Identification and characterization of components of small silencing RNA pathways in Trypanosoma cruzi.

摘要

In the last fifteen years a new family of small silencing RNAs ("ssRNAs") of 19-32 nt in length, were recognized as key players in the regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. The enzymatic machinery associated with the biogenesis and effector functions of these "ssRNAs" has been found in the majority of the organisms studied. The exceptions for this are some species of trypanosomatids including Trypanosoma cruzi. In the present work we have cloned and characterized the small RNA population from T. cruzi. Our results showed a highly represented population of small RNAs derived from the cleavage of mature tRNAs. We also reported here the expression of a canonical Argonaute protein that could be related with gene expression control pathways based on small RNAs. The function and biological significance of these members of the small RNAs families in T. cruzi is still unknown.