Dr Victoria and Maitland, Ms Kirsty
• Authors: Him, N.A.I.I.N., Gillan, V., Emes, R.D., Maitland, K., and Devaney, E.
• Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: BMC Evolutionary Biology
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 1471-2148
• ISSN (Online): 1471-2148
• Published Online: 22 October 2009
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 The Authors
• First Published: First published in BMC Evolutionary Biology 9:254
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
44159	1	A comparative analysis of Hsp90 its possible role in drug resistance in nematode parasites	Eileen Devaney	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/E013473/1	III - PARASITOLOGY