Michele Tinti, David Horn
[version 2; peer review: 3 approved]. Wellcome Open Res 2025, 10:173 (https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23817.2)
Plain Language Summary
We study how three parasites (Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania) control gene expression. Using computer analyses, we looked at two key factors: alternative codons, which are translated to incorporate the same amino acid in a protein, and UnTranslated Regions (UTRs); both of which can impact messenger RNA stability or the rate at which messenger RNA is translated to produce protein. We found that the impact of codons and UTRs is primarily at the point of translation. Codon usage bias likely impacts mRNA stability by increasing the rate of translation. Understanding these regulatory processes will reveal how these parasites and related cells function, in terms of expressing thousands of different proteins at appropriate levels.