title: Inhibition of protein synthesis results in super-induction of procyclin (PARP) RNA levels.
abstract: Procyclin is an abundant surface antigen found exclusively on the procyclic forms of African trypanosomes. We are interested in the induction of procyclin gene expression during differentiation from bloodstream forms. We find that increased levels of procyclin RNA are evident as early as 15 min after triggering differentiation. The increase in procyclin RNA levels requires the temperature shift from 37 degrees C to 27 degrees C and is aided by addition of the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate cis-aconitate. Maximal induction is observed with a combination of three triggers of differentiation: citrate, cis-aconitate and the temperature shift. Protein synthesis does not appear to be required for induction of procyclin RNA during differentiation. In fact, addition of protein synthesis inhibitors results in super-induction of procyclin RNA levels, even under conditions where no induction is normally observed (i.e., at 37 degrees C in the absence of citrate and cis-aconitate). This super-induction was observed with four different protein synthesis inhibitors that affect different stages of translation. Thus, the accumulation of procyclin transcripts may be under the control of a negative regulator whose effective levels are reduced during differentiation from bloodstream to procyclic forms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5402.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Dorn
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Aman
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Boothroyd
mesh_terms: D000156:Aconitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D019343:Citric Acid; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D013696:Temperature; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D002951:Citrates; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma; C053277:procyclic acidic repetitive protein, Trypanosoma; D019343:Citric Acid; D000156:Aconitic Acid