Parasite genome organization:come together, right now!

Links between genome organization and transcription have been extensively studied in model eukaryotes; however, recent application of state-of-the-art chromosome conformation capture techniques to kinetoplastid and Plasmodium parasites has revealed fascinating and divergent architectural mechanisms underlying gene regulation. Trypanosomes assemble nuclear compartments to fine-tune transcription and splicing of variant surface glycoprotein genes. Plasmodium utilizes specific protein complexes to cluster variant surface antigen genes for their epigenetic regulation and genetic diversity. Recent studies have also observed coalescence of genes transcribed by RNAPII in Trypanosoma brucei and active stage-specific genes in Plasmodium falciparum, which could facilitate bursts of transcription in the dynamic parasite life cycle. Thus, connections between genome architecture and gene regulation are emerging as crucial to parasite survival and pathogenesis.