Depletion of the SR-Related Protein TbRRM1 Leads to Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis-Like Death in Trypanosoma brucei.
Arginine-Serine (RS) domain-containing proteins are RNA binding proteins with multiple functions in RNA metabolism. In mammalian cells this group of proteins is also implicated in regulation and coordination of cell cycle and apoptosis. In trypanosomes, an early branching group within the eukaryotic lineage, this group of proteins is represented by 3 members, two of them are SR proteins and have been recently shown to be involved in rRNA processing as well as in pre-mRNA splicing and stability. Here we report our findings on the 3rd member, the SR-related protein TbRRM1. In the present study, we showed that TbRRM1 ablation by RNA-interference in T. brucei procyclic cells leads to cell-cycle block, abnormal cell elongation compatible with the nozzle phenotype and cell death by an apoptosis-like mechanism. Our results expand the role of the trypanosomal RS-domain containing proteins in key cellular processes such as cell cycle and apoptosis-like death, roles also carried out by the mammalian SR proteins, and thus suggesting a conserved function in this phylogenetically conserved protein family.
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIB-UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 25 de Mayo y Francia. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gabriela V
GV
Levy
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIB-UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 25 de Mayo y Francia. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Carolina P
CP
Bañuelos
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIB-UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 25 de Mayo y Francia. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Analía G
AG
Níttolo
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIB-UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 25 de Mayo y Francia. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gastón E
GE
Ortiz
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIB-UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 25 de Mayo y Francia. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Nicolás
N
Mendiondo
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIB-UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 25 de Mayo y Francia. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Georgina
G
Moretti
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIB-UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 25 de Mayo y Francia. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Valeria S
VS
Tekiel
Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (IIB-UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 25 de Mayo y Francia. Gral. San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Daniel O
DO
Sánchez
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*
D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C117851:RRM1 protein, Trypanosoma brucei; D012694:Serine; D001120:Arginine