Lipid synthesis in protozoan parasites: a comparison between kinetoplastids and apicomplexans.

Ramakrishnan, Srinivasan; Serricchio, Mauro; Striepen, Boris; Bütikofer, Peter (2013). Lipid synthesis in protozoan parasites: a comparison between kinetoplastids and apicomplexans. Progress in lipid research, 52(4), pp. 488-512. Elsevier 10.1016/j.plipres.2013.06.003

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Lipid metabolism is of crucial importance for pathogens. Lipids serve as cellular building blocks, signalling molecules, energy stores, posttranslational modifiers, and pathogenesis factors. Parasites rely on a complex system of uptake and synthesis mechanisms to satisfy their lipid needs. The parameters of this system change dramatically as the parasite transits through the various stages of its life cycle. Here we discuss the tremendous recent advances that have been made in the understanding of the synthesis and uptake pathways for fatty acids and phospholipids in apicomplexan and kinetoplastid parasites, including Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, Trypanosoma and Leishmania. Lipid synthesis differs in significant ways between parasites from both phyla and the human host. Parasites have acquired novel pathways through endosymbiosis, as in the case of the apicoplast, have dramatically reshaped substrate and product profiles, and have evolved specialized lipids to interact with or manipulate the host. These differences potentially provide opportunities for drug development. We outline the lipid pathways for key species in detail as they progress through the developmental cycle and highlight those that are of particular importance to the biology of the pathogens and/or are the most promising targets for parasite-specific treatment.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
UniBE Contributor:	Serricchio, Mauro, Bütikofer, Peter
Subjects:	500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology 600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	1873-2194
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Patrizia Catucci
Date Deposited:	04 Jul 2014 10:53
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:29
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.plipres.2013.06.003
PubMed ID:	23827884
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Apicomplexa, Kinetoplastida, Fatty acid synthesis, Phospholipid synthesis, Drugs, Protozoa
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/43259