Calmodulin genes in trypanosomes are tandemly repeated and produce multiple mRNAs with a common 5' leader sequence.

Abstract
In Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, the Ca2+ binding protein calmodulin is encoded by 3 identical tandemly repeated genes. The transcripts of these genes consist of several RNA species similar in size. A 35-nucleotide spliced leader sequence is present in 5'' end of each mRNA but is not encoded by DNA contiguous to these genes. Two different sites were identified for the fusion of the leader to the mRNA. These results strongly support the idea that a novel, possibly discontinuous, transcription mechanism is used by these parasites.