Monogenetic trypanosomatids: comparison of the ND8 editing gene

Nucleotide sequences of the kinetoplast ND8 gene in five insect trypanosoma tids were investigated. Three different patterns of organisation of editing sites were distinguished, corresponding with the distinction between the g enera Wallaceina, Leptomonas and Herpetomonas, based on their morphological features. RT PCR products for the mature ND8 mRNA of two different species of Wallaceina (W. incon-stans and W. brevicula) were obtained. The sequenc es of these products were identical for these two Wallaceina species and si milar to previously determined Leishmania tarentolae and Trypanosoma brucei sequences. All investigated genes are pan-edited, which indicates that red uction of the editing domain at the 3' region of the ND8 gene in Crithidia oncopelti is an exception among species of insect trypanosomatids studied s o far. The sequence of the ND8 gene from Leptomonas seymouri was almost ide ntical with the published sequence of Leptomonas sp.