Genomic rearrangements and transcriptional analysis of the spliced leader-associated retrotransposon in RNA interference-deficient Trypanosoma brucei.

ABSTRACT: The Trypanosoma brucei genome is colonized by the site-specific non-LTR retrotransposon SLACS, or spliced leader-associated conserved sequence, which integrates exclusively into the spliced leader (SL) RNA genes. Although there is evidence that the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery regulates SLACS transcript levels, we do not know whether RNAi deficiency affects the genomic stability of SLACS, nor do we understand the mechanism of SLACS transcription. Here, we report that prolonged culturing of RNAi-deficient T. brucei cells, but not wild-type cells, results in genomic rearrangements of SLACS. Furthermore, two populations of SLACS transcripts persist in RNAi-deficient cells: a full-length transcript of approximately 7 kb and a heterogeneous population of small SLACS transcripts ranging in

SUBMITTER: Patrick KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2610267 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature