Open AccessDisclosing 3' UTR cis-elements and putative partners involved in gene expression regulation in Leishmania spp.
Author(s) -
Monica Terrao,
Elton J. R. Vasconcelos,
Tânia Aquino Defina,
Peter J. Myler,
Ângela K. Cruz
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0183401
Subject(s) - biology , gene , three prime untranslated region , leishmania , genetics , in silico , untranslated region , regulation of gene expression , regulatory sequence , gene expression , genome , reporter gene , leishmania infantum , messenger rna , computational biology , leishmaniasis , parasite hosting , world wide web , computer science , visceral leishmaniasis
To identify putative cis -elements involved in gene expression regulation in Leishmania , we previously conducted an in silico investigation to find conserved intercoding sequences (CICS) in the genomes of L . major , L . infantum , and L . braziliensis . Here, the CICS databank was explored to search for sequences that were present in the untranslated regions (UTRs) of groups of genes showing similar expression profiles during in vitro differentiation. Using a selectable marker as a reporter gene, flanked by either an intact 3' UTR or a UTR lacking the conserved element, the regulatory role of a CICS was confirmed. We observed that the pattern of modulation of the mRNA levels was altered in the absence of the CICS. We also identified putative CICS RNA-binding proteins. This study suggests that the publicly available CICS database is a useful tool for identifying regulatory cis -elements for Leishmania genes and suggests the existence of post-transcriptional regulons in Leishmania .