Gene expression in the unicellular eukaryote Trichomonas vaginalis

Abstract

Control of gene expression is essential to the survival of an organism. Here, we review the current state of gene expression research in Trichomonas vaginalis, with particular attention to the progress made since the release of the genome of this unicellular parasite in 2007. The availability of genome data has allowed the study of an array of biological processes, including the role of small nuclear RNAs involved in the splicing of introns, the components of transcriptional complexes and the presence of discrete DNA elements involved in directing transcription. Both evolutionarily conserved and novel features of T. vaginalis serve to inspire further questions aimed at determining the molecular mechanisms used to regulate gene expression in this highly divergent eukaryote.