MAP kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) is essential for transmission of Trypanosoma brucei by Glossina morsitans.

Sabine Morand, Christina Kunz Renggli, Isabel Roditi, Erik Vassella

Institut für Zellbiologie, Universität Bern, Switzerland.

Molecular and biochemical parasitology 2012 Nov

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MAP kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) is encoded by a single copy gene in Trypanosoma brucei. It has been shown recently that MKK1 is not essential for bloodstream forms [14]. To investigate the requirement for MKK1 in other life-cycle stages we generated null mutants in procyclic forms of a fly-transmissible strain. These grew normally in culture and were able to establish midgut infections in tsetse at normal rates and intensities, but were incapable of colonising the salivary glands. Transformation of null mutants with an ectopic copy of MKK1 enabled parasites to complete the life cycle in tsetse and infect mice. This is the first example of a gene that is indispensable for transmission of T. brucei. It also raises the possibility that activating the MKK1 signalling cascade in vitro might trigger the differentiation and proliferation of life-cycle stages of T. brucei that are currently refractory to culture. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Sabine Morand, Christina Kunz Renggli, Isabel Roditi, Erik Vassella. MAP kinase kinase 1 (MKK1) is essential for transmission of Trypanosoma brucei by Glossina morsitans. Molecular and biochemical parasitology. 2012 Nov;186(1):73-6