TbENF is an essential TbTFIIB-interacting trypanosomatid-specific factor.
Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African Sleeping Sickness, is replete with unique biochemistry, including unusual features of gene transcription. The parasite also contains over 4500 non-annotated genes, representing novel biochemistry yet to be explored. Using tandem affinity purification (TAP)-tagged TbTFIIB, we identified and subsequently confirmed, one of the non-annotated T. brucei proteins, Tb11.02.4300, as a TbTFIIB-interacting protein. The 49 kDa protein is nuclear and essential for parasite variability as determined by RNA interference studies; hence, the nomenclature T. brucei Essential Nuclear Factor (TbENF). TbENF is shown to interact with DNA in a sequence-independent fashion under the conditions examined. Furthermore, TbENF bears motifs associated with many eukaryotic transcription factors, such as a glutamine-rich region and a leucine zipper, yet TbENF is specific to trypanosomatids making it a potentially attractive therapeutic target. Taken together, our results suggest a role for TbENF in trypanosome gene transcription.
Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, United States.
Kellie Whitecavage
KW
Solnoki
Allison H
AH
Sing
Caitlyn J
CJ
Sofa
Russell
R
Miller
Paulina A
PA
Ogorzalek
Hillary V
HV
Penek
Jennifer B
JB
Palenchar
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB; D014157:Transcription Factors