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Cell cycle regulation in Trypanosoma brucei.
1Division of Infection & Immunity and Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Biomedical Research Centre, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom. t.hammarton@bio.gla.ac.uk
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
|March 6, 2007
Summary
Cell cycle regulation in Trypanosoma brucei is unusual, with divergent and missing regulators compared to other eukaryotes. This parasite likely evolved novel pathways to control its cell division.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cell division relies on complex signal transduction pathways for precise coordination.
- Trypanosoma brucei, a parasitic protozoan, has had significant progress in identifying cell cycle regulators.
- However, many regulators remain unknown, and signal transduction pathways are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the unique aspects of cell cycle regulation in Trypanosoma brucei.
- To compare cell cycle control mechanisms in T. brucei with those of model eukaryotes.
- To explore the potential evolution of novel pathways for cell cycle control in this parasite.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of orthologues of conserved eukaryotic cell cycle regulators in T. brucei.
- Examination of parasite life cycle stages to identify differences in cell cycle regulation.
- Investigation of checkpoint control strategies employed by T. brucei.
Main Results:
- Cell cycle regulation in T. brucei exhibits significant divergence from model eukaryotes.
- Key eukaryotic cell cycle regulators are absent in T. brucei.
- Cell cycle control varies across different parasite life cycle stages.
- T. brucei utilizes distinct checkpoint control strategies.
Conclusions:
- Trypanosoma brucei possesses an unusual cell cycle regulation system.
- The parasite has evolved unique mechanisms for controlling cell division.
- Novel pathways for cell cycle control are likely present in T. brucei.
Related Concept Videos
01:28The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
02:11The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
02:11The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
01:27Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division
Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
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01:23Negative Regulator Molecules
Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
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The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...