Artificial linear mini-chromosomes for Trypanosoma brucei.
We have constructed artificial linear mini- chromosomes for the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. These chromosomes exist at approx. 2 copies per cell, are indefinitely stable under selection but are lost from 50% of the transformed population in approx. 7 generations when grown in the absence of selective pressure. Consistent with results obtained earlier with natural chromosomes in T.brucei, the telomeres on these artificial chromosomes grow, adding approx. 1- 1.5 telomeric repeats per generation. The activity of a procyclic acidic repetitive protein (parp) gene promoter on these elements is unaffected by its proximity to a telomere, implying the lack of a telomere-proximal position effect (TPE) in procyclic trypanosomes. Among other things, these autonomously replicating dispensable genetic elements will provide a defined system for the study of nuclear DNA replication, karyotypic plasticity and other aspects of chromosomal behavior in this ancient eukaryotic lineage.
Patnaik
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PK
Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021-6399 USA.
Axelrod
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N
Van der Ploeg
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LH
Cross
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GA
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002875:Chromosomes; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014162:Transfection; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan