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. 1996 Feb 15;24(4):668–675. doi: 10.1093/nar/24.4.668

Artificial linear mini-chromosomes for Trypanosoma brucei.

P K Patnaik 1, N Axelrod 1, L H Van der Ploeg 1, G A Cross 1
PMCID: PMC145704  PMID: 8604308

Abstract

We have constructed artificial linear mini- chromosomes for the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. These chromosomes exist at approx. 2 copies per cell, are indefinitely stable under selection but are lost from 50% of the transformed population in approx. 7 generations when grown in the absence of selective pressure. Consistent with results obtained earlier with natural chromosomes in T.brucei, the telomeres on these artificial chromosomes grow, adding approx. 1- 1.5 telomeric repeats per generation. The activity of a procyclic acidic repetitive protein (parp) gene promoter on these elements is unaffected by its proximity to a telomere, implying the lack of a telomere-proximal position effect (TPE) in procyclic trypanosomes. Among other things, these autonomously replicating dispensable genetic elements will provide a defined system for the study of nuclear DNA replication, karyotypic plasticity and other aspects of chromosomal behavior in this ancient eukaryotic lineage.

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Selected References

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