Open AccessSelenocysteine in Trypanosoma evansi: Identification of the Genes selb, selc, seld, pstk, seltryp and the Selenophosphate Synthetase Protein
Author(s) -
Kaio César Simiano Tavares,
Maria Gabriela Casagrande Dambrós,
André Saraiva Leão Marcelo Antunes,
Pietro Martin Danziato,
Patrícia Hermes Stoco,
Aline Daiane Schlindwein,
Renato Simões Moreira,
Luiz Cláudio Miletti
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta protozoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1689-0027
pISSN - 0065-1583
DOI - 10.4467/16890027ap.21.003.14063
Subject(s) - biology , selenocysteine , selenoprotein , gene , trypanosoma evansi , trypanosoma , trypanosoma brucei , genetics , biochemistry , cysteine , trypanosomiasis , enzyme , virology , glutathione , glutathione peroxidase
Selenoproteins have been described in all three domains of life and their function has been mainly associated with oxidative stress defense. Canonical elements required for selenoprotein production have been identified in members of the kinetoplastid group supporting the existence of a complete selenocysteine synthesis pathway in these organisms. Currently, nothing is known regarding the selenocysteine pathway in Trypanosoma evansi. In this study, we identified the expression of the elements selB, selC, selD, PSTK and selTRYP at the mRNA level in T. evansi. All translated proteins (selD, PSTK, selTRYP and selB) have the domains predicted and higher identity with Trypanosoma brucei. gambiense. The selenophosphate synthetase protein was localized in the cytoplasm. Our results support the existence of an active selenocysteine pathway in T. evansi.