Lipid metabolism in Giardia: a post-genomic perspective

• Published in: Parasitology 2011-03, Vol.138 (3), p.267-278
• Main Authors: YICHOY, M., DUARTE, T. T., DE CHATTERJEE, A., MENDEZ, T. L., AGUILERA, K. Y., ROY, D., ROYCHOWDHURY, S., ALEY, S. B., DAS, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Databases, Nucleic Acid; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Genome - genetics; Genomics; Giardia lamblia; Giardia lamblia - genetics; Giardia lamblia - metabolism; Giardiasis - parasitology; Humans; Invertebrates; Lipid Metabolism - genetics; Lipids; Parasites; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Protozoan Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0031-1820; 1469-8161
• DOI: 10.1017/S0031182010001277

Giardia lamblia, a protozoan parasite, infects a wide variety of vertebrates, including humans. Studies indicate that this anaerobic protist possesses a limited ability to synthesize lipid molecules de novo and depends on supplies from its environment for growth and differentiation. It has been suggested that most lipids and fatty acids are taken up by endocytic and non-endocytic pathways and are used by Giardia for energy production and membrane/organelle biosynthesis. The purpose of this article is to provide an update on recent progress in the field of lipid research of this parasite and the validation of lipid metabolic pathways through recent genomic information. Based on current cellular, biochemical and genomic data, a comprehensive pathway has been proposed to facilitate our understanding of lipid and fatty acid metabolism/syntheses in this waterborne pathogen. We envision that the current review will be helpful in identifying targets from the pathways that could be used to design novel therapies to control giardiasis and related diseases.