TY - JOUR
T1 - β-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethyluracil, a novel base in African trypanosomes and other Kinetoplastida
AU - Borst, Piet
AU - van Leeuwen, Fred
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - A novel base, β-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethyluracil or J for short, was recently discovered in DNA of bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei. The base is predominantly found in the hexameric repeat arrays of chromosome telomeres and in adjacent repetitive sub-telomeric DNA, and it is made by modification of specific thymines in DNA. J is present in inactive telomeric variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes, but not in active ones, suggesting a link between the presence of J and repression of the telomeric expression sites for VSG genes. The presence of J in DNA is specific for bloodstream form trypanosomes, as J is absent in insect form (procyclic) T. brucei. In addition to African trypanosomes, J has been found in DNA from other Kinetoplastida that do not undergo antigenic variation, such as Leishmania and Crithidia. The biological function of J remains to be deciphered.
AB - A novel base, β-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethyluracil or J for short, was recently discovered in DNA of bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei. The base is predominantly found in the hexameric repeat arrays of chromosome telomeres and in adjacent repetitive sub-telomeric DNA, and it is made by modification of specific thymines in DNA. J is present in inactive telomeric variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes, but not in active ones, suggesting a link between the presence of J and repression of the telomeric expression sites for VSG genes. The presence of J in DNA is specific for bloodstream form trypanosomes, as J is absent in insect form (procyclic) T. brucei. In addition to African trypanosomes, J has been found in DNA from other Kinetoplastida that do not undergo antigenic variation, such as Leishmania and Crithidia. The biological function of J remains to be deciphered.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=0031440122&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9497027
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-6851(97)00170-9
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-6851(97)00170-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 9497027
SN - 0166-6851
VL - 90
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
JF - Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
IS - 1
ER -