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Eukaryotic Cell, October 2007, p. 1766-1772, Vol. 6, No. 10
1535-9778/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/EC.00119-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Two Trypanosome-Specific Proteins Are Essential Factors for 5S rRNA Abundance and Ribosomal Assembly in Trypanosoma brucei{triangledown}

Kristina M. Hellman, Martin Ciganda, Silvia V. Brown, Jinlei Li, William Ruyechan, and Noreen Williams*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology & Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York

Received 11 April 2007/ Accepted 14 August 2007

We have previously identified and characterized two novel nuclear RNA binding proteins, p34 and p37, which have been shown to bind 5S rRNA in Trypanosoma brucei. These two proteins are nearly identical, with one major difference, an 18-amino-acid insert in the N-terminal region of p37, as well as three minor single-amino-acid differences. Homologues to p34 and p37 have been found only in other trypanosomatids, suggesting that these proteins are unique to this ancient family. We have employed RNA interference (RNAi) studies in order to gain further insight into the interaction between p34 and p37 with 5S rRNA in T. brucei. In our p34/p37 RNAi cells, decreased expression of the p34 and p37 proteins led to morphological alterations, including loss of cell shape and vacuolation, as well as to growth arrest and ultimately to cell death. Disruption of a higher-molecular-weight complex containing 5S rRNA occurs as well as a dramatic decrease in 5S rRNA levels, suggesting that p34 and p37 serve to stabilize 5S rRNA. In addition, an accumulation of 60S ribosomal subunits was observed, accompanied by a significant decrease in overall protein synthesis within p34/p37 RNAi cells. Thus, the loss of the trypanosomatid-specific proteins p34 and p37 correlates with a diminution in 5S rRNA levels as well as a decrease in ribosome activity and an alteration in ribosome biogenesis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: 253 Biomedical Research Building, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214. Phone: (716) 829-2279. Fax: (716) 829-2158. E-mail: nw1{at}acsu.buffalo.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 22 August 2007.

Eukaryotic Cell, October 2007, p. 1766-1772, Vol. 6, No. 10
1535-9778/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/EC.00119-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Prohaska, K., Williams, N. (2009). Assembly of the Trypanosoma brucei 60S Ribosomal Subunit Nuclear Export Complex Requires Trypanosome-Specific Proteins P34 and P37. Eukaryot Cell 8: 77-87 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hellman, K., Prohaska, K., Williams, N. (2007). Trypanosoma brucei RNA Binding Proteins p34 and p37 Mediate NOPP44/46 Cellular Localization via the Exportin 1 Nuclear Export Pathway. Eukaryot Cell 6: 2206-2213 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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