Differential regulation of multiple glucose transporter genes in Leishmania mexicana

Richard J.S. Burchmore, Scott M. Landfear

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

78 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have studied the structure and expression of glucose transporter genes in the parasitic protozoan Leishmania mexicana. Three distinct glucose transporter isoforms, LmGT1, LmGT2, and LmGT3, are encoded by single copy genes that are clustered together at a single locus. Quantitation of Northern blots reveals that LmGT2 mRNA is present at ~15-fold higher level in promastigotes, the insect stage of the parasite life cycle, compared with amastigotes, the intracellular stage of the life cycle that lives within the mammalian host. In contrast, LmGT1 and LmGT3 mRNAs are expressed at similar levels in both life cycle stages. Transcription of the LmGT genes in promastigotes and axenically cultured amastigotes occurs at similar levels, as measured by nuclear run-on transcription. Consequently, the ~15-fold up- regulation of LmGT2 mRNA levels in promastigotes compared with amastigotes must be controlled at the post-transcriptional level. Measurement of LmGT2 RNA decay in promastigotes and axenic amastigotes treated with actinomycin D suggests that differential mRNA stability may play a role in regulating glucose transporter mRNA levels in the two life cycle stages.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)29118-29126
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume273
Issue number44
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 30 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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