title: The stabilization of housekeeping transcripts in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes evidences a global regulation of RNA decay during stationary phase.
abstract: The relative steady state concentration of mRNAs of four housekeeping single-copy type Trypanosoma cruzi genes (actin, triosephosphate isomerase, trypanothion reductase and the ribosomal protein S4) was analyzed throughout the growth curve. A distinguishable pattern was observed with maximal levels occurring at the logarithmic phase of growth and minimum levels occurring at the stationary phase. The half-lives of all analyzed messenger RNAs, and also of three molecular species of immature ribosomal RNAs were increased in cells isolated from stationary phase. These results suggest the occurrence of a novel global regulation mechanism that might protect transcripts from degradation in stationary epimastigotes, probably as a strategy to perpetuate through this quiescent stage.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-228, 04510 México D.F., México.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cevallos
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Escobar
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Imelda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: López-Villaseñor
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal