@misc{10481/88477,
year = {2005},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/88477},
abstract = {L1Tc, a non-long terminal repeat retrotransposon from Trypanosoma cruzi, is a 4.9-kb actively transcribed
element which contains a single open reading frame coding for the machinery necessary for its autonomous
retrotransposition. In this paper, we analyze the protein encoded by the L1Tc 3  region, termed C2-L1Tc, which
contains two zinc finger motifs similar to those present in the TFIIIA transcription factor family. C2-L1Tc
binds nucleic acids with different affinities, such that RNA > tRNA > single-stranded DNA > double-stranded
DNA, without any evidence for sequence specificity. C2-L1Tc also exhibits nucleic acid chaperone activity on
different DNA templates that may participate in the mechanism of retrotransposition of the element. C2-L1Tc
promotes annealing of complementary oligonucleotides, prevents melting of perfect DNA duplexes, and facilitates
the strand exchange between DNAs to form the most stable duplex DNA in competitive displacement
assays. Mapping of regions of C2-L1Tc using specific peptides showed that nucleic acid chaperone activity
required a short basic sequence accompanied by a zinc finger motif or by another basic region such as RRR.
Thus, a short basic polypeptide containing the two C2H2 motifs promotes formation of the most stable duplex
DNA at a concentration only three times higher than that required for C2-L1Tc.},
organization = {This work was supported by FIS 01/3148 and RICET C03-04 from
Fondo de Investigacio´n Sanitaria, MSC, and BMC2003-00834 from
Plan Nacional I D I (MEC), Spain. S.R.H. was supported by an
MEC predoctoral fellowship (FPU), J.L.G.-P. was supported by a
Fundacio´n Ramo´n Areces predoctoral fellowship, and S.L.M. was
supported by NIH grant GM 40367},
publisher = {Taylor and Francis},
title = {Trypanosoma cruzi non-long terminal repeat retrotransposon codes for a protein that bears two C2H2 zinc finger motifs and is endowed with nucleic acid chaperone activity},
doi = {10.1128/MCB.25.21.9209–9220.2005},
author = {Rodríguez Heras, Sara and López, Manuel C and García Pérez, José Luis and Martín, Sandra L. and Thomas, M. Carmen},
}