Identification and functional characterization of U5 snRNP specific proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi

• Grant number: 06/05766-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2007
• End date: July 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology
• Principal Investigator: Regina Maria Barretto Cicarelli
• Grantee: Regina Maria Barretto Cicarelli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

About 16 to 18 million of people in Latin America are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The therapeutics continue partially ineffective, in spite of the efforts developed by several laboratories and researchers. Some important factors in functioning of the eucaryotic cells are the small complexes of RNA and proteins; these particles of ribonucleoproteins (UsnRNPs) have an essential role in the pre-mRNA processing, mainly during splicing. UsnRNP presents a common protein core associates between itself and with the snRNA, called Sm proteins, and specific proteins of each snRNP. Even though they are well defined in mammals, snRNPs are still not characterized in certain Trypanosomatids, as well, Trypanosoma cruzi. So, this work proposed the identification and functional characterization of U5 snRNP specific proteins, using cloning, expression and antibodies production of the genes related to this particle, immunoprecipitation assay of the U5 complex and immuno-localization in the parasite cells. The in vitro pull-down assay will help to evaluate possible protein-protein interactions among the members of U5 snRNP and the knock-down (RNA interference) using permeable cells/RNase protection reactions will permit to analyse the functional role of these proteins in the trans-splicing reaction. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DA SILVA, MARCO TULIO A.; AMBROSIO, DANIELA L.; TREVELIN, CAROLINE C.; WATANABE, TATIANA F.; LAURE, HELEN J.; GREENE, LEWIS J.; ROSA, JOSE C.; VALENTINI, SANDRO R.; CICARELLI, REGINA M. B.. New insights into trypanosomatid U5 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, v. 106, n. 2, p. 130-138, MAR 2011. (07/07476-0, 06/05766-8)