Deciphering Transcription in <i>Cryptosporidium parvum</i>: Polycistronic Gene Expression and Chromatin Accessibility.

ABSTRACT: Once considered rare in eukaryotes, polycistronic mRNA expression has been identified in kinetoplastids and, more recently, green algae, red algae, and certain fungi. This study provides comprehensive evidence supporting the existence of polycistronic mRNA expression in the apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. Leveraging long-read RNA-seq data from different parasite strains and using multiple long-read technologies, we demonstrate the existence of defined polycistronic transcripts containing 2-4 protein encoding genes, several validated with RT-PCR. Some polycistrons exhibit differential expression profiles, usually involving the generation of internal monocistronic transcripts at different times during development. ATAC-seq in sporozoites reveals that polycistronic transc

SUBMITTER: Xiao R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11761812 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature