Guide RNAs (gRNAs) for the editing of sites 1-8 of COIII mRNA and an "unexpected" partially edited COIII mRNA are encoded in the variable regions of specific kinetoplast DNA minicircles. The gRNAs can form 37 and 44 nucleotide perfect hybrids (allowing for G-U base pairs) with edited mRNAs. The gRNAs were detected on Northern blots and shown to have unique 5' ends situated close to the beginnin...

The mitochondrial DNA of the trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata consists of thousands of copies of a 2.5 kb minicircle and a small number of 37kb maxicircles catenated into a single enormous network. Treatment of C. fasciculata with the type II DNA topoisomerase inhibitor VP16 produces cleavable complexes of a type II DNA topiosomerase with both minicircles and maxicircles. A combined Souther...

Trypanosomes are characterised by the possession of a single flagellum and a subpellicular microtubule cytoskeleton. The flagellum is more than an organelle for motility; its position and polarity along with the sub-pellicular cytoskeleton enables the morphogenesis of a distinct flagellar pocket and the flagellar basal body is responsible for positioning and segregating the kinetoplast--the mit...