Histone post-translational modifications of Leishmania braziliensis

Histone post-translational modifications (hPTMs) constitute an epigenetic mechanism that plays a fundamental role in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. In trypanosomatid parasites, such as Trypanosoma brucei, T. cruzi and Leishmania spp., gene regulation occurs mainly at the post-transcriptional level. Nevertheless, recent studies have demonstrated that hPTMs are abundant and diverse in T. brucei and T. cruzi, the causative agents of sleeping sickness and Chagas disease, respectively, suggesting a potential regulatory role for histone modifications in these organisms. However, data on hPTMs in Leishmania parasites, the etiological agents of leishmaniasis, remain scarce. Here, applying an optimized mass spectrometry-based proteomic workflow, we present the first large-scale, high-confidence map of hPTMs in Leishmania braziliensis, revealing a broad distribution of distinct histone modifications, like what is observed in T. cruzi and other eukaryotes. This dataset provides a valuable resource for future functional studies on chromatin regulation in Leishmania and other trypanosomatids of medical interest.