Signalling the genome: the Ras-like small GTPase family of trypanosomatids.
The genomes of the three principle experimental-model species of Kinetoplastida -Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania major - are now complete, providing both a milestone for trypanosome biology and an opportunity to consider a multitude of questions at the genome level. Of the >40 members of the Ras-like GTPase family in T. brucei, at least 30 are involved in intracellular transport, whereas fewer than eight are likely to have a classical role in signal transduction. There are no true members of the Ras or Rho subfamilies but divergent Ras- or Rho-like GTPases are present, suggesting that signalling mechanisms in trypanosomatids are highly unusual. Comparisons of T. brucei with T. cruzi and L. major indicate a high degree of conservation among the species. These analyses provide a framework for the functional investigation of small-GTPase-mediated signalling processes in trypanosomes.
Field
Mark C
MC
The Molteno Building, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1QP. mcf34@cam.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D018631:ras Proteins