The zinc-fingers of KREPA3 are essential for the complete editing of mitochondrial mRNAs in Trypanosoma brucei.
Abstract
Most mitochondrial mRNAs in trypanosomes undergo uridine insertion/deletion editing that is catalyzed by approximately 20S editosomes. The editosome component KREPA3 is essential for editosome structural integrity and its two zinc finger (ZF) motifs are essential for editing in vivo but not in vitro. KREPA3 function was further explored by examining the consequence of mutation of its N- and C-terminal ZFs (ZF1 and ZF2, respectively). Exclusively expressed myc-tagged KREPA3 with ZF2 mutation resulted in lower KREPA3 abundance and a relative increase in KREPA2 and KREL1 proteins. Detailed analysis of edited RNA products revealed the accumulation of partially edited mRNAs with less insertion editing compared to the partially edited mRNAs found in the cells with wild type KREPA3 expression. Mutation of ZF1 in TAP-tagged KREPA3 also resulted in accumulation of partially edited mRNAs that were shorter and only edited in the 3'-terminal editing region. Mutation of both ZFs essentially eliminated partially edited mRNA. The mutations did not affect gRNA abundance. These data indicate that both ZFs are essential for the progression of editing and perhaps its accuracy, which suggests that KREPA3 plays roles in the editing process via its ...Continue Reading
References
TbMP44 is essential for RNA editing and structural integrity of the editosome in Trypanosoma brucei.
KREPA4, an RNA binding protein essential for editosome integrity and survival of Trypanosoma brucei.
Citations
Uridine insertion/deletion editing in trypanosomes: a playground for RNA-guided information transfer
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African Trypanosomiasis
African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is an insect-borne parasitic disease of humans and other animals. It is caused by protozoa of the species Trypanosoma brucei and almost invariably progresses to death unless treated. Discover the latest research on African trypanosomiasis here.