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Nucleic Acids Research, 2000, Vol. 28, No. 2 597-604
© 2000 Oxford University Press

A single-stranded DNA-binding protein shared by telomeric repeats, the variant surface glycoprotein transcription promoter and the procyclin transcription terminator of Trypanosoma brucei

Magali Berberof, Luc Vanhamme, Sylvie Alexandre, Stéphane Lips, Patricia Tebabi and Etienne Pays*

Laboratoire de Parasitologie Moléculaire, IBMM, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue des Professeurs Jeener et Brachet 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium

In Trypanosoma brucei the genes are organised into long polycistronic transcription units and only three promoters for protein-encoding genes and a single terminator have been characterised. These promoters recruit a polI-like RNA polymerase for the transcription units encoding the two major stage-specific antigens of the parasite, the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of the bloodstream form and procyclin of the insect-specific procyclic form, while the terminator is that of a procyclin transcription unit. By deletional and mutational analysis we defined the two DNA sequences essential for the activity of the VSG promoter from a bloodstream form transcription unit and one of the functional elements of the procyclin terminator. These three short sequences are similar, and their C-rich strand binds the same protein of 40 kDa. In addition, this factor also binds to the C-rich strand of the telomeric repeats, the consensus target sequence being 5'-CCCTNN-3'. The factor-binding sequences are functionally interchangeable in chimeric promoter or terminator constructs, although additional elements are required for full activity.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +32 2 650 9759; Fax: +32 2 650 9750; Email: epays@dbm.ulb.ac.be The authors wish it to be known that, in their opinion, the first two authors should be regarded as joint First Authors


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[Abstract] [PDF]


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