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PMID: 6088073 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Trypanosome mRNAs share a common 5' spliced leader sequence.

Cell ·Vol. 38 ·No. 1 ·1984-08-00 ·Pages 309-16

Parsons M, Nelson RG, Watkins KP, Agabian N

Abstract

A 5'-terminal leader sequence of 35 nucleotides was found to be present on multiple trypanosome RNAs. Based on its representation in cDNA libraries, we estimate that many, if not all, trypanosome mRNAs contain this leader. This same leader was originally identified on mRNAs encoding the molecules responsible for antigenic variation, variant surface glycoproteins. Studies of selected cDNAs containing this leader sequence revealed that leader-containing transcripts can be stage-specific, stage-regulated, or constitutive. They can be abundant or rare, and transcribed from single or multigene families. No linkage between the genomic leader sequences and the structural gene exons was observed. Possible mechanisms by which the leader sequences are added to trypanosome mRNAs are discussed.

MeSH Terms
Amino Acid Sequence Animals Base Sequence Cloning, Molecular DNA/analysis DNA Restriction Enzymes Genes Genetic Linkage Nucleic Acid Hybridization RNA Splicing RNA, Messenger/genetics Transcription, Genetic Trypanosoma brucei brucei/genetics
Chemicals
RNA, Messenger DNA DNA Restriction Enzymes
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Parsons M
Nelson R G
Watkins K P
Agabian N
References (35)
35 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
Cell
Abbr.
Cell
ISSN
0092-8674
DOI
10.1016/0092-8674(84)90552-x
Published
1984-08-00
Pages
309-16
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0413066
PMCID
PMC7133311
Subset
IM
Grants
NIAID NIH HHS · AI 17309 · United States
Databases
GENBANK
K02195, K02196, K02197, K02198
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(84)90552-x PMC Full Text View journal details
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