Comparative metabolism of conjugated and unconjugated pterins in Crithidia, Leishmania and African trypanosomes.

ABSTRACT: Mammalian cells synthesise tetrahydrobiopterin de novo, an essential cofactor for hydroxylation of aromatic amino acids, cleavage of ether lipids and the synthesis of nitric oxide. In contrast, kinetoplastid parasites are pterin auxotrophs and none of the above metabolic functions can account for the essential requirement of an unconjugated pterin for growth. Here we investigate the pterin requirements for growth and survival of two medically important parasites (T. brucei and L. major) in comparison with the model insect parasite, Crithidia fasciculata. The pterin concentration required to support 50% of maximum growth of each parasite was determined in defined pterin-free media for a variety of naturally occurring pterins. T. brucei and C. fasciculata showed an identical order of prefere

SUBMITTER: Ong HB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12327612 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature