Conserved histone methyltransferases of the DOT1 family are involved in replication regulation, cell cycle progression, stage differentiation, and gene regulation in trypanosomatids. However, the specific functions of these enzymes depend on the host evasion strategies of the parasites. In this study, we investigated the role of DOT1B in Leishmania mexicana, focusing on life cycle progression and infectivity. In contrast to Trypanosoma brucei, in which DOT1B is essential for the differentiation of mammal-infective bloodstream forms to insect procyclic forms, L. mexicana DOT1B (LmxDOT1B) is not critical for the differentiation of promastigotes to amastigotes in vitro. Additionally, there are no significant differences in the ability to infect or differentiate in macrophages or sand fly vectors between the LmxDOT1B-depleted and control strains. These findings highlight the divergence of the function of DOT1B in these related parasites, suggesting genus-specific adaptations in the use of histone modifications for life cycle progression and host adaptation processes.

• Klíčová slova
• DOT1, Leishmania mexicana, differentiation, histone methyltransferase, sand fly, virulence,
• MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace MeSH
• histonlysin-N-methyltransferasa * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• histonové methyltransferasy metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• Leishmania mexicana * genetika   enzymologie   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• makrofágy * parazitologie   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• protozoální proteiny metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• Psychodidae parazitologie   MeSH
• stadia vývoje * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• histonlysin-N-methyltransferasa * MeSH
• histonové methyltransferasy MeSH
• protozoální proteiny MeSH