title: Inorganic phosphate uptake in unicellular eukaryotes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is an essential nutrient for all organisms. The route of Pi utilization begins with Pi transport across the plasma membrane.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we analyzed the gene sequences and compared the biochemical profiles, including kinetic and modulator parameters, of Pi transporters in unicellular eukaryotes. The objective of this review is to evaluate the recent findings regarding Pi uptake mechanisms in microorganisms, such as the fungi Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the parasite protozoans Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma rangeli, Leishmania infantum and Plasmodium falciparum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pi uptake is the key step of Pi homeostasis and in the subsequent signaling event in eukaryotic microorganisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biochemical and structural studies are important for clarifying mechanisms of Pi homeostasis, as well as Pi sensor and downstream pathways, and raise possibilities for future studies in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: cdick@jhsph.edu.
authors.forename: Claudia F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: André L A
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dos-Santos
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: meyer@bioqmed.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Meyer-Fernandes
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000378:metabolism; D028061:Phosphate Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D028061:Phosphate Transport Proteins; D010710:Phosphates
keywords: Neurospora crassa; P(i) transporter; Plasmodium falciparum; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma rangeli