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Pyrimidine metabolism in Trichomonas vaginalis
Author(s) -
Heyworth Paul G.,
Gutteridge Winston E.,
Ginger Colin D.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(84)80910-2
Subject(s) - trichomonas vaginalis , trichomonas , pyrimidine metabolism , chemistry , pyrimidine , metabolism , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , enzyme , purine
Pyrimidine metabolism in Trichomonas vaginalis was investigated using washed cell suspensions of the organism with radiolabelled pyrimidine ring precursors and preformed pyrimidines. The precursors [ 14 C]orotate, [ 14 C]bicarbonate and [ 14 C]aspartate were not incorporated into the pyrimidine bases of trichomonal nucleic acids, indicating that the protozoan is unable to synthesise the pyrimidine ring and is dependent on the salvage of exogenous pyrimidines. [ 3 H]uracil, [ 3 H]uridine, [ 3 H]cytidine, deoxy[ 3 H]cytidine and [ 3 H]thymidine were all efficiently salvaged, and interconversion between cytosine and uracil nucleotides was detected. Thymidylate synthase activity was not detected, suggesting that T. vaginalis is dependent upon an exogenous supply of thymidine for TMP synthesis.