Home LiteratureArticle Details
PMID: 2323332 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Telomere interactions may condition the programming of antigen expression in Trypanosoma brucei.

The EMBO journal ·Vol. 9 ·No. 4 ·1990-04-00 ·Pages 1035-40

Van der Werf A, Van Assel S, Aerts D, Steinert M, Pays E

Abstract

The AnTat 1.1 antigen type typically occurs late in a chronic infection by the EATRO 1125 stock of Trypanosoma brucei. The AnTat 1.1 gene, which is located 24 kb from a chromosome end, seems exclusively expressed by acting as a donor in gene conversion events targeted to the telomeric expression site. We report that this gene is sufficiently provided with the homology blocks required for recombination with the expression site, and is not interrupted by stop codons up to the 3' block of homology. A possible reason for its low probability of activation is an inverse orientation with respect to the proximal chromosome end, since, if correctly positioned, it is readily expressed at an early stage of infection, following gene conversion. This suggests that interactions between chromosome ends may precede and favour the rearrangements leading to antigenic variation.

MeSH Terms
Animals Antigens, Protozoan/genetics Base Sequence Chromosomes/physiology Gene Conversion Gene Expression Regulation Genes Genetic Variation Molecular Sequence Data Nucleic Acid Hybridization Protozoan Proteins Restriction Mapping Trypanosoma brucei brucei/genetics,immunology Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma/genetics
Chemicals
AnTaT 1.1 antigen, Trypanosoma brucei Antigens, Protozoan Protozoan Proteins Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Van der Werf A
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Brussels, Rhode St Genèse, Belgium.
Van Assel S
Aerts D
Steinert M
Pays E
References (34)
34 references, click to expand
  1. Control of antigen gene expression in African trypanosomes.
    Annu Rev Genet. 1988;22:107-26 PMID: 3071245
  2. Recombination occurs during telomere formation in yeast.
    Nature. 1989 Feb 2;337(6206):429-33 PMID: 2536898
  3. [Trypanosoma equiperdum: antigenic variations in experimental trypanosomiasis of rabbits].
    Exp Parasitol. 1977 Jun;42(1):6-13 PMID: 67961
  4. Cloning and characterization of DNA sequences complementary to messenger ribonucleic acids coding for the synthesis of two surface antigens of Trypanosoma brucei.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 1980 Dec 20;8(24):5965-81 PMID: 6258157
  5. Cloning in single-stranded bacteriophage as an aid to rapid DNA sequencing.
    J Mol Biol. 1980 Oct 25;143(2):161-78 PMID: 6260957
  6. Gene duplication and transposition linked to antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 May;78(5):2673-7 PMID: 6265900
  7. Characterization of the expression-linked gene copies of variant surface glycoprotein 118 in two independently isolated clones of Trypanosoma brucei.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 1982 Apr 10;10(7):2353-66 PMID: 6283477
  8. DNA rearrangements linked to expression of a predominant surface antigen gene of trypanosomes.
    Nature. 1983 Mar 17-23;302(5905):263-6 PMID: 6835363
  9. The transposition unit of variant surface glycoprotein gene 118 of Trypanosoma brucei. Presence of repeated elements at its border and absence of promoter-associated sequences.
    J Mol Biol. 1983 Jun 15;167(1):57-75 PMID: 6306255
  10. At least two transposed sequences are associated in the expression site of a surface antigen gene in different trypanosome clones.
    Cell. 1983 Sep;34(2):359-69 PMID: 6311429
  11. Gene conversion as a mechanism for antigenic variation in trypanosomes.
    Cell. 1983 Sep;34(2):371-81 PMID: 6616615
  12. Evolution of a trypanosome surface antigen gene repertoire linked to non-duplicative gene activation.
    Nature. 1984 Mar 22-28;308(5957):370-3 PMID: 6709043
  13. Differential size variations between transcriptionally active and inactive telomeres of Trypanosoma brucei.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 1983 Dec 10;11(23):8137-47 PMID: 6324074
  14. The 5'-limit of transposition and upstream barren region of a trypanosome VSG gene: tandem 76 base-pair repeats flanking (TAA)90.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 1984 Mar 26;12(6):2759-74 PMID: 6324125
  15. The molecular structure of centromeres and telomeres.
    Annu Rev Biochem. 1984;53:163-94 PMID: 6383193
  16. Translocation alters the activation rate of a trypanosome surface antigen gene.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 1984 Nov 26;12(22):8319-28 PMID: 6095196
  17. Rearrangements of highly polymorphic regions near telomeres of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
    Mol Cell Biol. 1984 Nov;4(11):2509-17 PMID: 6392854
  18. Structure and transcription of a telomeric surface antigen gene of Trypanosoma brucei.
    Mol Cell Biol. 1985 Mar;5(3):545-53 PMID: 3879972
  19. (TAA)n within sequences flanking several intrachromosomal variant surface glycoprotein genes in Trypanosoma brucei.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 1985 May 10;13(9):3161-77 PMID: 2987874
  20. Trypanosome variant surface glycoprotein genes expressed early in infection.
    J Mol Biol. 1985 Apr 5;182(3):383-96 PMID: 4009712
  21. Inactivation and reactivation of a variant-specific antigen gene in cyclically transmitted Trypanosoma brucei.
    EMBO J. 1985 Apr;4(4):989-93 PMID: 2990917
  22. Trypanosoma brucei: the extent of conversion in antigen genes may be related to the DNA coding specificity.
    Cell. 1985 Oct;42(3):821-9 PMID: 4053185
  23. Expression of whole and hybrid genes in Trypanosoma equiperdum antigenic variation.
    EMBO J. 1986 May;5(5):1057-63 PMID: 3013613
  24. The use of incomplete genes for the construction of a Trypanosoma equiperdum variant surface glycoprotein gene.
    EMBO J. 1986 May;5(5):1065-70 PMID: 3013614
  25. Discontinuous transcription and antigenic variation in trypanosomes.
    Annu Rev Biochem. 1986;55:701-32 PMID: 2874767
  26. On the role of repeated sequences 5' to variant surface glycoprotein genes in African trypanosomes.
    Gene. 1987;53(1):55-62 PMID: 3036666
  27. Ingi, a 5.2-kb dispersed sequence element from Trypanosoma brucei that carries half of a smaller mobile element at either end and has homology with mammalian LINEs.
    Mol Cell Biol. 1987 Apr;7(4):1465-75 PMID: 3037321
  28. The 5' flanking sequence of a Trypanosoma brucei variable surface glycoprotein gene.
    Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1987 Jun;24(2):163-74 PMID: 3041210
  29. Trypanosoma brucei repeated element with unusual structural and transcriptional properties.
    J Mol Biol. 1987 Jun 20;195(4):855-71 PMID: 3656436
  30. The cohering telomeres of Oxytricha.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 1987 Nov 11;15(21):8877-98 PMID: 3120149
  31. Telomeric DNA oligonucleotides form novel intramolecular structures containing guanine-guanine base pairs.
    Cell. 1987 Dec 24;51(6):899-908 PMID: 3690664
  32. Formation of parallel four-stranded complexes by guanine-rich motifs in DNA and its implications for meiosis.
    Nature. 1988 Jul 28;334(6180):364-6 PMID: 3393228
  33. Changes in telomere length associated with antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei.
    Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1988 Jun;29(2-3):243-50 PMID: 2842675
  34. Antigenic variation in syringe passaged populations of Trypanosoma (Trypanozoon) brucei. 1. Rationalization of the experimental approach.
    Ann Soc Belg Med Trop. 1975;55(1):1-23 PMID: 1231658
Article Info
Journal
The EMBO journal
Abbr.
EMBO J
ISSN
0261-4189
Published
1990-04-00
Pages
1035-40
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
8208664
PMCID
PMC551775
Subset
IM
Databases
GENBANK
X15817
External Links
PubMed source PMC Full Text View journal details
Analysis Services
Analysis Services

Contact

No. 2 Wenbo Road, Zhangqiu District, Jinan, Shandong

Qilu Normal University · Genelibs Bioinformatics Lab

750 Shunhua Rd, Jinan

2F, Bldg F, University Science Park

Tel: 0531-88819269

WeChat Official Account

Follow our WeChat subscription account for real-time updates and the latest in medical and biological research.


Business Email

E-mail: product@genelibs.com

Copyright © 2026.Genelibs Jinan Honghui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 鲁ICP备20007159号-2