The central roles of telomeres and subtelomeres in antigenic variation in African trypanosomes

David Horn; J. David Barry

doi:10.1007/s10577-005-0991-8

The central roles of telomeres and subtelomeres in antigenic variation in African trypanosomes

David Horn, J. David Barry (Lead / Corresponding author)

Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Telomeres and subtelomeres are important to the virulence of a number of pathogens, as they harbour large diverse gene families associated with the maintenance of infection. Evasion of immunity by African trypanosomes involves the differential expression of variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs), which are encoded by a family of >1500 genes and pseudogenes. This silent archive is located subtelomerically and is activated by gene conversion into specialized transcription units, which themselves are subject to silencing by allelic exclusion. Current research addresses the role of telomeres in the conversion and silencing mechanisms and in the diversification of the VSG archive.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	525-533
Number of pages	9
Journal	Chromosome Research
Volume	13
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-005-0991-8
Publication status	Published - Jul 2005

Keywords

Antigenic variation
Telomere
Trypanosome
VSG

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Genetics

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10.1007/s10577-005-0991-8

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title = "The central roles of telomeres and subtelomeres in antigenic variation in African trypanosomes",

abstract = "Telomeres and subtelomeres are important to the virulence of a number of pathogens, as they harbour large diverse gene families associated with the maintenance of infection. Evasion of immunity by African trypanosomes involves the differential expression of variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs), which are encoded by a family of >1500 genes and pseudogenes. This silent archive is located subtelomerically and is activated by gene conversion into specialized transcription units, which themselves are subject to silencing by allelic exclusion. Current research addresses the role of telomeres in the conversion and silencing mechanisms and in the diversification of the VSG archive.",

keywords = "Antigenic variation, Telomere, Trypanosome, VSG",

author = "David Horn and Barry, {J. David}",

note = "Funding Information: Preliminary genomic data were accessed via http:// www.genedb.org/ and/or http://www.tigr.org/tdb/e2k1/ tba1/. Most of the genomic data were provided by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), which are supported by the Wellcome Trust and the National Institutes of Health, USA (grant AI043062), respectively. Funding Information: Our research is supported by the Wellcome Trust, and JDB is a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow.",

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AU - Horn, David

AU - Barry, J. David

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PY - 2005/7

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N2 - Telomeres and subtelomeres are important to the virulence of a number of pathogens, as they harbour large diverse gene families associated with the maintenance of infection. Evasion of immunity by African trypanosomes involves the differential expression of variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs), which are encoded by a family of >1500 genes and pseudogenes. This silent archive is located subtelomerically and is activated by gene conversion into specialized transcription units, which themselves are subject to silencing by allelic exclusion. Current research addresses the role of telomeres in the conversion and silencing mechanisms and in the diversification of the VSG archive.

AB - Telomeres and subtelomeres are important to the virulence of a number of pathogens, as they harbour large diverse gene families associated with the maintenance of infection. Evasion of immunity by African trypanosomes involves the differential expression of variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs), which are encoded by a family of >1500 genes and pseudogenes. This silent archive is located subtelomerically and is activated by gene conversion into specialized transcription units, which themselves are subject to silencing by allelic exclusion. Current research addresses the role of telomeres in the conversion and silencing mechanisms and in the diversification of the VSG archive.

KW - Antigenic variation

KW - Telomere

KW - Trypanosome

KW - VSG

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DO - 10.1007/s10577-005-0991-8

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SN - 0967-3849

VL - 13

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JO - Chromosome Research

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IS - 5

ER -

The central roles of telomeres and subtelomeres in antigenic variation in African trypanosomes

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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