Putative genes of a variant-specific antigen gene transcription unit in Trypanosoma brucei

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Mol. Cell. Biol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.8.6.2367· OSTI ID:7002916

Alexandre, S; Guyaux, M; Murphy, N B; Coquelet, H; Pays, A; Steinert, M; Pays, E

In a 7-kilobase (kb) sequence upstream from the 5' barren region, the Trypanosoma brucei AnTat 1.3A expression site carries two putative genes, named ESAG 2 and ESAG 3 for expression site-associated genes, as well as a copy of ESAG 1. At least 3 kb of this expression site exhibits a high degree of homology with the silent telomere carrying the AnTat 1.3A basic copy, whose ESAG 1 is interrupted by stop codons. Like the antigen gene, the region containing the ESAGs is transcribed only in the bloodstream forms, although transcription of 5' barren- and ESAG 2-related sequences also occurs in cultured procyclics. Analysis of steady-state and nascent transcripts suggests a continuous transcription of the whole expression site by an RNA polymerase resistant to ..cap alpha..-amanitin, possibly initiating at a polymerase I-like promoter located about 17 kb upstream from the antigen gene. This polymerase seems prone to becoming inactivated upon incubation of the trypanosomes at low temperature. The putative protein encoded by ESAG 3 may carry a hydrophobic signal peptide, suggesting interaction with a membrane.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Molecular Biology, Univ. of Brussels, 67, rue des Chevaux, B1640 Rhode St. Genese (BE)
• OSTI ID: 7002916
• Journal Information: Mol. Cell. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Mol. Cell. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 8:6; ISSN MCEBD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANTIGENS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL CULTURES
CELL MEMBRANES
DNA SEQUENCING
ENZYMES
GENE OPERONS
GENE REPRESSORS
GENES
MASTIGOPHORA
MEMBRANES
NUCLEOPROTEINS
NUCLEOTIDYLTRANSFERASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PHOSPHORUS-GROUP TRANSFERASES
POLYMERASES
PROTEINS
RNA POLYMERASES
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
TRANSCRIPTION
TRANSFERASES
TRYPANOSOMA