The genome of the kinetoplastid parasite, Leishmania major.
Leishmania species cause a spectrum of human diseases in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. We have sequenced the 36 chromosomes of the 32.8-megabase haploid genome of Leishmania major (Friedlin strain) and predict 911 RNA genes, 39 pseudogenes, and 8272 protein-coding genes, of which 36% can be ascribed a putative function. These include genes involved in host-pathogen interactions, such as proteolytic enzymes, and extensive machinery for synthesis of complex surface glycoconjugates. The organization of protein-coding genes into long, strand-specific, polycistronic clusters and lack of general transcription factors in the L. major, Trypanosoma brucei, and Trypanosoma cruzi (Tritryp) genomes suggest that the mechanisms regulating RNA polymerase II-directed transcription are distinct from those operating in other eukaryotes, although the trypanosomatids appear capable of chromatin remodeling. Abundant RNA-binding proteins are encoded in the Tritryp genomes, consistent with active posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression.
Ivens
Alasdair C
AC
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK. alicat@sanger.ac.uk
Peacock
Christopher S
CS
Worthey
Elizabeth A
EA
Murphy
Lee
L
Aggarwal
Gautam
G
Berriman
Matthew
M
Sisk
Ellen
E
Rajandream
Marie-Adele
MA
Adlem
Ellen
E
Aert
Rita
R
Anupama
Atashi
A
Apostolou
Zina
Z
Attipoe
Philip
P
Bason
Nathalie
N
Bauser
Christopher
C
Beck
Alfred
A
Beverley
Stephen M
SM
Bianchettin
Gabriella
G
Borzym
Katja
K
Bothe
Gordana
G
Bruschi
Carlo V
CV
Collins
Matt
M
Cadag
Eithon
E
Ciarloni
Laura
L
Clayton
Christine
C
Coulson
Richard M R
RM
Cronin
Ann
A
Cruz
Angela K
AK
Davies
Robert M
RM
De Gaudenzi
Javier
J
Dobson
Deborah E
DE
Duesterhoeft
Andreas
A
Fazelina
Gholam
G
Fosker
Nigel
N
Frasch
Alberto Carlos
AC
Fraser
Audrey
A
Fuchs
Monika
M
Gabel
Claudia
C
Goble
Arlette
A
Goffeau
André
A
Harris
David
D
Hertz-Fowler
Christiane
C
Hilbert
Helmut
H
Horn
David
D
Huang
Yiting
Y
Klages
Sven
S
Knights
Andrew
A
Kube
Michael
M
Larke
Natasha
N
Litvin
Lyudmila
L
Lord
Angela
A
Louie
Tin
T
Marra
Marco
M
Masuy
David
D
Matthews
Keith
K
Michaeli
Shulamit
S
Mottram
Jeremy C
JC
Müller-Auer
Silke
S
Munden
Heather
H
Nelson
Siri
S
Norbertczak
Halina
H
Oliver
Karen
K
O'neil
Susan
S
Pentony
Martin
M
Pohl
Thomas M
TM
Price
Claire
C
Purnelle
Bénédicte
B
Quail
Michael A
MA
Rabbinowitsch
Ester
E
Reinhardt
Richard
R
Rieger
Michael
M
Rinta
Joel
J
Robben
Johan
J
Robertson
Laura
L
Ruiz
Jeronimo C
JC
Rutter
Simon
S
Saunders
David
D
Schäfer
Melanie
M
Schein
Jacquie
J
Schwartz
David C
DC
Seeger
Kathy
K
Seyler
Amber
A
Sharp
Sarah
S
Shin
Heesun
H
Sivam
Dhileep
D
Squares
Rob
R
Squares
Steve
S
Tosato
Valentina
V
Vogt
Christy
C
Volckaert
Guido
G
Wambutt
Rolf
R
Warren
Tim
T
Wedler
Holger
H
Woodward
John
J
Zhou
Shiguo
S
Zimmermann
Wolfgang
W
Smith
Deborah F
DF
Blackwell
Jenefer M
JM
Stuart
Kenneth D
KD
Barrell
Bart
B
Myler
Peter J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000469:parasitology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012326:RNA Splicing; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002843:Chromatin; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016053:RNA, Protozoan