# REGULATION OF TRYPANOSOME DNA REPLICATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 1987 · $222,700

## Abstract

Flagellated protozoa of the Order Kinetoplastida contain a single
mitochondrion termed a kinetoplast.  Two distinct populations of double
stranded circular DNA, the maxicircles and the minicircles, are localized
within the kinetoplast as a single highly catenated network.  These
organisms are generally parasitic and are responsible for a variety of
human and animal diseases including leishmaniasis, African sleeping
sickness and Chagas disease.  We will determine the biochemical mechanisms
involved in the replication of the DNA minicircles of the trypanosomatid
Crithidia fasciculata.  These studies should provide insight into
eukaryotic replication mechanisms in general and may reveal unique features
of kinetoplast replication that can be targeted in the development of
chemotherapeutic agents.

We will isolate and characterize minicircle replication intermediates
synthesized in isolated kinetoplasts and will develop a model of the
mechanics of the replication and partitioning of minicircles.  Replication
of minicircles in soluble extracts will be investigated as a means of
identifying specific enzymatic steps in the replication process and
developing assays for the purification of the individual enzymes required
for minicircle duplication.  Replication products produced in vitro will be
characterized by physical and biochemical methods in order to elucidate the
various enzymatic reactions involved in the overall replication
mechanisms.  Antibodies prepared against specific components of the
replication machinery will be used to investigate the requirements for
individual components in different stages of replication, to determine
their cellular localization and to provide reagents for rapid
immunoaffinity purification of the various proteins.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129605
- **Project number:** 5R01AI020080-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **SAM.gov UEI:** RN64EPNH8JC6
- **Principal Investigator:** DAN S RAY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $222,700
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-07-01 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129605

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129605, REGULATION OF TRYPANOSOME DNA REPLICATION (5R01AI020080-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129605. Licensed CC0.

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