Kinetoplastids are flagellated protozoans, whose members include the pathogens Trypanosoma brucei, T. cruzi and Leishmania species, that are considered among the earliest diverging eukaryotes with a mitochondrion. This organelle has become famous because of its many unusual properties, which are unique to the order Kinetoplastida, including an extensive kinetoplast DNA network and U-insertion/deletion type RNA editing of its mitochondrial transcripts. In the last decade, considerable progress has been made in elucidating the complex machinery of RNA editing. Moreover, our understanding of the structure and replication of kinetoplast DNA has also dramatically improved. Much less however, is known, about the developmental regulation of RNA editing, its integration with other RNA maturation processes, stability of mitochondrial mRNAs, or evolution of the editing process itself. Yet the profusion of genomic data recently made available by sequencing consortia, in combination with methods of reverse genetics, hold promise in understanding the complexity of this exciting organelle, knowledge of which may enable us to fight these often medically important protozoans.

• MeSH
• RNA Editing MeSH
• Gene Expression MeSH
• Transcription, Genetic MeSH
• Genome, Protozoan * MeSH
• Kinetoplastida genetics   MeSH
• DNA, Kinetoplast chemistry   MeSH
• RNA, Messenger metabolism   MeSH
• Genes, Mitochondrial * MeSH
• Mitochondria genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Protozoan metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Kinetoplast MeSH
• RNA, Messenger MeSH
• RNA, Protozoan MeSH