TbRRM1 knockdown produces abnormal cell morphology and apoptotic-like death in the bloodstream form of T. brucei

NÍTTOLO, ANALÍA G.; BAÑUELOS, CAROLINA P.; SABORIT, JUAN I.; TEKIEL, VALERIA; SÁNCHEZ, DANIEL O.; LEVY, GABRIELA V.

MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2018 vol. 224 p. 1 - 5

0166-6851

TbRRM1, an SR-related protein, is involved in transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression regulationin procyclic T. brucei. In previous work, we found that TbRRM1 is essential and its depletion leads to cellcycle impairment, aberrant phenotypes and cell loss by apoptotic-like death. Here, we report the findings obtainedafter TbRRM1 knockdown in bloodstream parasites. Depletion of TbRRM1 in this cell stage led also togrowth arrest and cell loss by apoptosis-like death. However, microscopic analysis showed aberrant cell morphologywith parasites displaying flagellum detachment and cytokinesis impairment after RNAi induction,suggesting that TbRRM1 could play different roles depending on parasite stage.