The genome is the source of life, providing the information needed to direct
all aspects of organismal function. Propagation of life requires copying of the genome
and faithful transmission from parent to offspring. Many challenges confront genome
propagation, including ensuring the accurate and complete copying of the DNA,
circumventing impediments to DNA replication, and maintaining genome integrity in
the face of myriad insults and during periods of cellular quiescence. Just as
importantly, the genome must be allowed to change, either incrementally through small
mutations in sequence or by large-scale rearrangements. Such changes not only drive
evolution, but can be integral components of an organism’s life cycle. In this chapter
we consider the rapidly growing body of knowledge on how the genomes of
kinetoplastid parasites are maintained, by describing the range of genome repair and
damage tolerance pathways that operate. We focus on Trypanosoma brucei,
Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania, three important human and animal pathogens, but
we believe the lessons learned from the study of genome maintenance in these
genetically tractable parasites are applicable widely, not only to other parasites but
throughout biology.
Keywords: Base excision repair, DNA repair, DRP lyase activities, Genome integrity,
Homologous recombination, Microhomology-mediated end-joining, Mismatch repair,
Non-homologous end-joining, Nucleotide excision repair, Translesion DNA synthesis.
