title: A transcript encoding a proteasome beta-subunit and a zinc finger protein in Trypanosoma brucei brucei.
abstract: During the screening of a Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T. b. brucei) cDNA library constructed from bloodstream form mRNA, we identified a 2.3kb cDNA encoding a proteasome beta subunit (ORF1) and a putative zinc finger protein (ORF2). Northern blot analysis indicated the presence of a digenic transcript as well as the two individual messengers in both procyclic and bloodstream forms of the parasite. Southern blot analysis showed the relevant locus to be unique. ORF1 encoded a 22.7kDa protein sharing over 50% identity with the eukaryotic PRCE (aka beta5) proteasome beta subunit. This protein contained a beta amino acid signature and residues involved in the catalytic activity. Further phylogenetic analysis indicated that this subunit as well as those from other kinetoplastids could be confidentially assigned to extant eukaryotic subfamilies such as beta1, beta2, and beta5. ORF2 encoded a 14.6kDa putative zinc finger protein containing five repeats of a CCHC motif commonly present in retroviral nucleocapsid proteins as well as proteins involved in vertebrate embryogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, IBMM, Free University of Brussels, rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet 12 B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radwanska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Couvreur
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pays
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanhamme
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pays
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex