scholarly journals UTP-Dependent and -Independent Pathways of mRNA Turnover in Trypanosoma brucei Mitochondria

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 2308-2316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin T. Militello ◽  
Laurie K. Read

ABSTRACT Although primary transcripts are polycistronic in the mitochondria of Trypanosoma brucei, steady-state levels of mature, monocistronic RNAs change throughout the parasitic life cycle. This indicates that steady-state RNA abundance is controlled by posttranscriptional mechanisms involving differential RNA stability. In this study, in organello pulse-chase labeling experiments were used to analyze the stability of different T. brucei mitochondrial RNA populations. In this system, total RNA and rRNA are stable for many hours. In contrast, mRNAs can be degraded by two biochemically distinct turnover pathways. The first pathway results in the rapid degradation of mRNA (half-life [t 1/2] of 11 to 18 min) and is dependent upon the presence of an mRNA poly(A) tail. Remarkably, this pathway also requires the addition of UTP and therefore is termed UTP dependent. The second pathway results in slow turnover of mitochondrial mRNA (t 1/2 of ∼3 h) and is not dependent upon the presence of an mRNA poly(A) tail or the addition of exogenous UTP. In summary, these results demonstrate the presence of a novel, UTP-dependent degradation pathway for T. bruceimitochondrial mRNAs and reveal an unprecedented role for both UTP and mRNA polyadenylation in T. brucei mitochondrial gene expression.

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 1206-1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonelle L. Penschow ◽  
Daniel A. Sleve ◽  
Christopher M. Ryan ◽  
Laurie K. Read

ABSTRACT Mitochondrial gene expression in trypanosomes is controlled primarily at the levels of RNA processing and RNA stability. This regulation undoubtedly involves numerous ribonucleases. Here we characterize the Trypanosoma brucei homolog of the yeast DSS-1 mitochondrial exoribonuclease, which we term TbDSS-1. Biochemical fractionation indicates that TbDSS-1 is mitochondrially localized, as predicted by its N-terminal sequence. In contrast to its yeast homolog, TbDSS-1 does not appear to be associated with mitochondrial ribosomes. Targeted downregulation of TbDSS-1 by RNA interference in procyclic-form T. brucei results in a severe growth defect. In addition, TbDSS-1 depletion leads to a decrease in the levels of never edited cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mRNA and both unedited and edited COIII mRNAs, indicating this enzyme functions in the control of mitochondrial RNA abundance. We also observe a considerable reduction in the level of edited apocytochrome b (CYb) mRNA and a corresponding increase in unedited CYb mRNA, suggesting that TbDSS-1 functions, either directly or indirectly, in the control of RNA editing. The abundance of both gCYb[560] and gA6[149] guide RNAs is reduced upon TbDSS-1 depletion, although the reduction in gCYb[560] is much more dramatic. The significant reduction in gCYb levels could potentially account for the observed decrease in CYb RNA editing. Western blot analyses of mitochondrial RNA editing and stability factors indicate that the perturbations of RNA levels observed in TbDSS-1 knock-downs do not result from secondary effects on other mitochondrial proteins. In all, these data demonstrate that TbDSS-1 is an essential protein that plays a role in mitochondrial RNA stability and RNA editing.


1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 4625-4633
Author(s):  
A F Torri ◽  
S L Hajduk

We examined the expression of a nucleus-encoded mitochondrial protein, cytochrome c, during the life cycle of Trypanosoma brucei. The bloodstream forms of T. brucei, the long slender and short stumpy trypanosomes, have inactive mitochondria with no detectable cytochrome-mediated respiration. The insect form of T. brucei, the procyclic trypanosomes, has fully functional mitochondria. Cytochrome c is spectrally undetectable in the bloodstream forms of trypanosomes, but during differentiation to the procyclic form, spectrally detected holo-cytochrome c accumulates rapidly. We have purified T. brucei cytochrome c and raised antibodies that react to both holo- and apo-cytochrome c. In addition, we isolated a partial cDNA to trypanosome cytochrome c. An examination of protein expression and steady-state mRNA levels in T. brucei indicated that bloodstream trypanosomes did not express cytochrome c but maintained significant steady-state levels of cytochrome c mRNA. The results suggest that in T. brucei, cytochrome c is developmentally regulated by a posttranscriptional mechanism which prevents either translation or accumulation of cytochrome c in the bloodstream trypanosomes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1634-1644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Ying Kao ◽  
Laurie K. Read

ABSTRACT Mitochondrial RNAs in Trypanosoma brucei undergo posttranscriptional RNA editing and polyadenylation. We previously showed that polyadenylation stimulates turnover of unedited RNAs. Here, we investigated the role of polyadenylation in decay of edited RPS12 RNA. In in vitro turnover assays, nonadenylated fully edited RNA degrades significantly faster than its unedited counterpart. Rapid turnover of nonadenylated RNA is facilitated by editing at just six editing sites. Surprisingly, in direct contrast to unedited RNA, turnover of fully edited RNA is dramatically slowed by addition of a poly(A)20 tail. The same minimal edited sequence that stimulates decay of nonadenylated RNA is sufficient to switch the poly(A) tail from a destabilizing to a stabilizing element. Both nucleotide composition and length of the 3′ extension are important for stabilization of edited RNA. Titration of poly(A) into RNA degradation reactions has no effect on turnover of polyadenylated edited RNA. These results suggest the presence of a protective protein(s) that simultaneously recognizes the poly(A) tail and small edited element and which blocks the action of a 3′-5′ exonuclease. This study provides the first evidence for opposing effects of polyadenylation on RNA stability within a single organelle and suggests a novel and unique regulation of RNA turnover in this system.


2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (3) ◽  
pp. 689-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Persson ◽  
Elisabeth Glatz ◽  
Blanka Rutberg

ABSTRACT Expression of the Bacillus subtilis glpD gene, which encodes glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) dehydrogenase, is controlled by termination or antitermination of transcription. The untranslated leader sequence of glpD contains an inverted repeat that gives rise to a transcription terminator. In the presence of G3P, the antiterminator protein GlpP binds toglpD leader mRNA and promotes readthrough of the terminator. Certain mutations in the inverted repeat of theglpD leader result in GlpP-independent, temperature-sensitive (TS) expression of glpD. The TS phenotype is due to temperature-dependent degradation of theglpD mRNA. In the presence of GlpP, theglpD mRNA is stabilized. glpDleader-lacZ fusions were integrated into the chromosomes ofB. subtilis and Escherichia coli. Determination of steady-state levels of fusion mRNA in B. subtilis showed that the stability of the fusion mRNA is determined by theglpD leader part. Comparison of steady-state levels and half-lives of glpD leader-lacZ fusion mRNA inB. subtilis and E. coli revealed significant differences. A glpD leader-lacZ fusion transcript that was unstable in B. subtilis was considerably more stable in E. coli. GlpP, which stabilizes the transcript in B. subtilis, did not affect its stability in E. coli. Primer extension analysis showed that theglpD leader-lacZ fusion transcript is processed differently in B. subtilis and in E. coli. The dominating cleavage site in E. coli was barely detectable in B. subtilis. This site was shown to be a target ofE. coli RNase III.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e1009239
Author(s):  
Shubha Bevkal ◽  
Arunasalam Naguleswaran ◽  
Ruth Rehmann ◽  
Marcel Kaiser ◽  
Manfred Heller ◽  
...  

The transition between hosts is a challenge for digenetic parasites as it is unpredictable. For Trypanosoma brucei subspecies, which are disseminated by tsetse flies, adaptation to the new host requires differentiation of stumpy forms picked up from mammals to procyclic forms in the fly midgut. Here we show that the Alba-domain protein Alba3 is not essential for mammalian slender forms, nor is it required for differentiation of slender to stumpy forms in culture or in mice. It is crucial, however, for the development of T. brucei procyclic forms during the host transition. While steady state levels of mRNAs in differentiating cells are barely affected by the loss of Alba3, there are major repercussions for the proteome. Mechanistically, Alba3 aids differentiation by rapidly releasing stumpy forms from translational repression and stimulating polysome formation. In its absence, parasites fail to remodel their proteome appropriately, lack components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and show reduced infection of tsetse. Interestingly, Alba3 and the closely related Alba4 are functionally redundant in slender forms, but Alba4 cannot compensate for the lack of Alba3 during differentiation from the stumpy to the procyclic form. We postulate that Alba-domain proteins play similar roles in regulating translation in other protozoan parasites, in particular during life-cycle and host transitions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 444 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Rorbach ◽  
Michal Minczuk

Mammalian mitochondria contain their own genome that encodes mRNAs for thirteen essential subunits of the complexes performing oxidative phosporylation as well as the RNA components (two rRNAs and 22 tRNAs) needed for their translation in mitochondria. All RNA species are produced from single polycistronic precursor RNAs, yet the relative concentrations of various RNAs differ significantly. This underscores the essential role of post-transcriptional mechanisms that control the maturation, stability and translation of mitochondrial RNAs. The present review provides a detailed summary on the role of RNA maturation in the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression, focusing mainly on messenger RNA polyadenylation and stability control. Furthermore, the role of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA stability, processing and modifications in the biogenesis of the mitochondrial ribosome is discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie M. McAdams ◽  
Michelle L. Ammerman ◽  
Julee Nanduri ◽  
Kaylen Lott ◽  
John C. Fisk ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In kinetoplastid parasites, regulation of mitochondrial gene expression occurs posttranscriptionally via RNA stability and RNA editing. In addition to the 20S editosome that contains the enzymes required for RNA editing, a dynamic complex called the mitochondrial RNA binding 1 (MRB1) complex is also essential for editing. Trypanosoma brucei RGG3 (TbRGG3) was originally identified through its interaction with the guide RNA-associated proteins 1 and 2 (GAP1/2), components of the MRB1 complex. Both the arginine-glycine-rich character of TbRGG3, which suggests a function in RNA binding, and its interaction with MRB1 implicate TbRGG3 in mitochondrial gene regulation. Here, we report an in vitro and in vivo characterization of TbRGG3 function in T. brucei mitochondria. We show that in vitro TbRGG3 binds RNA with broad sequence specificity and has the capacity to modulate RNA-RNA interactions. In vivo , inducible RNA interference (RNAi) studies demonstrate that TbRGG3 is essential for proliferation of insect vector stage T. brucei . TbRGG3 ablation does not cause a defect in RNA editing but, rather, specifically affects the abundance of two preedited transcripts as well as their edited counterparts. Protein-protein interaction studies show that TbRGG3 associates with GAP1/2 apart from the remainder of the MRB1 complex, as well as with several non-MRB1 proteins that are required for mitochondrial RNA editing and/or stability. Together, these studies demonstrate that TbRGG3 is an essential mitochondrial gene regulatory factor that impacts the stabilities of specific RNAs.


1997 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoni Barrientos ◽  
Jordi Casademont ◽  
Francesc Cardellach ◽  
Xavier Estivill ◽  
Alvaro Urbano-Marquez ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 4372-4380 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Furger ◽  
N Schürch ◽  
U Kurath ◽  
I Roditi

Procyclins are the major surface glycoproteins of insect forms of Trypanosoma brucei. We have previously shown that a conserved 16-mer in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of procyclin transcripts functions as a positive element in procyclic-form trypanosomes. A systematic analysis of the entire 297-base 3' UTR has now revealed additional elements which are involved in posttranscriptional regulation: a positive element which requires the first 40 bases of the 3' UTR and at least one negative element between nucleotides 101 and 173 (the LII domain). Deletion of either positive element resulted in a >8-fold reduction in the amount of protein but only an approximately 2-fold decrease in the steady-state level of mRNA, suggesting that regulation also occurred at the level of translation. In contrast, deletion of LII caused a threefold increase in the steady-state levels of both the mRNA and protein. LII-16-mer double deletions also gave high levels of expression, suggesting that the 16-mer functions as an antirepressor of the negative element rather than as an independent activator. All three elements have an effect on RNA turnover. When either positive element was deleted, the half-life (t(1/2)) of the mRNA was reduced from approximately 50 min (the t(1/2) of the wild-type 3' UTR) to < 15 min, whereas removal of the LII element resulted in an increased t(1/2) of approximately 100 min. We present a model of posttranscriptional regulation in which the negative domain is counteracted by two positive elements which shield it from nucleases and/or translational repressors.


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