Bulky Trichomonad Genomes: Encoding a Swiss Army Knife.
The trichomonads are a remarkably successful lineage of ancient, predominantly parasitic protozoa. Recent molecular analyses have revealed extensive duplication of certain genetic loci in trichomonads. Consequently, their genomes are exceptionally large compared to other parasitic protozoa. Retention of these large gene expansions across different trichomonad families raises the question: do these duplications afford an advantage? Many duplicated genes are linked to the parasitic lifestyle and some are regulated differently to their paralogues, suggesting they have acquired new functions. It is proposed that these large genomes encode a Swiss army knife of sorts, packed with a multitude of tools for use in many different circumstances. This may have bestowed trichomonads with the extraordinary versatility that has undoubtedly contributed to their success.
I3 Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia; School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: joel.barratt-1@uts.edu.au.
Joel
J
Barratt
I3 Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia; School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia.
Rory
R
Gough
Division of Microbiology, Sydpath, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
Damien
D
Stark
School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia.
John
J
Ellis
D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020440:Gene Duplication / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018503:Genome, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D014244:Trichomonas / Q000235:genetics*
Dientamoeba; Histomonas; Trichomonas; Tritrichomonas; gene duplication.; molecular biology