Trypanosoma brucei is a parasitic protozoan that undergoes a complex life cycle involving insect and mammalian hosts that present dramatically different nutritional environments. Mitochondrial metabolism and gene expression are highly regulated to accommodate these environmental changes, including regulation of mRNAs that require extensive uridine insertion/deletion (U-indel) editing for their maturation. Here, we use high throughput sequencing and a method for promoting life cycle changes in vitro to assess the mechanisms and timing of developmentally regulated edited mRNA expression. We show that edited CYb mRNA is downregulated in mammalian bloodstream forms (BSF) at the level of editing initiation and/or edited mRNA stability. In contrast, edited COIII mRNAs are depleted in BSF by inhibition of editing progression. We identify cell line-specific differences in the mechanisms abrogating COIII mRNA editing, including the possible utilization of terminator gRNAs that preclude the 3' to 5' progression of editing. By examining the developmental timing of altered mitochondrial mRNA levels, we also reveal transcript-specific developmental checkpoints in epimastigote (EMF), metacyclic (MCF), and BSF. These studies represent the first analysis of the mechanisms governing edited mRNA levels during T. brucei development and the first to interrogate U-indel editing in EMF and MCF life cycle stages.
- MeSH
- editace RNA genetika MeSH
- guide RNA, Kinetoplastida genetika MeSH
- messenger RNA genetika MeSH
- mitochondrie genetika MeSH
- protozoální proteiny genetika MeSH
- RNA mitochondriální genetika MeSH
- RNA protozoální genetika MeSH
- stabilita RNA genetika MeSH
- Trypanosoma brucei brucei genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
- Názvy látek
- guide RNA, Kinetoplastida MeSH
- messenger RNA MeSH
- mitochondrial messenger RNA MeSH Prohlížeč
- protozoální proteiny MeSH
- RNA mitochondriální MeSH
- RNA protozoální MeSH
