Adaptations in the lipid metabolism of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei.
Trypanosomes are unicellular parasites and like all decent parasites, they try to obtain from the host as much material as possible, including lipids. However, the needs of a parasite are not always the same as those of the host, and therefore, mostly, some biosynthetic work still has to be done by the parasite itself. Very often at least modifications of the lipid components that are acquired from the host have to be made. Furthermore, next to the lipids Trypanosoma brucei indeed obtains from the host, some other lipid components have to be synthesized de novo. Especially the processes where the metabolism of T. brucei differs from that of the host, will be discussed, as at least some of them are excellent targets for the development of urgently needed new chemotherapeutics.
van Hellemond
Jaap J
JJ
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80176, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Tielens
Aloysius G M
AG
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008798:Mevalonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000378:metabolism*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D008798:Mevalonic Acid