Abstract

Sherrie Bain

Trypanosoma brucei is the etiological agent of African Trypanosomiasis. T. brucei possesses biologically unique mitochondrial DNA called kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). Genetic studies provide strong evidence that kDNA is essential. Understanding kDNA maintenance may yield promising drug targets. RNA interference (RNAi) studies of mitochrondrial DNA polymerase IA (POL IA) did not show a growth phenotype under normal conditions. In this study we used a classical genetics approach and deleted both alleles of POL IA. Comparison of the growth phenotype of the POL IA double mutant to wild-type indicates that POL IA is required for the oxidative stress response in T. brucei.