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The role of the Kinesin-13 family protein TbKif13-2 in flagellar length control of Trypanosoma brucei.

ABSTRACT: TbKif13-2, a member of the microtubule-depolymerising Kinesin-13 family was localised at the tip of the flagellum in Trypanosoma brucei. Its predicted activity suggested a role in the regulation of axonemal length. However, using gene deletion and overexpression of TbKif13-2 we show that, in procyclic T. brucei, this kinesin has only a very limited effect on flagellar length. Gene deletion resulted in no significant elongation of the flagellum and overexpression only slightly decreased flagellar length and the rate of growth of a new flagellum during cell division. This is in contrast to studies in Leishmania major, where overexpression of the TbKif13-2 homologue resulted in a significant length reduction of the flagellum. Knockout of TbKif13-2 has, however, an effect on the initial growth of the emerging new flagellum. In conclusion, we show that TbKif13-2 has only a marginal impact on flagellar length in T. brucei.

SUBMITTER: Chan KY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2984613 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The role of the Kinesin-13 family protein TbKif13-2 in flagellar length control of Trypanosoma brucei.

Chan Kuan Yoow KY Ersfeld Klaus K

Molecular and biochemical parasitology 20100820 2

TbKif13-2, a member of the microtubule-depolymerising Kinesin-13 family was localised at the tip of the flagellum in Trypanosoma brucei. Its predicted activity suggested a role in the regulation of axonemal length. However, using gene deletion and overexpression of TbKif13-2 we show that, in procyclic T. brucei, this kinesin has only a very limited effect on flagellar length. Gene deletion resulted in no significant elongation of the flagellum and overexpression only slightly decreased flagellar ...[more]

PMID: 20728476

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