The putative promoter for a metacyclic VSG gene in African trypanosomes

During their metacyclic developmental stage, African trypanosomes are coated with one of 12–15 variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) that define different metacyclic variant antigen types (MVATs). The MVAT VSG genes are located near telomeres of large chromosomes and are expressed without rearrangeme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular and biochemical parasitology 1995-06, Vol.72 (1), p.33-45
Main Authors: Nagoshi, Ying Lu, Alarcon, Clara M., Donelson, John E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antigenic Variation - genetics
Base Sequence
chromosome mapping
cloning
genbank/l06030
gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Gene regulation
Genes, Protozoan
Genes, Reporter
genetic regulation
Luciferase
Luciferases - biosynthesis
messenger RNA
Molecular Sequence Data
nucleotide sequences
Parasitemia - parasitology
Promoter
promoter regions
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Protozoan Proteins - biosynthesis
Protozoan Proteins - genetics
Rats
Recombinant Fusion Proteins - biosynthesis
reporter genes
Sequence Alignment
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
structural genes
Trypanosoma brucei
Trypanosoma brucei brucei
Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense - genetics
Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense - growth & development
Trypanosome
Trypanosomiasis, African - parasitology
Variant surface glycoprotein
variant surface glycoproteins
Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma - biosynthesis
Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma - genetics
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Description
Summary:During their metacyclic developmental stage, African trypanosomes are coated with one of 12–15 variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) that define different metacyclic variant antigen types (MVATs). The MVAT VSG genes are located near telomeres of large chromosomes and are expressed without rearrangement in the metacyclic stage. We have cloned and examined the telomere-linked MVAT5 VSG gene and its upstream expression site associated gene (ESAG I) which are separated by 4.5 kb. Within this 4.5-kb intergenic region is an 87-bp sequence that serves as a strong promoter for a luciferase reporter gene in transient transfection assays. This 87-bp sequence is similar, but not identical, to the promoter for another MVAT VSG gene. UV irradiation experiments were used to detect RNA synthesis from this MVAT5 promoter in bloodstream trypanosomes expressing an unrelated VSG. We propose that this sequence is a specific promoter for the MVAT5 VSG mRNA that occurs in about 10% of the trypanosome population during the metacyclic stage of the parasites' life cycle.
ISSN:0166-6851
1872-9428
DOI:10.1016/0166-6851(95)00062-6