Operons in Brugia malayi
In Caenorhabditis elegans, about 20% of the genes are arranged in operons, sets of cotranscribed genes which give rise to polycistronic premessanger RNAs which are later resolved by trans-splicing to variant spliced leader operons.
We have been engaged in a search for operons in Brugia malayi. Outside Caenorhabditis, operons have thus far only been demonstrated in the related rhabditid Dolichorhabditis. Their discovery in the filaria would have significance not only in understanding the mechanisms and importance of this phenomenon, but might also lead to pan-nematode chemotherapeutic strategies.
These pages should be treated as work-in-progress and should not be quoted without permission.
We have chosen a three-pronged approach to finding operons.
using PCR to investigate the proximity of Brugia homologues of genes known to be operonic in C. elegans
mapping of Brugia homologues of genes known to be operonic in C. elegans
sequencing of large genomic segments to demonstrate operons
We have focussed on ribosomal protein genes (~50% of C. elegans ribosomal protein genes are in operons) and their operon partners, and other "genes-of-interest" known to be operonic in C. elegans.
Large subunit ribosomal protein genes
Small subunit ribosomal protein genes
David Guiliano and Mark Blaxter, May 1998