Genome-wide Analysis Reveals Extensive Functional Interaction between DNA Replication Initiation and Transcription in the Genome of Trypanosoma brucei
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Identification of replication initiation sites, termed origins, is a crucial step in understanding genome transmission in any organism. Transcription of the Trypanosoma brucei genome is highly unusual, with each chromosome comprising a few discrete transcription units. To understand how DNA replication occurs in the context of such organization, we have performed genome-wide mapping of the binding sites of the replication initiator ORC1/CDC6 and have identified replication origins, revealing that both localize to the boundaries of the transcription units. A remarkably small number of active origins is seen, whose spacing is greater than in any other eukaryote. We show that replication and transcription in T. brucei have a profound functional overlap, as reducing ORC1/CDC6 levels leads to genome-wide increases in mRNA levels arising from the boundaries of the transcription units. In addition, ORC1/CDC6 loss causes derepression of silent Variant Surface Glycoprotein genes, which are critical for host immune evasion.
Date Issued
2012-07
Date Acceptance
2012-06-07
Citation
Cell Reports, 2012, 2 (1), pp.185-197
ISSN
2211-1247
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
185
End Page
197
Journal / Book Title
Cell Reports
Volume
2
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2012 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY;
http://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode
).
Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY;
http://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode
).
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2012-07-12