Gene transcription in trypanosomes

Trypanosoma brucei and the other members of the trypanosomatid family of parasitic protozoa, contain an unusual RNA polymerase II enzyme, uncoordinated mRNA 5′ capping and transcription initiation events, and most likely contain an abridged set of transcription factors. Pre-mRNA start sites remain elusive. In addition, two important life cycle stage-specific mRNAs are transcribed by RNA polymerase I. This review interprets these unusual transcription traits in the context of parasite biology.