title: Expression of alpha- and beta-tubulin genes during growth of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes.
abstract: The expression of tubulin genes was studied during the growth of epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Northern blot analysis showed that there was a decrease in the levels of alpha- and beta-tubulin mRNAs as epimastigotes changed from the logarithmic to the stationary phase. The changes were associated with a similar decrease in the rates of transcription for both of these genes as measured by run-on assays using permeabilized parasites. In contrast to these results, ubiquitin transcription increased slightly. The levels of alpha-tubulin protein per parasite also decreased in stationary compared with logarithmic phase epimastigotes, in close agreement with the decrease in transcription. However, beta-tubulin protein levels did not change significantly. Our results thus indicated that during the growth of epimastigotes, the expression of alpha-tubulin is controlled partially at the transcriptional level. On the other hand, the experiments also suggested that beta-tubulin expression is controlled at a post-transcriptional level.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: González-Pino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rangel-Aldao
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Slezynger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014404:Tubulin