RNA editing in Trypanosoma brucei requires three different editosomes

Mol Cell Biol. 2008 Jan;28(1):122-30. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01374-07. Epub 2007 Oct 22.

Abstract

Trypanosoma brucei has three distinct approximately 20S editosomes that catalyze RNA editing by the insertion and deletion of uridylates. Editosomes with the KREN1 or KREN2 RNase III type endonucleases specifically cleave deletion and insertion editing site substrates, respectively. We report here that editosomes with KREPB2, which also has an RNase III motif, specifically cleave cytochrome oxidase II (COII) pre-mRNA insertion editing site substrates in vitro. Conditional repression and mutation studies also show that KREPB2 is an editing endonuclease specifically required for COII mRNA editing in vivo. Furthermore, KREPB2 expression is essential for the growth and survival of bloodstream forms. Thus, editing in T. brucei requires at least three compositionally and functionally distinct approximately 20S editosomes, two of which distinguish between different insertion editing sites. This unexpected finding reveals an additional level of complexity in the RNA editing process and suggests a mechanism for how the selection of sites for editing in vivo is controlled.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / metabolism
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein / genetics
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Organelles / enzymology*
  • Organelles / genetics*
  • RNA Editing*
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / enzymology*
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / genetics*
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / growth & development

Substances

  • Electron Transport Complex IV
  • Eosinophil Cationic Protein