title: Evidence of P-body-like structures in Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: Gene expression in trypanosomatids is mainly regulated post-transcriptionally. One of the mechanisms involves the differential stability of mRNAs. However, the existence of other mechanisms involving the accessibility of mRNAs to the translation machinery cannot be ruled out. Defined cytoplasmic foci containing non-translating mRNPs, known as P-bodies, have been discovered in recent years. P-bodies are sites where mRNA can be decapped and 5'-3' degraded or stored for subsequent return to polysomes. The highly conserved DEAD box helicase Dhh1p is a marker protein of P-body functions. Here, we report the identification and cloning of a Trypanosoma cruzi Dhh1 homolog gene. TcDhh1 expression is not regulated through the parasite life cycle or under stress conditions. We show that TcDhh1 is present in polysome-independent complexes and is localized to discrete cytoplasmic foci, resembling P-bodies; these foci vary in number according to nutritional stress conditions and cycloheximide/puromycin treatment.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabíola Barbieri
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Holetz
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Andrea Rodrigues
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Celso Vataru
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D022083:Cytoplasmic Structures / Q000378:metabolism*; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D023121:RNA, Messenger, Stored / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D023121:RNA, Messenger, Stored; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C445083:DHH1 protein, S cerevisiae; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases