: The protist parasite Trypanosoma brucei causes lethal diseases in humans and livestock animals, and is transmitted by its tsetse vector. A key strategy in gene expression of this pathogen is to utilize highly active RNA polymerase (pol) I for the transcription of genes encoding variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) and procyclin. This is unique because in eukaryotes RNA pol I exclusively transcribe ribosomal DNA whereas all mRNA is synthesized by RNA pol II. The glycoproteins are essential for the parasite because they form a protective cell surface coat. Moreover, antigenic variation of the VSG coat in bloodstream form trypanosomes is the means by which the parasite evades the mammalian immune system. The multifunctional use of RNA pol I in T. brucei involves recruitment of the enzyme to four structurally different promoter types during the parasite's life cycle, concentration of the enzyme in two distinct nuclear compartments in bloodstream forms, and life cycle-dependent regulation of VSG and procyclin gene transcription. This functional diversity predicts that T. brucei RNA pol I undergoes essential interactions with a greater variety of factors or factor domains than its host counterparts. The long-term goal of this proposal is to understand the parasite-specific biology of RNA pol I transcription in T. brucei and to identify essential factors, factor domains, or protein-protein interactions which might be exploited for parasite control. The proposed study aims at: 1. Characterization and purification of RNA pol I complexes from both procyclic and bloodstream form trypanosomes. As in other organisms, RNA pol I may form a holoenzyme whose purification may include basal transcription factors and other transcription regulatory proteins. It will be of particular interest to identify a life cycle-specific component. 2. Functional characterization of parasite-specific transcription factors or factor domains. We have already identified such a domain at the N-terminus of the RNA pol I second largest subunit. 3. Extending the genetic analysis from promoters to transcription enhancer and termination elements. 4. Purification of our in vitro transcription activity to enable characterization of specific DNA-protein-interactions, which may facilitate purification and identification of auxiliary transcription factors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI059377-03
Application #
7000412
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Program Officer
Rogers, Martin J
Project Start
2004-01-15
Project End
2008-12-31
Budget Start
2006-01-01
Budget End
2006-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$318,584
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
022254226
City
Farmington
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06030
Kirkham, Justin K; Park, Sung Hee; Nguyen, Tu N et al. (2016) Dynein Light Chain LC8 Is Required for RNA Polymerase I-Mediated Transcription in Trypanosoma brucei, Facilitating Assembly and Promoter Binding of Class I Transcription Factor A. Mol Cell Biol 36:95-107
Günzl, Arthur; Kirkham, Justin K; Nguyen, Tu N et al. (2015) Mono-allelic VSG expression by RNA polymerase I in Trypanosoma brucei: expression site control from both ends? Gene 556:68-73
Hope, Ronen; Ben-Mayor, Efrat; Friedman, Nehemya et al. (2014) Phosphorylation of the TATA-binding protein activates the spliced leader silencing pathway in Trypanosoma brucei. Sci Signal 7:ra85
Park, Sung Hee; Nguyen, Bao N; Kirkham, Justin K et al. (2014) A new strategy of RNA interference that targets heterologous sequences reveals CITFA1 as an essential component of class I transcription factor A in Trypanosoma brucei. Eukaryot Cell 13:785-95
Nguyen, Tu N; Müller, Laura S M; Park, Sung Hee et al. (2014) Promoter occupancy of the basal class I transcription factor A differs strongly between active and silent VSG expression sites in Trypanosoma brucei. Nucleic Acids Res 42:3164-76
Kim, Hee-Sook; Park, Sung Hee; Günzl, Arthur et al. (2013) MCM-BP is required for repression of life-cycle specific genes transcribed by RNA polymerase I in the mammalian infectious form of Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS One 8:e57001
Badjatia, Nitika; Nguyen, Tu N; Lee, Ju Huck et al. (2013) Trypanosoma brucei harbours a divergent XPB helicase paralogue that is specialized in nucleotide excision repair and conserved among kinetoplastid organisms. Mol Microbiol 90:1293-308
Nguyen, Tu N; Nguyen, Bao N; Lee, Ju Huck et al. (2012) Characterization of a novel class I transcription factor A (CITFA) subunit that is indispensable for transcription by the multifunctional RNA polymerase I of Trypanosoma brucei. Eukaryot Cell 11:1573-81
Park, Sung Hee; Nguyen, Tu N; Gunzl, Arthur (2012) Development of an efficient in vitro transcription system for bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei reveals life cycle-independent functionality of class I transcription factor A. Mol Biochem Parasitol 181:29-36
Park, Sung Hee; Nguyen, Tu N; Kirkham, Justin K et al. (2011) Transcription by the multifunctional RNA polymerase I in Trypanosoma brucei functions independently of RPB7. Mol Biochem Parasitol 180:35-42

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