Cloning and heterologous expression of the Trypanosoma brucei lanosterol synthase gene

Sterols are essential components of eukaryotic membranes. Procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei synthesize ergosterol, the same sterol that is found in fungi. Trypanosoma cruzi and closely related Leishmania spp. synthesize ergosterol and similar sterols in all their various life cycle stages. Where...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular and biochemical parasitology 2000-10, Vol.110 (2), p.399-403
Main Authors: Buckner, Frederick S., Nguyen, Lisa N., Joubert, Bridget M., Matsuda, Seiichi P.T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blotting, Southern
Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial
Cloning, Molecular
ergosterol
Intramolecular Transferases - chemistry
Intramolecular Transferases - genetics
Intramolecular Transferases - metabolism
Lanosterol - biosynthesis
Lanosterol synthase
Molecular Sequence Data
Oxidosqualene cyclase
Sterol
Sterol biosynthesis
Sterols
Trypanosoma brucei
Trypanosoma brucei brucei - enzymology
Trypanosoma brucei brucei - genetics
Yeasts - enzymology
Yeasts - genetics
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Summary:Sterols are essential components of eukaryotic membranes. Procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei synthesize ergosterol, the same sterol that is found in fungi. Trypanosoma cruzi and closely related Leishmania spp. synthesize ergosterol and similar sterols in all their various life cycle stages. Whereas sterol biosynthesis is one of the most thoroughly studied biochemical pathways in the model eukaryote, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, very little is known about this pathway in trypanosomatid organisms. For example, in yeast 12 enzymes of the committed sterol biosynthesis pathway (after farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase) have been cloned and extensively characterized; only one has been cloned from one trypanosomatid organism, i.e. the putative squalene synthase of Leishmania major appears as a database entry in GenBank (AF155593). Since sterol biosynthesis is an excellent target for antimicrobial therapy, as demonstrated by the success of sterol biosynthesis inhibitors against fungi, more intensive research of this enzyme pathway is needed in trypanosomatid parasites.
ISSN:0166-6851
1872-9428
DOI:10.1016/S0166-6851(00)00267-X