Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70228, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, México, D.F., Mexico,
Parasitol Res. 2014 Jul;113(7):2415-24. doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-3940-7. Epub 2014 May 15.
Leishmania major, Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei are pathogenic species from the order Kinetoplastida. The molecular and cellular studies of parasites, such as of the biosynthesis of essential macromolecules, are important in designing successful strategies for control. A major stage in ribosome biogenesis is the transcription of genes encoding ribosomal (r)RNA. These genes are transcribed in trypanosome cells by RNA polymerase I, similar to what occurs in all eukaryotes analysed to date. In addition, and most remarkably, the African species, T. brucei, transcribe their major cell surface protein genes using this class of polymerase. Since its discovery, the research interest in this phenomenon has been overwhelming; therefore, analysis of the canonical, yet essential, transcription of rRNA has been comparatively neglected. In this work, a review of rRNA gene transcription and data on gene promoter structures, transcription machineries and epigenetic conditions is presented for trypanosomatids. Because species-specific molecules represent potential targets for chemotherapy, their existence within trypanosomes is highlighted.
利什曼原虫、克氏锥虫和布氏锥虫是动基体目（Order Kinetoplastida）的致病性物种。寄生虫的分子和细胞研究，如必需大分子的生物合成，对于设计成功的控制策略非常重要。核糖体生物发生的主要阶段是编码核糖体（r）RNA 的基因的转录。这些基因在锥虫细胞中由 RNA 聚合酶 I 转录，与迄今为止分析的所有真核生物相似。此外，最显著的是，非洲物种布氏锥虫使用这种聚合酶转录其主要细胞表面蛋白基因。自从它被发现以来，对这一现象的研究兴趣一直非常强烈；因此，对 rRNA 的规范但必不可少的转录的分析相对被忽视了。在这项工作中，对锥虫生物的 rRNA 基因转录以及基因启动子结构、转录机制和表观遗传条件的数据进行了综述。由于物种特异性分子代表潜在的化疗靶点，因此突出了它们在锥虫中的存在。
