Biomaterial Database

Double-stranded RNA can mediate the suppression of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase expression in Toxoplasma gondii. 2003

Fatme Al-Anouti, and Thomas Quach, and Sirinart Ananvoranich

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Ont., Canada.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) homologous to the Toxoplasma gondii uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (TgUPRT) gene is able to modulate the UPRT gene expression in T. gondii. The dsRNA, which was produced either from a constructed plasmid or from an in vitro transcription reaction, was capable of down-regulating the expression of TgUPRT. Stably transformed T. gondii expressing the dsRNA, which was capable of growing in the presence of the prodrug 5-fluoro-2(')-deoxyuridine (FDUR), appeared to maintain the engineered plasmid as an extra-chromosomal DNA. When cultured in the absence of the selection pressure, the FDUR resistant parasites slowly reverted to the FDUR sensitive phenotype. The level of the dsRNA necessary to confer FDUR resistance was estimated at 2-8 copies per parasite. More importantly the introduction of the in vitro synthesized dsRNA homologous to the TgUPRT gene into T. gondii can also induce the specific mRNA degradation, resulting in a lowered UPRT activity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010430	Pentosyltransferases	Enzymes of the transferase class that catalyze the transfer of a pentose group from one compound to another.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012330	RNA, Double-Stranded	RNA consisting of two strands as opposed to the more prevalent single-stranded RNA. Most of the double-stranded segments are formed from transcription of DNA by intramolecular base-pairing of inverted complementary sequences separated by a single-stranded loop. Some double-stranded segments of RNA are normal in all organisms.	Double-Stranded RNA,Double Stranded RNA,RNA, Double Stranded
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D014122	Toxoplasma	A genus of protozoa parasitic to birds and mammals. T. gondii is one of the most common infectious pathogenic animal parasites of man.	Toxoplasma gondii,Toxoplasma gondius,Toxoplasmas,gondius, Toxoplasma
D015536	Down-Regulation	A negative regulatory effect on physiological processes at the molecular, cellular, or systemic level. At the molecular level, the major regulatory sites include membrane receptors, genes (GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION), mRNAs (RNA, MESSENGER), and proteins.	Receptor Down-Regulation,Down-Regulation (Physiology),Downregulation,Down Regulation,Down-Regulation, Receptor
D015870	Gene Expression	The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions
D020871	RNA Stability	The extent to which an RNA molecule retains its structural integrity and resists degradation by RNASE, and base-catalyzed HYDROLYSIS, under changing in vivo or in vitro conditions.	RNA Decay,mRNA Decay,mRNA Transcript Degradation,RNA Degradation,RNA Instability,mRNA Degradation,mRNA Instability,mRNA Stability,Decay, RNA,Decay, mRNA,Degradation, RNA,Degradation, mRNA,Degradation, mRNA Transcript,Instability, RNA,Instability, mRNA,Stability, RNA,Stability, mRNA,Transcript Degradation, mRNA