RNA Editing in African Trypanosomes: A U-ser’s G-U-ide

摘要: Of the chemical repertoire of RNA processing pathways, one reaction cycle stands out due to its idiosyncratic features. The process has evolved within mitochondria only clad organisms, kinetoplastid protozoa (Excavata, Euglenozoa), which include African trypanosome, causative agent sleeping sickness. can be categorized as an editing-type reaction. It is characterized by insertion and/or deletion uridine nucleotides into otherwise nontranslatable mRNAs. Kinetoplastid editing relies on exclusive class trans-acting, small noncoding molecules known guide RNAs. Furthermore, a unique molecular machinery, editosome, catalyzes process. Editosomes represent high-molecular-mass multienzyme assemblies that provide catalytic surface for individual steps cycle. Here I review current mechanistic model and summarize components accessory factors editosome machinery. Special emphasis put recent discovery structure complex, allows first correlation structural features with functional characteristics.