The IsTat 1.3 VSG multigene family in Trypanosoma brucei: retention of the expression linked copy through multiple antigenic switches.
In the IsTaR 1 serodeme of T. brucei the 3 variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) gene family contains about 10 members, one of which has a telomeric location on a minichromosome. The expression linked copy (ELC) of the 3 VSG gene which occurs in an antigenic variant expressing the 3 VSG, also has a telomeric location but unlike the minichromosomal 3 VSG gene has restriction sites upstream from the 5' barren region. This ELC is retained on the same telomere in a subsequent variant that expresses a telomeric 7 VSG ELC and in relapse variants and procyclic forms derived from variant antigenic types (VATs) 3 and 7. The 7 ELC has a restriction map upstream from the 5' barren region that differs from, but is similar to, that of the 3 ELC. These data indicate that the 3 and 7 ELCs are on different telomeres when expressed.
D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D005796:Genes; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010957:Plasmids; D013045:Species Specificity; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics*; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma
D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma; D004247:DNA; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes