Control of antigenic variation in African trypanosomes.
Antigenic variation of African trypanosomes results from the controlled expression of a single variant cell-surface glycoprotein (VSG) gene from a repertoire of about 1,000 genes. The transcription of the VSG genes occurs uniquely at telomeres, where the expressed VSG gene is part of a large polycistronic transcription unit that appears to be transcribed by a specialized RNA polymerase. Recent developments that enhanced our understanding of the control of VSG gene expression and of the mechanisms of antigenic variation are discussed in this review.
Van der Ploeg
L H
LH
Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D005812:Genes, Switch / Q000235:genetics*; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma / Q000235:genetics*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma