Mechanism of mRNA Recapping pathway in Trypanosome

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H05180
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Parasitology (including sanitary zoology)
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Ho Kiong 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 准教授 (20598502)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: mRNA processing / Trypanosome / mRNA recapping / RNA ligase / gene expression

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we developed method to identify uncapped mRNA from the cells, performed RNA Seq analysis on recapping enzyme depleted parasite, and characterize the recapping activity to gain insight on how gene expression is regulated through cytoplasmic mRNA recapping. Results suggest mRNA recapping pathway could be involved in the expression of antigenic variation genes. We also report that hypermethylation on the 5' end of the RNA could potentially regulate the recapping activity.

Free Research Field

分子寄生虫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

mRNA再キャッピングはヒトを含む全ての真核細胞において新たな遺伝子発現制御の仕組みである可能性があります。また、トリパノソーマの再キャッピング経路を解明することによって、寄生虫に対する新しい創薬ターゲットの同定につながる可能性もあります。