An RNAi screen of the RRM-domain proteins of Trypanosoma brucei

• Published in: Molecular and biochemical parasitology Vol. 163; no. 1; pp. 61 - 65
• Main Authors: Wurst, Martin, Robles, Ana, Po, June, Luu, Van-Duc, Brems, Stefanie, Marentije, Mari, Stoitsova, Savrina, Quijada, Luis, Hoheisel, Jörg, Stewart, Mhairi, Hartmann, Claudia, Clayton, Christine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2009; Amsterdam: Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Humans; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protein Transport; Protozoan Proteins - chemistry; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Protozoan Proteins - metabolism; RNA binding protein; RNA Interference; RNA, Protozoan - genetics; RNA, Protozoan - metabolism; RNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; RRM; Trypanosoma; Trypanosoma brucei; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - chemistry; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - genetics; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - metabolism; Trypanosomiasis, African - parasitology; RRM; Trypanosoma; RNA binding protein
• ISSN: 0166-6851; 1872-9428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2008.09.001

In eukaryotes, proteins containing RNA Recognition Motifs (RRMs) are involved in many different RNA processing reactions, RNA transport, and mRNA decay. Kinetoplastids rely extensively on post-transcriptional mechanisms to control gene expression, so RRM domain proteins are expected to play a prominent role. We here describe the results of an RNA interference screen targeting 37 of the 72 RRM-domain proteins of Trypanosoma brucei. RNAi targeting 8 of the genes caused clear growth inhibition in bloodstream trypanosomes, and milder effects were seen for 9 more genes. The small, single-RRM protein TbRBP3 specifically associated with 10 mRNAs in trypanosome lysates, but RBP3 depletion did not affect the transcriptome.