Key RNA-binding domains in the La protein establish tRNA modification levels in Trypanosoma brucei.

The RNA-binding protein La is found in most eukaryotes, and despite being essential in many organisms, its function is not completely clear. Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis, encodes a 'classical' La protein (TbLa) composed of a La-motif, two RNA recognition motifs (RRM1 and RRM2α), a C-terminal short basic motif (SBM), and a nuclear localization signal (NLS). In T.