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Eukaryotic Cell, July 2007, p. 1108-1118, Vol. 6, No. 7
1535-9778/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/EC.00107-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9041
Received 4 April 2007/ Accepted 28 April 2007
The parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei contains two type III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases (
and ß). We have cloned the gene encoding the T. brucei type III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase ß (TbPI4KIII-ß), expressed the protein in COS-7 cells, and confirmed that the protein catalyzes the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol. Depletion of TbPI4KIII-ß in procyclic T. brucei by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in inhibition of cell growth and a distorted cellular morphology. RNAi cells had a distorted Golgi apparatus, and lysosomal and flagellar pocket proteins were mislocalized. Ultrastructural analysis revealed the internal accumulation of a heterogeneous population of vesicles, abnormal positioning of organelles, and a loss of cell polarity. Scanning electron microcopy revealed a twisted phenotype, and dividing cells often exhibited a detached daughter flagellum and lacked a cleavage furrow. Cell cycle analysis confirmed that cells depleted of TbPI4KIII-ß have a postmitotic cytokinesis block that occurs after a single round of mitosis, suggestive of a specific cell cycle block. In summary, TbPI4KIII-ß is an essential protein in procyclic T. brucei, required for maintenance of Golgi structure, protein trafficking, normal cellular shape, and cytokinesis.
Published ahead of print on 4 May 2007.
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