title: DNA topoisomerases in life and death: implications in kinetoplastid protozoa.
abstract: Current biomedical research has its focus on the search for newer intervention strategies to control public health impact of parasitic diseases. The dramatic advances of molecular and cellular biology in recent times have provided opportunities for discovering and evaluating molecular targets for drug designing, which now form a rational basis for the development of improved anti parasitic therapy. DNA topoisomerases, the "cellular magicians" involved in nearly all biological processes governing DNA, have emerged as one such biological target. Over the last two decades, interest in topoisomerases has expanded beyond the realm of the basic science laboratory into the clinical arena. This review aims at providing a comprehensive insight into the biology of DNA topoisomerases and also focus on its evolution as a drug target in the unicellular kinetoplastids.
authors.affiliation: Chembiotek Research International, Biology Research Lab, BIPL Complex, Block EP-GP, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 091, India.
authors.forename: Arnab Roy
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Hemanta K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Majumder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D026942:DNA Topoisomerases / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003643:Death; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D016830:Kinetoplastida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D019369:Life; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D026942:DNA Topoisomerases; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II