Genomic clustering of the Trypanosoma cruzi nonlong terminal L1Tc retrotransposon with defined interspersed repeated DNA elements

• Published in: Electrophoresis 2000-08, Vol.21 (14), p.2973-2982
• Main Authors: Olivares, Monica, Thomas, Maria del Carmen, López-Barajas, Almudena, Requena, José María, García-Pérez, José Luis, Angel, Sergio, Alonso, Carlos, López, Manuel Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Genome, Protozoan; L1Tc; Long interspersed nucleotide element; Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Short interspersed nucleotide element; Short Interspersed Nucleotide Elements - genetics; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - genetics
• ISSN: 0173-0835; 1522-2683
• DOI: 10.1002/1522-2683(20000801)21:14<2973::AID-ELPS2973>3.0.CO;2-4

We have analyzed the genomic distribution and organization of the long interspersed nucleotide element (LINE) L1Tc, a nonlong terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon of Trypanosoma cruzi. The results indicate that the L1Tc element is dispersed along the parasite genome and that in some regions it is organized in tandem repeats. The data allowed us to define the existence of short direct‐repeated sequences flanking the genomic L1Tc elements. Relevant is the finding that the LINE L1Tc is located in genomic regions rich in short interspersed nucleotide elements (SINE)‐like sequences. In particular, the L1Tc element is found associated to E13‐related sequences, redefined in this work and renamed RS13Tc, and to a newly described RS1Tc sequence. The RS1Tc sequence is present, per haploid genome, in about 3200 copies. Northern blot analysis showed that the RS1Tc is being transcribed into RNAs of different sizes. The analysis of the chromosomal distribution of these elements in various strains of T. cruzi suggested that this type of clustering might be a common feature of the genome of these parasites.