Abstract:
RNA maturation is an important process in gene expression in all eukaryotes. ln trypanosomes, mature mRNA is derived from independent pre-mRNA molecules by a protein complex, spliceosome, in a process known as trans- splicing. This is a variation from the more common cis-splicing which occurs in the mammalian hosts of trypanosomes, where the mature RNA is derived from one pre-mRNA molecule. The process is important in regulation of gene expression in trypanosomes that is predominantly post-transcriptional. ln the present study, we identified in silico 13 proteins of trypanosome spliceosorne. Degenerate PCR approach was used to clone thc factors, which were subsequently sequenced. The amino acid sequences generated were used to query public protein databases and were also compared to homologous sequences from Leishmania major, Trypanosoma eruzi and Homo sapiens. Conserved RNA binding proteins domains and domains of ‘ proteins involved in multi-protein complex assemblies were identified. The kinetoplastid sequences were similar to each other, but were individually significantly different from human homologs. Significant variations of the kinetoplastid sequences from human suggest that some components of the rrypanosome spliceosome are targets for the design of novel drugs.