T. brucei RNA-Seq of RBP6 induction and AMPKa2RNAi

Development of the parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma brucei in the insect vector, the tsetse fly, consists of three main stages: the non-infectious procyclic and epimastigote stages and the infectious metacyclic parasites. By overexpressing a single RNA-binding protein, RBP6, in non-infectious procyclic trypanosomes, we recapitulated in vitro the events leading to the acquisition of infectivity in the tsetse fly. Utilizing this in vitro differentiation system, we performed a targeted RNAi screen to find genes involved in regulating this developmental process, resulting in the identification of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha 2 subunit (AMPKa2).