Transglutaminase-catalyzed reactions in the growth, maturation and development of parasitic nematodes.
Parasitic nematodes cause several debilitating diseases in humans and animals. New drugs that are parasite specific and minimally toxic to the host are needed to counter these infections effectively. The identification and inhibition of enzymes that are vital for the growth and survival of parasites offer new approaches for developing effective chemotherapeutic agents. Several enzymes in nematodes fall into this category. Here, Ramaswamy Chandrashekar and Kapil Mehta examine in detail the role of transglutaminase, a protein-crosslinking enzyme, in the normal growth and development of nematodes, with an emphasis on filarial parasites.
Chandrashekar
R
R
Heska Corporation, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA. chandrr@Heska.com
Mehta
K
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002103:Cadaverine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009348:Nematoda / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011503:Transglutaminases; C008542:monodansylcadaverine; D002103:Cadaverine