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Compartmentation of glycolysis in trypanosomes: a potential target for new trypanocidal drugs
Author(s) -
Michels Paul A.M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1016/0248-4900(88)90075-5
Subject(s) - biology , glycolysis , organelle , microbody , trypanosoma brucei , biochemistry , cytosol , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , catalase
In African trypanosomes most enzymes of the glycolytic pathway are found in a microbody‐like organelle, called the glycosome. The analysis of their structural and functional properties has shown that these glycosomal enzymes possess some specific features which are absent from the cytosolic proteins of trypanosomes and from the glycolytic enzymes of other organisms, where glycolysis is not compartmentalized within an organelle. The specific properties of the glycosomal enzymes may be responsible for the routing of the proteins from their site of synthesis, the cytosol, into the glycosome, or they may be involved in the proper functioning of the enzymes within the organelle. Whatever the role of the unique features, they are potential targets for compounds that could specifically interfere with glycolysis in trypanosomes. Therefore, a detailed study of the glycolytic enzymes of trypanosomes may lead to the development of therapeutically useful drugs against these harmful parasites.