Polysome profiling reveals translational control of gene expression in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

BACKGROUND: In eukaryotic organisms, gene expression is regulated at multiple levels during the processes of transcription and translation. The absence of a tight regulatory network for transcription in the human malaria parasite suggests that gene expression may largely be controlled at post-transc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genome Biology 2013-11, Vol.14 (11), p.R128-128, Article R128
Main Authors: Bunnik, Evelien M, Chung, Duk-Won Doug, Hamilton, Michael, Ponts, Nadia, Saraf, Anita, Prudhomme, Jacques, Florens, Laurence, Le Roch, Karine G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alternative splicing
cell cycle
Cluster Analysis
Environmental Sciences
gene expression
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation
genes
Genome, Protozoan
Humans
Introns
Life Sciences
Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology
messenger RNA
Open Reading Frames
parasites
Plasmodium falciparum
Plasmodium falciparum - genetics
Polyribosomes - chemistry
Polyribosomes - genetics
RNA Splicing
RNA, Messenger - genetics
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
RNA, Protozoan - genetics
Sequence Analysis, RNA
Transcriptome
translation (genetics)
virulence
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Summary:BACKGROUND: In eukaryotic organisms, gene expression is regulated at multiple levels during the processes of transcription and translation. The absence of a tight regulatory network for transcription in the human malaria parasite suggests that gene expression may largely be controlled at post-transcriptional and translational levels. RESULTS: In this study, we compare steady-state mRNA and polysome-associated mRNA levels of Plasmodium falciparum at different time points during its asexual cell cycle. For more than 30% of its genes, we observe a delay in peak transcript abundance in the polysomal fraction as compared to the steady-state mRNA fraction, suggestive of strong translational control. Our data show that key regulatory mechanisms could include inhibitory activity of upstream open reading frames and translational repression of the major virulence gene family by intronic transcripts. In addition, we observe polysomal mRNA-specific alternative splicing events and widespread transcription of non-coding transcripts. CONCLUSIONS: These different layers of translational regulation are likely to contribute to a complex network that controls gene expression in this eukaryotic pathogen. Disrupting the mechanisms involved in such translational control could provide novel anti-malarial strategies.
ISSN:1465-6906
1474-760X
1465-6914
1474-760X
DOI:10.1186/gb-2013-14-11-r128