Gene expression regulation in trypanosomatids.
Trypanosomatids are protozoan micro-organisms that cause serious health problems in humans and domestic animals. In addition to their medical relevance, these pathogens have novel biological structures and processes. From nuclear DNA transcription to mRNA translation, trypanosomes use unusual mechanisms to control gene expression. For example, transcription by RNAPII (RNA polymerase II) is polycistronic, and only a few transcription initiation sites have been identified so far. The sequences present in the polycistronic units code for proteins having unrelated functions, that is, not involved in a similar metabolic pathway. Owing to these biological constraints, these micro-organisms regulate gene expression mostly by post-transcriptional events. Consequently, the function of proteins that recognize RNA elements preferentially at the 3' UTR (untranslated region) of transcripts is central. It was recently shown that mRNP (messenger ribonucleoprotein) complexes are organized within post-transcriptional operons to co-ordinately regulate gene expression of functionally linked transcripts. In the present chapter we will focus on particular characteristics of gene expression in the so-called TriTryp parasites: Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major.
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús, UNSAM-CONICET, Av. Gral. Paz 5445, INTI, Edificio 24, 1650 San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. jdegaudenzi@iib.unsam.edu.ar
Javier G
JG
De Gaudenzi
Griselda
G
Noé
Vanina A
VA
Campo
Alberto C
AC
Frasch
Alejandro
A
Cassola
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016678:Genome; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000235:genetics*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D002843:Chromatin; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C026452:messenger ribonucleoprotein; D012319:RNA Polymerase II