Trypanosomes as a magnifying glass for cell and molecular biology

Julius Lukeš; Dave Speijer; Alena Zíková; Juan D. Alfonzo; Hassan Hashimi; Mark C. Field

doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2023.08.004

Trypanosomes as a magnifying glass for cell and molecular biology

Julius Lukeš, Dave Speijer, Alena Zíková, Juan D. Alfonzo, Hassan Hashimi, Mark C. Field

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

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, has developed into a flexible and robust experimental model for molecular and cellular parasitology, allowing us to better combat these and related parasites that cause worldwide suffering. Diminishing case numbers, due to efficient public health efforts, and recent development of new drug treatments have reduced the need for continued study of T. brucei in a disease context. However, we argue that this pathogen has been instrumental in revolutionary discoveries that have widely informed molecular and cellular biology and justifies continuing research as an experimental model. Ongoing work continues to contribute towards greater understanding of both diversified and conserved biological features. We discuss multiple examples where trypanosomes pushed the boundaries of cell biology and hope to inspire researchers to continue exploring these remarkable protists as tools for magnifying the inner workings of cells.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	902-912
Number of pages	11
Journal	Trends in parasitology
Volume	39
Issue number	11
Early online date	2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2023.08.004
Publication status	Published - Nov 2023

Keywords

GPI-anchor
RNA editing
alternative oxidase
endocytosis
genetic code
glycosome
tRNA import

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title = "Trypanosomes as a magnifying glass for cell and molecular biology",

abstract = "The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, has developed into a flexible and robust experimental model for molecular and cellular parasitology, allowing us to better combat these and related parasites that cause worldwide suffering. Diminishing case numbers, due to efficient public health efforts, and recent development of new drug treatments have reduced the need for continued study of T. brucei in a disease context. However, we argue that this pathogen has been instrumental in revolutionary discoveries that have widely informed molecular and cellular biology and justifies continuing research as an experimental model. Ongoing work continues to contribute towards greater understanding of both diversified and conserved biological features. We discuss multiple examples where trypanosomes pushed the boundaries of cell biology and hope to inspire researchers to continue exploring these remarkable protists as tools for magnifying the inner workings of cells.",

keywords = "GPI-anchor, RNA editing, alternative oxidase, endocytosis, genetic code, glycosome, tRNA import",

author = "Julius Luke{\v s} and Dave Speijer and Alena Z{\'i}kov{\'a} and Alfonzo, {Juan D.} and Hassan Hashimi and Field, {Mark C.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Keith Gull (University of Oxford) for his first-hand account of the discovery of RNAi in trypanosomes, and Ambar Kachale (Institute of Parasitology) for help with the figures. We acknowledge support from the Czech Science Foundation ( 22-06479X to J.L., 23-07674S to H.H., and 20-14409S to A.Z.), the ERC grant under the Horizon Europe (MitoSignal 101044951 to A.Z.), the Wellcome Trust ( 204697/Z/16/Z to M.C.F), and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation ( GBMF #9354 to J.L.). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier Ltd",

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language = "English",

volume = "39",

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AU - Lukeš, Julius

AU - Speijer, Dave

AU - Zíková, Alena

AU - Alfonzo, Juan D.

AU - Hashimi, Hassan

AU - Field, Mark C.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Keith Gull (University of Oxford) for his first-hand account of the discovery of RNAi in trypanosomes, and Ambar Kachale (Institute of Parasitology) for help with the figures. We acknowledge support from the Czech Science Foundation ( 22-06479X to J.L., 23-07674S to H.H., and 20-14409S to A.Z.), the ERC grant under the Horizon Europe (MitoSignal 101044951 to A.Z.), the Wellcome Trust ( 204697/Z/16/Z to M.C.F), and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation ( GBMF #9354 to J.L.). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2023/11

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N2 - The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, has developed into a flexible and robust experimental model for molecular and cellular parasitology, allowing us to better combat these and related parasites that cause worldwide suffering. Diminishing case numbers, due to efficient public health efforts, and recent development of new drug treatments have reduced the need for continued study of T. brucei in a disease context. However, we argue that this pathogen has been instrumental in revolutionary discoveries that have widely informed molecular and cellular biology and justifies continuing research as an experimental model. Ongoing work continues to contribute towards greater understanding of both diversified and conserved biological features. We discuss multiple examples where trypanosomes pushed the boundaries of cell biology and hope to inspire researchers to continue exploring these remarkable protists as tools for magnifying the inner workings of cells.

AB - The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, has developed into a flexible and robust experimental model for molecular and cellular parasitology, allowing us to better combat these and related parasites that cause worldwide suffering. Diminishing case numbers, due to efficient public health efforts, and recent development of new drug treatments have reduced the need for continued study of T. brucei in a disease context. However, we argue that this pathogen has been instrumental in revolutionary discoveries that have widely informed molecular and cellular biology and justifies continuing research as an experimental model. Ongoing work continues to contribute towards greater understanding of both diversified and conserved biological features. We discuss multiple examples where trypanosomes pushed the boundaries of cell biology and hope to inspire researchers to continue exploring these remarkable protists as tools for magnifying the inner workings of cells.

KW - GPI-anchor

KW - RNA editing

KW - alternative oxidase

KW - endocytosis

KW - genetic code

KW - glycosome

KW - tRNA import

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DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2023.08.004

M3 - Review article

C2 - 37679284

SN - 1471-4922

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EP - 912

JO - Trends in parasitology

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ER -

Trypanosomes as a magnifying glass for cell and molecular biology

Abstract

Keywords

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