Kinetoplastid flagellates are known for several unusual features, one of which is their complex mitochondrial genome, known as kinetoplast (k) DNA, composed of mutually catenated maxi- and minicircles. Trypanosoma lewisi is a member of the Stercorarian group of trypanosomes which is, based on human infections and experimental data, now considered a zoonotic pathogen. By assembling a total of 58 minicircle classes, which fall into two distinct categories, we describe a novel type of kDNA organization in T. lewisi. RNA-seq approaches allowed us to map the details of uridine insertion and deletion editing events upon the kDNA transcriptome. Moreover, sequencing of small RNA molecules enabled the identification of 169 unique guide (g) RNA genes, with two differently organized minicircle categories both encoding essential gRNAs. The unprecedented organization of minicircles and gRNAs in T. lewisi broadens our knowledge of the structure and expression of the mitochondrial genomes of these human and animal pathogens. Finally, a scenario describing the evolution of minicircles is presented.

• MeSH
• Adenosine Triphosphatases genetics   MeSH
• RNA Editing MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Genome, Mitochondrial MeSH
• RNA, Guide, Kinetoplastida genetics   MeSH
• Mitochondria genetics   MeSH
• Protein Subunits genetics   MeSH
• DNA, Protozoan genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Protozoan genetics   MeSH
• Trypanosoma lewisi genetics   MeSH
• High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenosine Triphosphatases MeSH
• RNA, Guide, Kinetoplastida MeSH
• Protein Subunits MeSH
• DNA, Protozoan MeSH
• RNA, Protozoan MeSH

• MeSH
• Biological Evolution MeSH
• Crithidia fasciculata genetics   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Kinetoplastida genetics   ultrastructure   MeSH
• DNA, Kinetoplast genetics   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Trypanosoma genetics   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Kinetoplast MeSH