A short RNA stem–loop is necessary and sufficient for repression of gene expression during early logarithmic phase in trypanosomes. Issue 11 (9th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fernández-Moya, Sandra M.; Carrington, Mark; Estévez, Antonio M.
• Is Part Of: Nucleic acids research. Volume 42:Issue 11(2014)
• Page Start: 7201
• Page End: 7209
• Publication Date: 2014-05-09
• Subjects: Nucleic acids -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; 572.805
• DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku358
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-1048

Abstract

Abstract : We have compared the transcriptomes of cultured procyclic Trypanosoma brucei cells in early and late logarithmic phases and found that ∼200 mRNAs were differentially regulated. In late log phase cells, the most upregulated mRNA encoded the nucleobase transporter NT8. The 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of NT8 contains a short stem–loop cis -element that is necessary for the regulation of NT8 expression in response to external purine levels. When placed in the 3′-UTR of an unregulated transcript, the cis -element is sufficient to confer regulation in response to purines. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a discrete RNA element that can autonomously regulate gene expression in trypanosomes in response to an external factor and reveals an unprecedented purine-dependent signaling pathway that controls gene expression in eukaryotes.