title: The zinc finger protein TcZFP2 binds target mRNAs enriched during Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclogenesis.
abstract: Trypanosomes are parasitic protozoa in which gene expression is primarily controlled through the regulation of mRNA stability and translation. This post-transcriptional control is mediated by various families of RNA-binding proteins, including those with zinc finger CCCH motifs. CCCH zinc finger proteins have been shown to be essential to differentiation events in trypanosomatid parasites. Here, we functionally characterise TcZFP2 as a predicted post-transcriptional regulator of differentiation in Trypanosoma cruzi. This protein was detected in cell culture-derived amastigotes and trypomastigotes, but it was present in smaller amounts in metacyclic trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi. We use an optimised recombinant RNA immunopreciptation followed by microarray analysis assay to identify TcZFP2 target mRNAs. We further demonstrate that TcZFP2 binds an A-rich sequence in which the adenosine residue repeats are essential for high-affinity recognition. An analysis of the expression profiles of the genes encoding the TcZFP2-associated mRNAs throughout the parasite life cycle by microarray hybridisation showed that most of the associated mRNAs were upregulated in the metacyclic trypomastigote forms, also suggesting a role for TcZFP2 in metacyclic trypomastigote differentiation. Knockdown of the orthologous Trypanosoma brucei protein levels showed ZFP2 to be a positive regulator of specific target mRNA abundance.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patricia Alves
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mörking
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Pontello
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Rampazzo
authors.forename: Pegine
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walrad
authors.forename: Christian Macagnan
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.forename: Maurilio José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Daniela Fiori
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Gradia
authors.forename: Daniela Parada
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Pavoni
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: Stenio Perdigão
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dallagiovanna
mesh_terms: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins